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Connecticut District Collaborates with Pearson To Custom Design Elementary Science Curriculum

• By Scott Aronowitz
• 09/20/10

Hartford Public Schools (HPS) of Hartford, CT, has collaborated with Pearson to develop a new, customized science curriculum to help promote reading skills and invigorate science instruction in its first- and second-grade classes.

Derived from an elementary science program published by Pearson subsidiary Scott Foresman, the curriculum aligns to Connecticut state standards and meets the existing requirements for science set forth by the district. Integrated into the customized curriculum are strategies for improving literacy in first- and second-graders, designed by HPS Literacy Director Beryl Bailey.

Sandra Inga, district director of K-12 science, explained the value of using a program that offers Pearson's proven strength in academic development while pursuing the instructional goals specifically outlined by in-house teachers and administrators. "I believe very strongly that our instructional resources should match exactly what our district considers important in terms of what students are learning," Inga said. "That's why I worked with my teachers and Pearson to make a unique program available to Hartford's students that utilizes [the company's] content and our home-grown resources to fit our needs."

Inga added that the program very clearly focuses HPS teachers on the instructional strategies they should use in order to give them a complete, grade level-appropriate grounding in elementary science and integrate the established literacy goals, all while making the material accessible and engaging.

Pearson provides customized curriculum design for a full range of K-12 subjects, offering extensive consultation with a staff of education and integrated technology experts. More information on the custom curriculum program is available here.