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Curriculum
Borel’s curriculum and instructional practices are aligned with California State standards. We emphasize rigorous standards-based instruction through best-practices, including hands-on learning and differentiated instruction, in order to meet the learning needs of all students.
Language arts, humanities, math, science, and physical education are required at all grade levels. The sixth grade program offers a cultural studies wheel that includes quarter-long courses in Spanish, art, technology, and drama/life skills. Sixth graders in music class rotate PE and music every other day. In seventh and eighth grade, students can select two electives (Music, Spanish, Art, Technology, Creative Writing, Drama, or Choir). Our special education program consists of resource classes as well as special day classes. In addition to the curriculum listed below, all students will participate in weekly Social Emotional Learning lessons through Second Step in homeroom classes.
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SMFCSD Curriculum Map 6 - 8
Mathematics: Illustrative Math (Math Nation & Desmos)
- SMFC students become enthusiastic and proficient learners of mathematics who are able to share their thinking, use multiple representations, and build on the ideas of others.
- Increase meaningful mathematical discourse and sense-making to build fluency using manipulative, counting collections, games/activities, flexibility, and strategic competence in all students.
- Desmos is a web based interactive tool that supports students to connect mathematical concepts to concrete, real-world shapes and pictures.
English Language Arts
SpringBoard & CommonLit are standards aligned curricula.
- Through SpringBoard, students read and analyze a wide range of texts in genres including poetry, novels, plays, biographies, nonfiction narratives, speeches and films. They also learn to write in forms including essays, personal narratives, argumentatives texts such as editorials and research papers.
- Each grade level uses complex texts that allow students to examine an idea from multiple points of view while working with a variety of genres.
- CommonLit is an open source comprehensive curriculum that deepens knowledge through interconnected skills. Throughout each lesson, students read, write, and speak to deepen their understanding. Students write for different audiences and purposes, and demonstrate content proficiency through culminating writing tasks.
- Each lesson includes purposeful scaffolding to engage English Language Learners and those reading below grade level in productive struggle with complex texts and content.
English Language Development:
Designated ELD: Focused language study at students’ language proficiency
- The Academic Language Acceleration Course (ALAC) curriculum is CA ELD standards aligned and offers English learner students a high quality rigorous program. SMFCSD developed this curriculum to address the unique language and literacy needs of ELLs by typology.
- The Foundational English Language Development (FELD1 & FELD 2) class uses Benchmark’s RIGOR (box 2 & 3) curriculum that is targeted to develop language and literacy for older students reading at primary levels.
- Newcomer Courses are designed to meet the unique linguistic needs of students who have been in US schools for less than 3 years. Courses use National Geographic, SIPPS (Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words), and RIGOR box 1.
Integrated ELD:Language support is integrated in all content areas.
- Provides students appropriate levels of language-focused scaffolds in content area instruction and has clear articulation, instruction, and assessment of content- language objectives.
- Intentionally develops students’ development of academic language and literacies specific to that discipline (language of math, science, history, etc.),and incorporates the Three Shifts (evidence-based writing, academic discussion, use complex text) in content instruction.
Science
OpenSciEd is high quality instructional materials aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
- Grade 6-8 is in the process of piloting and choosing a high-quality science program that supports the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and guides students in developing science experiences that are based in the 3-dimensions of the standards.
Social Studies
SMFCSD Board-adopted curriculum is Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Glencoe Discovering Our Past*, 2006
- Socials Studies units are also embedded in the SpringBoard Curriculum
Plans are being developed to pilot new materials for Social Studies
Physical Education
- Demonstrate the motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities
- Demonstrate knowledge and critical thinking of movement concepts, principles, and strategies that improve health and performance
- Demonstrate and utilize knowledge of psychological and sociological concepts, principles, and strategies that apply to the learning and performance of physical activity.
Music
SmartMusic is a web-based suite of music education tools and an interactive and digital music library.
- Practice tools: A tuner, metronome, fingerings, and tools to loop and record are built in along with immediate feedback.
- Repertoire: A music library accompanies performers at all levels with professional accompaniments
- Sight Reading builder: Build sight reading skills with unlimited customizable exercise..
- Music Notation: Import, edit, create, and share music notation for student assignments.
Social Emotional Learning
Second Step is a research-based program with lessons that teach students:
- skills to persevere through challenges, welcome mistakes, identify and achieve goals, and gain confidence as they learn
- how to identify their own and others' emotions, as well as learn and practice strategies to identify and calm strong feelings
- about the impact of kindness on emotions and relationships, and how to use empathy to know when and how to show others kindness
- a problem solving process that helps students to manage problems, weigh outcomes, and consider all parties’ wants and needs to effectively handle interpersonal conflicts
Technology Resources
- Google Classroom
- Google Apps for Education
- ST Math
- Site selected resources