Elementary School: Core Academic Program Summary
Elementary Reading Program: Harcourt-Journeys (K-6)
The school district promotes a Balanced Literacy Framework that includes all aspects of literacy within a daily block of instruction. Guided by the PA Core Standards, the Framework incorporates aspects of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Harcourt Journeys is a research-based, developmental reading/language arts program that serves as the program's anthology. Divided into themes, the text helps to promote a sense of responsibility for ourselves, our community, and our world. Each student is provided opportunities to develop and expand reading skills through phonics instruction, guided reading strategies, shared reading, intervention strategies, integrated language arts components, and regular assessments.
Heggert (Pre-K - 2)
Provides up to 35 weeks of daily lessons, focusing on eight phonemic awareness skills, along with two additional activities to develop letter and sound recognition and language awareness.
Enhanced Core Reading Instruction™ (ECRI)
Enhanced Core Reading Instruction™ (ECRI) is a multi-tiered program (Tier 1 and Tier 2) featuring a series of teaching routines designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of reading instruction in kindergarten, first, and second grade. ECRI will enhance our current core reading program to achieve more favorable outcomes for our students.
Elementary Math Program: EnVision
Aligned to the PA Core Standards, math instruction focuses not only on the acquisition of skills, but also conceptual understanding. The program develops deep conceptual understanding, assess learning, and use student data to inform instruction. enVisition® Mathematics includes new student-led explorations that introduce new concepts and lay the foundation for upcoming lessons, while encouraging all students to connect and apply math ideas in amazing ways.
OpenSciEd Science Curriculum (Grades K-6)
Empowering Young Scientists Through Hands-On, Inquiry-Based Learning
Wilkinsburg School District is excited to implement the OpenSciEd science curriculum in kindergarten through 6th grade! This high-quality, research-based program is designed to spark curiosity and deepen scientific understanding through active, student-centered learning.
What Is OpenSciEd?
OpenSciEd is a science curriculum built on the principles of exploration, collaboration, and critical thinking. Rather than memorizing facts, students engage in real-world phenomena, ask questions, design investigations, analyze data, and develop scientific explanations.
Each unit is structured around a driving question, which encourages students to investigate and discover through hands-on activities, discussions, and writing.
How Does OpenSciEd Support PA STEEL Standards?
The Pennsylvania Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy (STEEL) standards emphasize scientific inquiry, engineering practices, and environmental awareness. OpenSciEd aligns directly with these priorities by:
- Focusing on Science & Engineering Practices - Students regularly ask questions, plan, and carry out investigations, analyze and interpret data, and construct explanations - skills at the heart of the PA STEEL standards.
- Connecting Science to the Real World - Each unit begins with a phenomenon that is relevant to students' lives and communities, help them understand science in a local and global context.
- Supporting Crosscutting Concepts - Concepts like patterns, cause and effect, and systems thinking are emphasized across topics, helping students make connections between scientific disciplines.
- Integrating Environmental Literacy - Many OpenSciEd units explore human impact on the environment, supporting PA's emphasis on stewardship and sustainability.
- Building Equity and Engagement - OpenSciEd is designed to be inclusive and accessible, encouraging participation and sense-making from all students, regardless of background or learning style.
Elementary Instructional Web-Based Programs
- IXL-Math
- RAZ Kids
- Reading Eggs
- Successmaker
Education Programs:
- Reading and Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Art
- Music
- Physical Education
- Library/Media
- STEAM
- Spanish
