Curriculum and Instruction

Introduction

Our curriculum is collaboratively developed and clearly outlines expectations for student learning in both skills and understanding. Curriculum is based on state and national frameworks and articulates student outcomes for each level. Common student assessments across the content areas ensure consistent expectations throughout the district. Collaborative committees oversee curriculum development, implementation, and review. This process also includes opportunities for input and feedback from students, families, teachers, and community members all with an eye on our district mission.

“The mission of the North Branford School System, a proud, caring community, is to prepare all students to be capable, confident life-long learners who are responsible citizens in a diverse and changing world by providing a comprehensive, challenging program in collaboration with family and community.”

As a district we value curriculum design that is:

  • Collaborative
  • That constructs and shapes powerful learning experiences for students
  • That allows skill development and refinement of thinking/understanding
  • That ultimately shapes learning in the context of authentic problems/situations

Instruction

Includes strategies for meaningfully engaging students in active learning and for tailoring these learning experiences to meet the individual needs of students so that all students improve their performance. Each curriculum area details embedded instructional strategies to maximize learning, but as a district we value the following cross-cutting instructional strategies (and we continually review and revise this list based on theory, research, practice, and collective experiences):

  • Teacher and student questioning to maximize engagement and make connections (How does this fit with what you already know?)
  • Thoughtfully building explanations and interpretations during learning (What is really going on here?)
  • Steady insistence that students share their thinking and challenge each other’s thinking during learning
  • Planned opportunities for reflection and consolidating understanding
  • Monitoring and feedback is provided throughout learning process - skills or understanding - (teacher, peer, and self directed)

Listed on our site are links to landscape maps as well as the Curriculum Management Cycle (an implementation framework that guides our work).  If you should have any questions after reviewing this information and associated links, please feel free to contact our office or send an email.