Welcome to the Parents’ Guide to the District 103 Curriculum. These guides have been created for you and will provide an overview of the rich curriculum that your child will experience as a student in our district. We have organized the guides by grade level and have also added links to additional information that support the design and implementation of the curriculum. By providing you with this overview of the curriculum, we believe that, as a parent, you will be better informed and thus can truly partner with us in your child’s education.
Our instructional program supports our mission through a curriculum that focuses on skill development in the core academic areas of reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and social science. The curriculum also develops students’ skills in writing, technology, and social and emotional learning; and it extends to music, fine arts, world language (Spanish), physical education/health, family and consumer science, clubs, athletics and community service.
As you journey through these guides, you will see that the Illinois Common Core State Standards have been incorporated into the English/language arts and the mathematics portions of our curriculum. These standards provide a focused framework for teaching and learning, ensuring that all children will graduate high school with the skills they need to be successful.
In English language arts and literacy, students will continue reading and writing. But in addition to stories and literature, students read more texts that provide facts and background knowledge in areas including science and social studies. They read more challenging texts and be asked more questions that will require them to refer back to what they have read. There is also an increased emphasis on building a strong vocabulary, so that students can read and understand challenging material.
In mathematics, teachers concentrate on teaching a more focused set of major math concepts and skills. This focus allows students time to master key math concepts and skills in a more organized way throughout the year and from one grade to the next. It also calls for teachers to use rich and challenging math content and to engage students in solving real-world problems in order to inspire greater interest in mathematics.
Thank you for your interest and support in District 103’s Curriculum and Instruction.
Katie Reynolds
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
