As the district has become standards-based, it has fundamentally changed the way it approached curriculum. In the past, textbooks were selected and the curriculum built around them; now, the district seeks out texts or creates materials that support the Illinois Academic Standards. Read on for information about writing, Six Traits, math, differentiation and parent education.
Writing
In fall 2002, District 41 implemented a writing curriculum that is closely aligned to the Illinois Academic Standards and professional development for teachers that supports the new curriculum.
While writing is treated as a distinct subject, it is also integrated into other subjects, with students devoting 45 minutes every day, to writing.
Six Traits
The Six Traits of Writing is an instructional approach to delivering the curriculum. It provides easy-to-understand guidelines for evaluating writing in terms of ideas, voice, organization, word choice, conventions and sentence fluency. The Six Traits parent book, videotape, and handout may be checked out by calling 630-543-7237, or your school.
Math
District 41's math curriculum is closely aligned with the Illinois Academic Standards and the National Council of Teachers of Mathmatics Standards. Among the math resources we use is the Harcourt Math Series, but as with all our subjects, we choose materials to support our curriculum, rather than having our curriculum follow a given text.
Differentiation
Differentiation is D41's philosophy of instruction: it means that teachers teach a common curriculum in ways that accommodate a variety of instructional needs. It does not mean extra work or different subject matter for some students, it means that the teacher takes into account the varying abilities, learning styles, interests and talents of students and delivers the instruction appropriately. D41 employs literacy and math specialists in each building who collaborate with teachers to develop instructional strategies that effectively differentiate, depending on the needs of each classroom.
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