Elementary School Curriculum Maps

Literacy Learning and Curriculum Updates

At the elementary level, our teachers and staff have been deeply engaged in professional learning around literacy. This important work began in preparation for Michigan's dyslexia legislation and our review of state-approved literacy curricula. Following an extensive pilot process, Hudsonville Public Schools will begin piloting HMH Into Reading across our elementary schools, with full implementation by 2027, while continuing to build teacher expertise in evidence-based literacy instruction.

Our approach recognizes that a high-quality curriculum is only one part of strong literacy instruction. By investing in both exceptional instructional resources and ongoing professional learning, we are equipping our teachers with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to help every student become a confident and successful reader.

As part of this work, our literacy instruction has continued to grow in several key ways:

• Research-based curriculum: Implementing HMH Into Reading K-5, a comprehensive literacy resource aligned with Michigan's approved curriculum list and grounded in the science of reading.
• Phonics progression: Developing a clear phonics roadmap and strengthening explicit phonics instruction.
• Decodable texts: Adding decodable books aligned with our phonics progression.
• Evidence-based practices: Removing strategies that rely on guessing and ensuring students focus on letters and sounds to decode words.
• Targeted assessments: Using tools to pinpoint the specific learning needs of students who are developing foundational reading skills.
• Early literacy measures: Adding Star Early Literacy in Kindergarten and continuing it in grades 1–2 until students are ready for Star Reading.

Together, these efforts represent our ongoing commitment to providing every elementary student with high-quality, research-based literacy instruction that builds strong readers, writers, and lifelong learners.