Curriculum and Instruction

At Potterville Elementary, we’re committed to providing a learning experience that goes beyond test scores. Our research-based curriculum and student-centered instruction focus on nurturing curious minds and developing deep, critical thinkers. We believe that every child has the potential to grow, learn, and thrive in a supportive environment—and we're here to inspire that journey every step of the way!

District Curriculum & Course Catalog

Why Assessments are Important for Your Child’s Success

At Potterville Elementary, we use several key assessments throughout the year to help understand Vikings progress and ensure they are getting the support they need. Here’s a breakdown of the main assessments we use and why they matter:

SAEBRS Screening

The SAEBRS (Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener) helps us monitor your Viking's overall well-being, looking at three critical areas:

  • Social Behavior: How well your child interacts with others, including peers and teachers.
  • Academic Behavior: How well your child engages in learning and classroom activities.
  • Emotional Behavior: How well your child manages feelings like stress or frustration.

By identifying early signs of any social or emotional challenges, SAEBRS allows us to step in with support before these challenges affect your child’s academic success or relationships.

NWEA Testing

The NWEA math and reading tests are given three times a year and track how your child is growing academically in these key subjects:

  • Math: Measures understanding of numbers, problem-solving, geometry, and other key concepts.
  • Reading: Assesses comprehension and how well your child interprets and analyzes texts.

This helps teachers adjust lessons to meet your child’s needs, ensuring they are progressing and receiving any extra help needed to meet their goals.

DIBELS Testing

DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) focuses on younger students to make sure they are building a strong foundation in reading. It tests skills like reading fluency, comprehension, and phonics. DIBELS helps teachers quickly identify students who might need extra reading support and adjust instruction accordingly.

Classroom Assessments

In addition to standardized tests, teachers regularly assess your child’s understanding during lessons:

  • Formative Assessments: Small quizzes or activities to guide teaching during a lesson.
  • Summative Assessments: Larger projects or tests to evaluate overall understanding of a topic.

Assessments give both teachers and students valuable information on what’s going well and where improvements can be made. This process ensures each child receives the right support to succeed academically.

Potterville Elementary currently uses EL Reading Curriculum

Understanding the EL (Expeditionary Learning) Reading Curriculum

The EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) reading curriculum is designed to build students' reading and writing skills through engaging, real-world content. It focuses on helping students develop deep comprehension, critical thinking, and a love for reading. 

What is the EL Education Reading Curriculum?

The EL curriculum is a comprehensive English Language Arts (ELA) program that covers reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It is designed to meet Common Core standards, ensuring that students develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. The curriculum is organized around a series of modules, each of which focuses on a particular topic or theme. 

Key Features of the EL Curriculum

  • Diverse Texts: Students read a variety of texts, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and informational texts. This diversity helps expose them to different perspectives and styles of writing.
  • Close Reading: The curriculum emphasizes close reading strategies, where students read carefully and analyze texts to understand deeper meanings.
  • Real-World Connections: Lessons are often tied to real-world issues or themes, which helps make learning relevant and engaging for students.
  • Collaborative Learning: Students work together in groups to discuss what they’re reading, solve problems, and engage in projects that help deepen their understanding.
  • Performance Tasks: At the end of each module, students complete a project that allows them to demonstrate what they’ve learned in a creative and meaningful way.

Why is This Helpful for Your Child?

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: The EL curriculum encourages students to think deeply about what they’re reading and make connections to the world around them.
  • Engaging Content: By focusing on real-world issues and big questions, the curriculum helps students stay interested and motivated to learn.
  • Strong Literacy Skills: Through close reading, writing exercises, and discussion, students build strong literacy skills that are essential for academic success.

By using the EL Education curriculum, Vikings will develop important reading and writing skills while also engaging with meaningful, real-world content. This balanced approach helps prepare our Vikings not only for academic success but also for active participation in society.

We’re pleased to share that our EL Reading Curriculum and the training for our teachers are funded through Grant 35j—Professional Development, Curriculum, and Supports. As part of this grant, we are required to report on who is receiving training.

35j Training Report


The core of Potterville Elementary math curriculum is derived from New York Engage Math model.

Understanding the New York Engage Math Curriculum

The New York Engage Math curriculum, also known as Eureka Math, is designed to help our Vikings build a strong understanding of math concepts from an early age. It goes beyond just memorizing formulas or facts, helping students truly understand how math works and why it is important.

What is the Engage Math Curriculum?

The Engage Math program is built to follow the Common Core Standards, ensuring students are learning at a pace appropriate for their grade level. The curriculum focuses on:

  • Understanding Math Concepts: Instead of just memorizing answers, students learn why and how math processes work. This helps them apply math to everyday situations and solve problems creatively.
  • Step-by-Step Learning: NY Engage Math is structured to build on what students have learned in previous years, so they are always expanding their math knowledge in a logical order.

Why is it Helpful for Your Child?

