Star of the North Academy

CURRICULUM GUIDE

Star of the North Academy - Grades K-8

About Our Curriculum

Welcome to the Star of the North Academy Curriculum Guide for the 2026–2027 school year. This document is designed to help teachers and families understand the carefully selected programs that drive learning across grades K–8. At Star of the North Academy, we are committed to rigorous, engaging, whole-child education that supports every student academically, socially, and emotionally. The curricula featured in this guide have been selected to align with evidence-based practices and the most current research in each subject area. Each program reflects our belief that all students deserve access to high-quality, meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for success in school and beyond.

Language Arts — Core ELA

EL Education’s K–8 ELA curriculum helps students become strong readers, writers, and thinkers
by engaging them with meaningful topics and high-quality texts. Each module is built around
compelling content—such as science, social studies, or real-world issues—so students build
knowledge while practicing essential literacy skills. Daily lessons include reading, writing,
speaking, and listening, along with targeted instruction in phonics, vocabulary, and
foundational skills. Students also learn to collaborate, discuss ideas, and write for authentic
purposes, strengthening both academic skills and confidence.
A hallmark of EL Education is its focus on character. Students practice habits such as
perseverance, responsibility, and empathy, which are woven into daily learning. Families can
expect a curriculum that is rigorous, engaging, and supportive of the whole child—preparing
students to be effective learners and thoughtful community members.

AT A GLANCE:

  • Meaningful, content-rich modules integrating science & social studies
  • Daily reading, writing, speaking, and listening practice
  • Character education woven throughout (perseverance, responsibility, empathy)
  • Rigorous and engaging, supporting the whole child

Functional Phonics & Morphology is a structured, science-of-reading–aligned program that
teaches students how words work so they can read and spell with confidence. The curriculum
provides explicit, systematic instruction in phonics, spelling patterns, and word analysis,
helping students master the building blocks of decoding and encoding. Students learn through
daily routines that include sound-symbol practice, blending, segmenting, dictation, and
reading connected text, ensuring skills are applied in meaningful ways.
A key feature of the program is its focus on morphology—teaching students prefixes, suffixes,
roots, and how word parts carry meaning. This helps students tackle increasingly complex
vocabulary and strengthens comprehension across all subjects. Families can expect a clear,
consistent approach that supports struggling readers, accelerates skill development, and builds
a strong foundation for lifelong literacy.

AT A GLANCE:

  • Science-of-reading aligned with explicit, systematic instruction
  • Daily routines: blending, segmenting, dictation, connected text reading
  • Morphology focus: prefixes, suffixes, and word roots
  • Supports all learners including struggling readers

Savvas enVision Mathematics for grades K–8 is a problem-based, visual learning curriculum
designed to help students build deep understanding of mathematical concepts. Students learn
by exploring real-world problems, discussing solution strategies, and using visual models that
make abstract ideas more accessible. Each unit is carefully sequenced so students develop
strong conceptual understanding before moving into procedural fluency and application.
Families will see students engaging in hands-on tasks, collaborative conversations, and digital
interactive tools that support multiple ways of thinking.
The curriculum emphasizes reasoning, communication, and flexible problem-solving. Students
learn to explain their thinking, justify their solutions, and choose strategies that make sense to
them. enVision also includes ongoing formative assessments and differentiated supports so
teachers can meet the needs of all learners. Overall, families can expect a rigorous, engaging
math program that builds confidence, deep understanding, and readiness for advanced
mathematics.

AT A GLANCE

  • Problem-based, visual learning with real-world applications
  • Builds conceptual understanding before procedural fluency
  • Digital interactive tools for multiple learning styles
  • Differentiated supports and ongoing formative assessments

 

HMH Into Social Studies is a K–8 curriculum that helps students understand the world by exploring history, geography, civics, economics, and cultures through engaging stories and age-
appropriate content. Students learn by reading rich texts, analyzing maps and visuals, and participating in hands-on activities that build critical thinking and inquiry skills. Lessons are
designed to connect past and present, helping students see how people, events, and ideas
shape the communities they live in.
The curriculum emphasizes discussion, collaboration, and problem-solving. Students
investigate questions, examine multiple perspectives, and learn to support their thinking with
evidence. Families can expect a program that builds curiosity, global awareness, and
foundational social studies knowledge while supporting literacy and communication skills.

AT A GLANCE:

  • Covers history, geography, civics, economics, and cultures
  • Rich texts, maps, and hands-on inquiry activities
  • Connects past events to present-day communities
  • Builds global awareness and critical thinking

 

HMH Into Science is a K–8 science curriculum that encourages students to think like scientists
through hands-on investigations, real-world phenomena, and interactive digital tools. Students
explore life, earth, and physical science concepts by asking questions, conducting experiments,
analyzing data, and building explanations based on evidence. Lessons are designed to spark
curiosity and help students understand how science connects to everyday life.
The curriculum promotes inquiry, collaboration, and scientific reasoning. Students work
together to test ideas, communicate findings, and apply what they learn to new situations.
Families can expect a program that builds strong scientific understanding, problem-solving
skills, and confidence—preparing students for future STEM learning.

AT A GLANCE:

  • Hands-on investigations and real-world phenomena
  • Covers life, earth, and physical science
  • Inquiry-based: ask, experiment, analyze, explain
  • Prepares students for future STEM learning

Our Commitment to Students & Families

Star of the North Academy carefully selects every curriculum based on rigorous research, evidence-based practices, and a deep commitment to meeting the needs of every learner in grades K–8. We believe that every child deserves a strong, supportive academic foundation, and our curriculum choices reflect that belief at every grade level and in every subject area. We are proud partners with our families in each student’s educational journey, and we warmly encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher or school leadership team with any questions, thoughts, or feedback about the programs described in this guide.