The East Brunswick Board of Education approved a wide range of summer curriculum projects during its June 18 meeting, authorizing teachers and staff to participate in workshops to review, update, and develop curriculum across multiple subject areas.
While much of the public discussion at the meeting focused on other topics, the curriculum work approved through personnel recommendations could affect students throughout the district in the upcoming school year.
Literacy and Language Arts Receive Significant Attention
Several of the approved projects focused on literacy instruction and curriculum development.
Among the initiatives approved were revisions to Grades 7 and 8 ILA assessments, updates to English 12 and College Writing Honors coursework, and work on assessment and scope-and-sequence development at Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School.
Additional projects include K-2 WIN Language Arts planning, Grades 3 and 4 vocabulary instruction updates, Grades 3 and 4 Patterns of Power work, and pilot teacher planning initiatives.
The number of literacy-related projects suggests continued district focus on reading and language arts instruction following recent curriculum discussions and presentations made to the Board throughout the school year.
Gifted and Talented Programs Included
The Board also approved curriculum development work related to gifted education.
Projects include Gifted Tier 1 lesson development for K-6 teachers, curriculum and lesson updates for FOCUS and gifted teachers, and FLEX program development and revisions.
These efforts are designed to review and enhance instructional opportunities available to advanced learners across the district.
Math Curriculum Updates Planned
Several math curriculum projects were approved for the summer months.
Teachers will work on updates to the Math K and Math 1 curricula, revisions to the Math 7 and Math 8 coursework, and updates to the geometry curriculum.
The district regularly uses summer curriculum workshops to review standards, update instructional materials, and prepare for implementation during the upcoming school year.
Other Subject Areas Included
In addition to literacy, gifted education, and math, the Board approved curriculum projects in health and arts education.
Health staff will participate in curriculum articulation work focused on grades 6 through 8, while arts education teachers will work on curriculum updates and development of new course offerings.
Looking Ahead
The curriculum projects approved by the Board will take place throughout the summer and involve teachers from multiple schools and grade levels.
While curriculum work often receives less public attention than facility projects or budget discussions, the revisions and updates developed during the summer can directly influence classroom instruction and student learning across the district when schools reopen in September.
