Somers Elementary School
Dear Parents & Guardians,
We are excited to partner with you in your child’s educational journey. To help you understand what your child will be learning throughout the year, we’ve created a Year-Long Curriculum Guide. We believe that this Year-Long Curriculum Guide will be a valuable resource for you and your child. By working together, we can ensure a successful and enriching school year. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education.
Your Partners in Education,
Melissa Mucci, SES Principal
Michael McDonnell, SES Assistant Principal
What is a Year-Long Curriculum Guide?
A Year-Long Curriculum Guide is a comprehensive outline of the subjects and topics that students will cover in each grade level throughout the school year. It serves as a roadmap for teachers, students, and parents, ensuring that everyone is aware of the educational goals and milestones.
What are the Benefits of the Curriculum Guide?
Clarity and Structure: The guide provides a clear structure of what will be taught, making it easier for parents and guardians to follow along and support their child’s learning at home.
Consistency: It ensures consistency in teaching across different classrooms across the grade level.
Home-School Connection: By knowing what your child's learning, you can be more involved in their education, reinforce lessons at home, and provide additional support where needed.
How Do You Use the Curriculum Guide?
Review Regularly: Take some time to review the guide at the beginning of the school year and periodically throughout the year. This, combined with updates from your child’s teacher, will help you stay informed about what your child is learning.
Support Learning at Home: Use the guide to find ways to support your child’s education at home. This could be through additional reading, educational games, or practical activities related to their current topics.
Communicate with Teachers: If you have any questions or concerns about the curriculum, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. They can provide further insights and suggest resources to help your child succeed.
Standards-based Report Cards and Special Education
Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEP) must be provided with the same opportunities to receive grades in relation to expectations for grade level standards; this is a civil right. Since special education students are a heterogeneous group with various disabilities that impact learning, some may not achieve certain grade-level standards without special services and support. For students with accommodations, the content of the standard remains the same but the method of learning and demonstrating mastery of a standard may be adjusted.
Modifications on the other hand, can mean changing the standard itself, identifying standards that are fundamentally related but also developmentally appropriate. The Planning and Placement Team (PPT) make decisions regarding what content areas, if any, require modifications of the grade level standards. These may be changes made to student achievements and should result in grades that communicate clear, interpretable information to parents and students when applicable.
For students with an IEP, a progress report is provided that identifies how students are performing on appropriately challenging learning tasks as outlined in the goals and objections of their IEP.
Adapted from: www.norwichpublicschools.org
