English Language Arts
High Plains School supports literacy development from kindergarten through eighth grade with aligned English Language Arts instruction. Elementary students use Benchmark Advance, while middle school students engage with myPerspectives units that build reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking skills through essential questions, writing tasks, and connected novels.
Elementary English Language Arts (K-5)
Thompson School District uses Benchmark Advance as the core literacy curriculum for all elementary schools. This comprehensive, research-based program supports the development of strong reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in every student from kindergarten through fifth grade.
What is Benchmark Advance?
Benchmark Advance provides:
- Systematic phonics and foundational skills instruction
- Complex texts that build content knowledge and vocabulary
- Daily opportunities for reading, writing, and discussion
- Support for all learners, including multilingual learners and students with diverse needs
Family Resources
Families play a vital role in supporting student literacy. Benchmark offers a dedicated Benchmark Family Resources Portal with home learning activities, tutorials, reading strategies, and grade-level overviews.
Why Benchmark?
Thompson School District selected Benchmark through a rigorous review process to ensure alignment with Colorado Academic Standards, provide equitable access for all students, and establish a strong foundation in literacy that prepares students for future success.
Middle School English Language Arts (6-8)
Middle school students at High Plains School use myPerspectives, an English Language Arts curriculum designed to help students think critically, engage with complex texts, strengthen writing skills, and explore meaningful essential questions connected to their learning and lives.
Students participate in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and research activities throughout the year while exploring novels, nonfiction, poetry, and multimedia texts connected to each unit of study.