Art

Curriculum Overview:  Art instruction provides a means of developing fine motor skills, while nurturing and engaging the imagination. Elementary school art specialists use a variety of media (e.g., drawing, painting, ceramics) to teach students self-expression, creativity and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In learning how to see things in the world around them, channeled through the artworks they create, children discover details and other useful information that become internalized in their intellectual and emotional growth. Students explore the components of art through a wide variety of methods, including hands-on art making, interactive presentations, discussions, written reflections, cross-curricular collaborations, integration with literature and critical thinking exercises. Through these activities, students discover how art influences society, develop an appreciation for art history and learn how to generate personal and meaningful connections with their own art-making. As students explore and develop these new skills, they are able to develop a strong sense of self, refine their technical abilities and expand their capacity to think critically and creatively about their world.

Literacy

Curriculum Overview: 

The elementary literacy program, grounded in the Science of Reading, provides a research-based approach to developing essential reading skills. Emphasizing phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, it ensures instruction is explicit, systematic, and tailored to diverse student needs.

Central to elementary literacy instruction is the myView Literacy curriculum, which integrates print and digital resources to create an engaging learning environment. Featuring diverse texts, it supports culturally responsive teaching and critical thinking. The curriculum includes a range of genres and reading levels, along with a suite of comprehensive assessment tools to monitor student progress and guide instruction.

The program's structure aligns with Scarborough's Reading Rope, which illustrates how various strands of reading skills intertwine to produce skilled readers. In grades K-2, early literacy instruction emphasizes the lower strands of the rope (phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding skills), which are crucial for word recognition and fluency. As students progress to grades 3-5, the focus shifts towards the upper strands of the rope, including vocabulary development, background knowledge, and reading comprehension strategies. This progression ensures that students move from learning to read to reading to learn, building the skills necessary for more complex and critical reading tasks.

Additionally, myView adheres to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's ACT 20 mandate, which requires schools to provide early literacy instruction based on the Science of Reading. This legislative mandate underscores the importance of using evidence-based methods to ensure all students receive high-quality literacy instruction from an early age.

Learn more about literacy instruction and assessment at MTSD

Click on the cards below to view the Scope & Sequence by grade level.

Mathematics

Curriculum Overview:  The MTSD mathematics curriculum ensures all students develop the behaviors and habits of mind necessary to be mathematically proficient and engage in deep mathematical understanding.  To develop the necessary behaviors and habits of mind, MTSD math teachers use the 8 Standards for Mathematical Practice: 

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics.
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

Mission of Math in MTSD:  Together, we inspire students to understand, value and persevere with mathematical knowledge to develop and apply the skills necessary for experiences in life.

Vision of Math in MTSD:  Empowering all math students to become accurate, efficient, engaged and flexible problem solvers.

Click on the cards below to view the Scope & Sequence by grade level.

Music

Curriculum Overview: A robust, comprehensive music program is an essential part of a child’s education. All elementary school students participate in general music class, which builds their skills in music through singing, instrument playing, movement critical listening, and creation. In these classes, students are exposed to music from various historical periods and cultural traditions. Creativity and collaboration are encouraged as students learn to read and perform music. It is in elementary music that students express themselves via voice and instrument, enjoy collaborative music making, and are shaped as young musicians.

Beyond the general music programming, students in upper elementary grades also have access to elective options in orchestra and band. MTSD offers the only public school orchestra program in Ozaukee County; orchestra is offered to students in 4th and 5th grade. Band is offered to students beginning in fifth grade.  Band and orchestra students attend two large ensemble rehearsals before school and receive one 30-minute, small-group lesson during the school day each week

Click on the cards below to view the Scope & Sequence by grade level.

Physical Education

Curriculum Overview:  Physical education classes provide each student the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive program consisting of skill development, team sports and physical fitness activities. The curriculum is designed to enhance the cognitive, motor, affective and fitness development of each student. Students receive instruction in rules and strategies associated with a variety of sports, and also have experiences that prompt them to question, analyze and communicate concepts. Through engagement in physical education classes, students develop lifelong habits that promote wellness and physical activity. The program promotes the spirit of cooperation, leadership, fair play and friendly competition.

Click the cards below to view the Scope & Sequence for each course.

Science

Curriculum Overview:  With a strong emphasis on teaching students how to use the scientific method, elementary school teachers use inquiry-based, active, hands-on investigation to engage students in authentic applications of science. Students engage in science investigations and experiments by first looking at all the evidence before making a statement of fact. By teaching the scientific method as a technique for students to develop conclusions, students learn how to answer a question in a logical manner. Science instruction is a key tool used to ensure students develop problem-solving skills that empower them to participate in rigorous science coursework in the secondary setting.

Click on the cards below to view the Scope & Sequence by grade level.

Social Studies

Curriculum Overview:  The key priority of social studies instruction is preparing our students to be responsible citizens for the nation, the state, and the local area. Throughout students’ elementary school experiences, teachers use social studies instruction to grow students' understanding of the history, traditions, geography, economic and political context, and values that influence who they are today. Through a strong community partnership with Junior Achievement, students at every grade level engage in early lessons on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness. This enhances the school’s social studies curriculum with authentic applications and experiential learning that allows students to put their new knowledge and skills into practice.

Click on the cards below to view the Scope & Sequence by grade level.

Human Growth and Development

The Mequon-Thiensville School District has made a commitment to provide health education to all students. One vital element of health education is the instruction of Human Growth and Development. While the parent/guardian is and will continue to be the primary educator, the Mequon-Thiensville School District will provide accurate and current information and materials that promote health and awareness to the students. Mequon-Thiensville School District firmly believes that a comprehensive Human Growth and Development curriculum is about the development of the whole student. The curriculum emphasizes the individual's safety, respect, responsibility and sexual risk avoidance.