Curriculum & Subject Areas

Courses meet individual student needs and interest

To prepare students to meet the needs of the ever-changing world, rigorous coursework is available in content areas. Coursework not only addresses the standards specific to each subject area, but also looks to find connections between the subject matter. It is delivered through required courses that are diversified to meet individual students' needs, but also through elective classes that can address the interests of all participants.

This section provides an overview of Reading, Writing and English Language Arts; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies; Music, Physical Education and Visual Arts; World Languages; Career and Technical Education.

A banner photo with multiple photos of students from across the district

Colorado Academic Standards - Family and Community Guides

Elementary Literacy

FFC8 establishes expectations for literacy instruction on the foundation of scientific evidence-based reading research and practice. This includes:

5 Components of Reading:

Phonemic Awareness
Basic and Advanced Phonics
Vocabulary
Comprehension (listening and reading)
Fluency (accuracy, expression, rate)

Teachers provide explicit and systematic instruction in these skills during: whole group, small group, and one-on-one time with students. They provide a rich oral language environment through which children build strong language, vocabulary, and listening and speaking skills advocate and build background knowledge about important ideas and content.

Two forms of writing are emphasized each day:

Analytical Writing - Students write about what they read. They read texts closely and use text evidence to support their ideas and conclusions about the next.
Process Writing - Students learn to write using a 6-step writing process: Expert Model, Plan, Draft, Revise, Edit and Proofread, and Publish. This can be applied to all types of writing.

Grammar is taught explicitly and systematically each week and APPLIED to students' writing.

FFC8 Elementary Literacy Resources

Dyslexia Information & Resources

District Literacy Summary

Contact Information

Director of Elementary and Early Learning
Laurie Noblitt
719.382.1300

English Language Arts

Health

Elementary female student sitting in a chair eating lunch

Resources

Colorado Legislation for Sexual Health
Rationale for Teaching Sexuality Education in Schools

Colorado Legislation for Sexual Health

Colorado's Healthy Youth Act

In 2007, Colorado's Healthy Youth Act (House Bill 07-1292) was passed. This legislation, while not a mandate, requires that any Colorado school district that provides human sexuality instruction shall provide information that is research-based, age-appropriate, medically accurate, and culturally sensitive. In 2013, HB 13-1081 provided updated guidelines and requirements.

Rationale for Teaching Sexuality Education in Schools

Math

Students learn valuable daily skills

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 mathematics curriculum, based on the Colorado Academic Standards, challenges students while teaching them valuable skills needed for everyday life.

A banner photo of students working on Math in multiple classrooms in the district

FFC8 Elementary Mathematics

FFC8 Secondary Mathematics

Middle School Math uses: Open Up Resources 6-8 Math

High School Math uses: Carnegie Learning Integrated High School Math Solution

FFC8 teaches the Colorado Academic Standards, adopted in 2020 and based on the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. The CMAS exam, is designed to assess student understanding of these standards in Grades 6-8. High school students take the PSAT 9, PSAT 10, or SAT as the state math assessment.

Family Toolkit

The mathematics toolkit is a reference for parents and families about mathematics instruction in FFC8.

Teaching mathematics requires a classroom where students engage in rich mathematics and discover patterns and the why behind the mathematics. Students do the thinking. Why do we invert and multiply fractions instead of dividing? What strategy and tools are most helpful in solving this problem?

These resources will help you understand the balance of conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and applications within the mathematics standards expectations for your student.

The Family Toolkit includes:

Theory and Research Tab - A resource list to support the instructional practices taking place in the classroom.

Many schools offer robust after-school clubs and programs that extend learning beyond the mathematics classroom. Check with your school for more information.

Math - Theory and Research

The Good and Bad of Math -Jo Boaler

Math class needs a makeover - Dan Meyer

Finding the Beauty in Math
By Holly Korbey | October 1, 2013
An explanation of the shift in instructional methodology in mathematics.

Unlocking Children's Math Potential: 5 Research Results to Transform Math Learning
By Jo Boaler
A summary of emerging topics in brain and learning research.

Why It's Important to Talk Math With Kids
By Annie Murphy Paul | March 2, 2012
This article discusses the positive implications for number talk at various ages with children.

Why Do Americans Stink At Math?
By Elizabeth Green | July 23, 2014
An investigation into the teaching and learning practices in America in comparison with Japan.