  • Real-Life Problem Solving: NY Engage Math focuses on solving real-world problems. This helps children see the practical side of math and how it applies to daily life, which can make learning more relevant and interesting for them.
  • Confidence in Math: By deeply understanding how math works, students gain confidence. They are not just memorizing; they know how to approach different kinds of problems, which boosts their ability to succeed as they advance through school.
  • Personalized Support: The curriculum provides ways for teachers to track student progress. If a student struggles with a concept, the teacher can offer extra help to ensure they don’t fall behind. For students who excel, teachers can provide more challenging problems to keep them engaged.

Overall, NY Engage Math helps create a strong foundation for your Viking's future, ensuring they not only learn math but develop a love for it.

What is Number Corner, and Why is it Helpful for Your Child?

Number Corner is a key part of the Bridges in Mathematics curriculum. Potterville Elementary uses these protocols to help build students' understanding of important math concepts. It involves daily, short activities that focus on key skills such as problem-solving, number patterns, and mathematical reasoning. Number Corner is designed to be engaging and interactive, using tools like calendars and visual models to help students explore and understand math in a hands-on way.

Why is Number Corner Helpful?

  • Daily Practice: The program gives students regular practice with math concepts, helping them strengthen their skills over time.
  • Builds Critical Thinking: Students learn to recognize patterns and relationships between numbers, which helps them become better problem solvers.
  • Interactive Learning: Number Corner includes activities that allow students to engage with math in fun, visual ways. This makes learning more exciting and helps students understand abstract concepts.
  • Supports All Learners: The program is designed to meet students where they are, providing challenges for advanced learners and extra support for those who need it.

By making math part of everyday learning, Number Corner helps Vikings develop a strong foundation in mathematics that will serve them well as they continue to grow academically.

Potterville Elementary social studies curriculum takes inspiration from: ATLAS and GIANTS. 

Understanding ATLAS and GIANTS Social Studies Curriculum

Social studies is a key subject that helps our Vikings understand the world and their role in it, and both the ATLAS platform and GIANTS program provide strong resources for this.

What is ATLAS?

ATLAS is an online platform that gives access to curriculum guides for various subjects, including social studies. These guides help teachers create lesson plans aligned with Michigan state standards. The platform includes:

  • Course Outlines: Detailed descriptions of the topics being covered, like history, geography, and civics.
  • Learning Targets: Specific skills and knowledge students should gain, making it easy for parents to track their child’s progress.
  • Suggested Resources: A variety of materials teachers can use to make learning engaging and meaningful.

What is GIANTS Social Studies?

The "GIANTS in Social Studies" program from the Michigan Council for the Social Studies focuses on improving how social studies is taught in classrooms across the state. The program is designed to help students develop critical thinking skills, understand public policies, and become active citizens. It also includes:

  • State Standards: Lessons and materials aligned with Michigan's social studies standards, ensuring that students learn key concepts.
  • Inquiry-Based Learning: This approach encourages students to ask questions, investigate, and form their own understanding of social and historical issues.
  • Focus on Civic Competence: The curriculum teaches students about their role in society and how to engage in their communities.

Why is This Helpful for Your Child?

  • Aligned with Standards: Both programs ensure that students are learning essential skills and concepts in line with Michigan’s educational standards.
  • Engaging Content: Through inquiry-based learning and interactive lessons, students become more involved in the material, making learning both fun and effective.
  • Preparation for Civic Life: These programs help students develop the knowledge and skills to be informed, active participants in society, which is critical for their future.

By using ATLAS and GIANTS, Vikings are being supported with high-quality materials that not only teach history and geography but also encourage them to think critically and engage with the world.

What are Impactful Learning Standards?

Impactful Learning Standards are essential learning goals that focus on the most important concepts and skills Vikings need to master at each grade level. They are designed to guide instruction and ensure that students gain a deep understanding of key topics across subjects like math, reading, and social studies.

Student Intervention Process Presentation

Why are Impactful Learning Standards Helpful?

  • Focus on Key Learning: Impactful Learning Standards identify the most critical concepts that students should learn, allowing teachers to concentrate their instruction on what truly matters.
  • Clarity and Consistency: By having clear standards, everyone—teachers, students, and parents—understands what is expected at each grade level. This consistency helps everyone work together towards the same goals.
  • Supports Mastery: Focusing on Impactful Learning Standards allows students to dig deeper into fewer topics, promoting mastery rather than just surface-level understanding. This approach helps build confidence and competence in their skills.
  • Guides Assessments: Impactful Learning Standards provide a framework for assessments, ensuring that the tests and quizzes are aligned with the key learning goals. This means that the assessments accurately reflect what students are learning in class.
  • Tailors Instruction: Teachers can use Impactful Learning Standards to design lessons that meet the needs of all students, providing additional support or challenges as needed.

Overall, Impactful Learning Standards help create a more effective and focused learning environment, ensuring that Vikings are building a strong foundation for future success in their education.

Potterville Elementary' s Impactful Learning Standard

We’re thrilled to share that Potterville Elementary is hard at work implementing the ELA Impactful Learning Standards! Our dedicated staff is committed to ensuring that every student thrives in their learning journey.

Looking ahead, we will be reflecting on and incorporating Impactful Learning Standards in Math, Science, and Social Studies. This initiative is part of our ongoing effort to provide a rich, engaging curriculum that supports our students’ growth and success.

ELA Impactful Learning Standards

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