The Cornell School District offers a comprehensive curriculum that strives to meet the academic needs of all students. At the start of the 2016-2017 school year Cornell began a curriculum writing initiative that allowed the teachers to map curriculum based on the Understanding by Design (UbD) principles. Throughout the school year teachers will be completing curriculum maps in all content areas and grade levels. This process will allow for reflective discussions centering around curriculum and instruction while teachers plan their units of study. A software package, called Atlas, was purchased with recently awarded grant money that allows for teachers to create their units of instruction using the UbD principles. Teachers will also have access to view all units of instruction regardless of grade level. This allows for a better understanding, district wide of the skills, standards and assessments that are being administered in each classroom.

 

Cornell Elementary has made an investment in ensuring that our curriculum is up-to-date and aligned with the still new Common Core Standards. Recently, Cornell Elementary purchased a new math and reading textbook series that is being used in each classroom. My Math was the math textbook series selected by a panel of elementary teachers, administrations and Cornell board members. Journey's was selected by a similar panel as the new reading series. Cornell Elementary also continues with their partnership with the University of Pittsburgh's reading specialist program. Each year Cornell either has two or three reading interns from the University of Pittsburgh who work with the full-time faculty Reading Specialist already on staff at Cornell. This allows for increased supports and attention to our students and the partnership has been very rewarding for Cornell. The "Maker Movement" has come to Cornell Elementary. Thanks to a $20,000 STEAM Grant awarded from the Grable Foundation, as well as a $15,000 grant from the Ohio River Consortium, also from the Grable Foundation, Cornell Elementary was able to transform a computer lab into a Maker Space allowing for students to complete hands-on projects and assignments that incorporate 21st Century skills and technology. Each class