Curriculum Message

In order to promote a vigorous academic environment, the Griswold Public Schools has focused on three important elements of effective teaching and learning: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Our curricular programs are developed by backward design from state and national standards. That development occurs in three stages:

Stage One (Desired Results): The standards define the big ideas and essential questions that serve as the framework for understanding the discipline. They also articulate grade level expectations that direct a progression of learning in the discipline of specific knowledge and skills within the discipline:

Stage Two (Evidence): From the big ideas and essential questions, assessments are created that require students to use their knowledge and skills to demonstrate that they have achieved the desired results of deep understanding. These assessments require that students perform both collaboratively and independently in the transfer of knowledge to new situations.

Stage Thee (Learning Plan): This phase identifies all of the common learning activities that all students will experience as well as strategies and techniques that will assist teachers in differentiating instruction as necessary for individual or small groups of students.

Common Core of State Standards

In July, 2010, the State of Connecticut adopted a set of national standards in English/Language Arts and Mathematics to promote college and career readiness among all Connecticut students. Those standards, commonly known and the Common Core of State Standards (CCSS), must be implemented in all Connecticut schools by the 2014-2015 school year. Multiple documents regarding the CCSS can be found at http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2618&q=322592.

In the 2010-2011 school year, the Griswold Public Schools

• Implemented a CCSS-compliant reading program called Reading Street in grades K-5.
• Participated in a state-wide grade 8 and 9 algebra pilot based on the CCSS. Griswold Middle School was the only Connecticut middle school that participated in the pilot. It is also the first time that Griswold Middle School students studies a high school level course while still in middle school.  

During the 2011-2012 school year, we will:

• Review our 7-12 English/Language Arts program to insure its compliance with the CCSS.
• Implement Reading Street in grade 6.
• Review our Pre-K-12 math program to insure compliance with the CCSS.
• Redesign our Geometry program to align with the algebra pilot.