Curriculum

Does your school teach phonics?
Yes. We believe a solid foundation in phonics is extremely important to increase fluency and reaching comprehension. However, phonics is not taught in isolation but rather as part of a balanced literacy approach.

When I was in kid, Kindergarten was mostly playtime. Why are expectations for Kindergarteners so high now?
There has been a drastic increase in Texas regarding the standards of learning we are required to meet at every grade level. The learning expectations are rigorous, and we can’t afford to wait until first grade to begin. We must start early to make sure every child is able to meet those standards.

I’ve heard your school is a "District Staff Development Site." What does that mean?
Parkwood Elementary is a leader in early literacy and we support a full Balanced Literacy philosophy.  That means your child receives instruction in every component of reading and writing every day.  Because we committed to using best practices when teaching your child, we invite literacy experts to our campus to train our teachers on a regular basis.  Our teachers are well-trained in Reader's and Writer's Workshop and Math Solutions.  Additionally, we are home to several university interns who are completing their teaching certification, and we host several UHCL classes on our campus.