Curriculum & Instruction – Background Information / Documents
District Curriculum:
This curriculum document is a scope and sequence for all the teachers in the district. It has been been created by teachers and is reviewed each year during a designated district PD day. On that day, grade level teams meet together to work vertically and horizontally. The curriculum document is available on the school website for all stakeholders to see. The lesson plan template is used by teachers to help plan lessons based on the scope and sequence. Each classroom should have a visible learner poster for either the elementary or JR/SR High School.
Instructional Planning and Practice:
This is the timeline that is followed when the district adopts a new curricular resource. The adoption cycle is listed below. The committees are made up of administrators and teachers who specialize in the content up for adoption. They research and pilot the new resources and make a recommendation to the Board.
The elementary staff has also been working with a consultant from CEI since 24-25 to help with our Turnaround Status.
The Holyoke School District partners with Dragon’s Wagon Preschool, a private preschool in the community, to provide services and resources for children ages three to five years old with an IEP plan, including both IEP and regular students. Resources include collaborative planning for experiences and providing specialized services through NE BOCES for students with Individualized Education Plans. Teaching Strategies Gold is administered to children in the preschool setting at Dragon’s Wagon. Pre-kindergarten assessments are conducted to evaluate early literacy skills in the spring before a child enters kindergarten during the Kindergarten Round-Up event. In March, specialized service providers from NE BOCES conducted a Child Find in the district to identify student needs early.
The district employees Hattie’s Visible Learning. Teachers are expected to have success criteria and learning intentions posted in their classrooms. Elementary students repeat the Dragon Mindset Pledge Daily and Elementary student council teach the elements of LEARNERS during the year.
Visible Learning Learners Posters
District MTSS Approach:
Each building has a designated RTI specialist who supports the staff in the MTSS approach. That individual also spends time with each student on and RTI and RTI watchlist to progress monitor.
- Behavior RTI Flow Chart
- Initial RTI Flow Chart
- RTI Teacher Resources
- Elementary RtI/GT Information
- JR/SRJR/SR High School RtI/GT Information
READ ACT
The Elementary School uses the Read ACT plan to identify struggling meeting reading goals. The principal meets bimonthly with K-3 teachers.
Core Program: McGraw Hill – Wonders 2023
Supplemental Program: Literacy Phonemic Awareness 2022, 95 Percent Group LLC, and Read Naturally Inc. – Read Live
Intervention Program: McGraw Hill WonderWorks (2022), 95 Percent Group, and Read Naturally
READ Act Assessment: Dibels 8
In 2025-2026, Holyoke Elementary School will be using WIN time to meet the needs of students who are or were on a READ plan K-6th grade.
Resources/Programs available to students before, during and after school for intervention and enrichment
The Academic Opportunity Center is used with students in 5th – 8th grade. This is an opportunity for students to get extra help or if they have not mastered an assignment to correct it to a 70%.
ICAP Approach Seminar Classes (7-12):
Through the Homegrown Talent Initiative students are given opportunities to earn industry certificates as well as college credit. Students are part of a “home room” seminar class with the same teacher during the whole JR/SR High School experience. Seminar teachers provide students with real world opportunities and help them explore life post high school and reflect on their high school experience with their capstone project. The final capstone presentation is made at the end of the senior year in front of members of the board of education.
Data Management:
The district does not have a formal assessment and data management system. The staff uses Infinite Campus and NWEA reports to track and assess student growth and progress. The elementary school meets bimonthly in data meetings with the principal. The Jr/Sr High School meets monthly as a staff to review and set goals around student data and growth using NWEA scores.
Behavioral Expectations:
These are the behavior matrixes for both buildings. The principals use the matrix to guide their decisions on student behavior.
Course Taking
We build and select courses based on students request and desires. The courses/schedule is built around student needs/desires. Our “n” size is small enough that we do not “formally” track patterns of by groups of students.