All of these skills are necessary in order for children to be able to communicate and to comprehend that which is communicated. The interrelationship of all of these areas is readily apparent as young children become increasingly proficient in the use of multiple skills that form the basis for a successful school career. Phonics, comprehension strategies, the writing process and working with both peers and adults are examples of skills that are part of a continuum of development. While the basal reading program is one source of good reading materials, the use of a wide variety of literature is encouraged. Works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama and other lesser genres are used to accommodate a variety of interests, abilities and learning styles.
Literature provides experiences that are ordinarily inaccessible to children.
It broadens their knowledge of the world and its people, different time periods, places and cultures. It sparks imagination, spurs creativity and causes children to seek more knowledge. It is also the thread that ties the individual subject areas together in thematic instruction or interdisciplinary units. The curriculum focuses on six specific content strands. Students must learn to use a variety of methods and tools to compute, including paper and pencil, mental arithmetic, estimation, and calculators.