5 Ways To Help Your Kid Not Stink At Math
By Elizabeth Green | July 23, 2014
A follow-up to "Why Do Americans Stink At Math?" This article is devised to offer insight to what parents can do to help their children with the new math.

Stop telling your kids you're bad at math. You're spreading math anxiety 'like a virus'.
By Valerie Strauss | April 2016
We wouldn't say, "I'm not a literacy person" to our children. We shouldn't say, "I'm not a math person" either.

Music

All FFC8 students have the opportunity to engage in music education throughout their academic careers. Music education is offered instrumentally and vocally.

"The arts are an essential element of education, just like reading, writing, and arithmetic...music, dance, painting, and theater are all keys that unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment."
William Bennett

10 Lessons the Arts Teach

Elementary Music uses: QuaverMusic and MusicPlay Online

Physical Education

Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 is committed to incorporating physical activity into the learning environment. Physical Education, in addition to being a requirement for graduation, is a perfect avenue to stress health and wellness with students.

Physical Education teachers in FFC8 are certified through the Colorado Department of Education and implement a standards-based curriculum.

Each school is responsible for its physical education curriculum and delivery within the school day. For specifics regarding the types of activities students participate in as part of the physical education curriculum, contact your school principal.

A banner of three photos of students in PE class across the district

Science

Science is an intellectual, social, and cultural endeavor to explain the observable phenomenon of the universe around us.

FFC8 Science Goals

Every student will be able to use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions.
To promote the skills and understanding necessary for individuals to engage intelligently in public disclosures and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern.
Every student will experience the richness and excitement of observing and understanding the natural world.

Elementary Science uses Amplify Science.

Middle School Science uses OpenSciEd

Afterschool enrichment activities related to Science and STEAM are available. Connect with your individual school to learn more.

The 2020 Colorado Academic Standards were revised to reflect a new vision for science education that connects scientific knowledge, in authentic ways, to real-world problem-solving and innovation. The standards forefront scientific practices that use and go beyond the inquiry process to arrive at reasoned and justifiable rationales for interpretations of real-world phenomena and events. The standards are framed around
A Framework for K-12 Science Education.

Social Studies

Student Resources

Parent Resources

This Day In History

Exploring Technological Innovations from WW1

Teacher preparing the classroom for an interactive history lesson

Interactive Learning at AmeriTowne

Geology & Geography of the National Parks Students

Geo/Geo class photo in front of a rock formation on a field trip

Mr. Jeffords and students from Geo/Geo class on a field trip sitting at a body of water with trees in the background

A large group of high school students from Geo/Geo class out on a field trip looking at rock formations

Three students from Geo/Geo class standing in front of a waterfall on a field trip

Visual Arts & Drama

Art education is about thinking!

The Studio Habits of Mind framework was developed through the insightful research of Harvard Project Zero.

The eight "studio habits of mind" (Develop Craft, Engage & Persist, Envision, Express, Observe, Reflect, Stretch & Explore, Understand Art Worlds) describe the thinking that teachers intend for their students to learn during the process of creating. They are:

Stretch and explore: Try out ideas, and experiment with new ways of working.
Engage and persist: Focus on and persevere in making artwork, even when it's difficult.
Envision: Imagine possibilities, picture ideas, design and plan next steps.
Develop craft: Improve art skills through practice and experimentation. Explore new tools and learn to care for them.
Observe: Look closer and more deeply than ordinary looking requires.
Reflect: Think, talk and write about the creative process.
Express: Communicate ideas, beliefs, and feelings through a visual language.

Multiple examples of art work from Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen hanging on display at the Art Show. Many of the pieces of art displayed have received ribbons as an award that is displayed next to the art work

"Arts education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate, the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence."
Joseph M. Calahan

10 Lessons the Arts Teach

Elementary male student in a brown hoodie at the Art Show standing with art work hanging on the wall

World Language

Student Achievement Coordinators

Mary Brennan| ELA, Physical Education, Health, World Languages, Social Studies| 719.382.1300

Lisa Rogers | Math, Science, Music, Gifted and Talented, Art|719.382.1300

Administrative Assistants

Elizabeth Bressler |719.382.1565

Rebecca Bumgarner | 719.382.1545

Phoebe Owens | 719.382.1567