Thought all schools shut down in the summer? Think again. Beginning on the first Monday after classes ended, the directors of Farmingdale School District’s science, social studies, math and English language arts departments began collaborating with teachers on the district’s summer curriculum writing in preparation for the 2018-19 school year.
Throughout the summer, they created unit plans, a grade-level syllabus and a method for creating assessments. Many teachers also used their summer months to attend professional development training.
This summer’s curriculum writing was especially intense due to the recent roll-out of the New York State Education Department’s curriculum changes. It is the state’s responsibility to set student learning standards, and from there, the baton of responsibility is passed to each local school district to develop their own curricula. Over the summer, the district selected textbooks and instructional materials, developed pacing charts for learning and provided professional development for staff to ensure that all students receive the instruction they need to meet the state’s targeted learning standards. The recently revamped state directive steers students away from rote learning and teaches children to inquire and ask “how?” It also emphasizes tying observation to science and instructs students to believe their own eyes and ears.
“We are so excited about the revamp,” said Samantha Black, director of social studies K-12. “Our summer writing ensures that we are addressing content and skills that will support student learning and build engagement.”
Once the curriculum writing is complete, each teacher decides how to best implement it in their classroom.
“Everyone’s teaching style is different, and each teacher has individual methods of exploring topics in ways that will engage students,” said Black. “With social studies, we want students to walk away with skills and learn about new ways to think about the root of a problem, plus help kids understand why the world has developed the way it has.
tudents will be taught to critically examine information and see the chains of connections. It’s not your parents’ social studies class.”
New to the advanced placement opportunities this year is AP World History. AP classes give students the opportunity to deepen their learning experience and “try on” college as they are given a university-level course at a reduced price.
“Summer is the time we get to really dig in and plan for the student learning experience. Throughout the year, the curriculum is constantly being adapted with new reading documents and innovations, but in the summer, you have time to completely focus and keep the momentum going,” said Kristen Cummings, director of science K-12. “We’re shifting back to the students, in that we want them to ‘uncover’ instead of cover material. The new science curriculum is largely focused on saving the planet and includes a unit on solving the ongoing problem of plastic pollution in our oceans. Students will be tasked with developing a bio-degradable plastic and finding ways to protect against severe weather. I love summer curriculum writing, it’s the best part of my job.”
—Submitted by Farmingdale School District
