Curriculum committee recommends Grades 6–8 social studies units; staff outline ESOL and world-language updates

The New London Board of Education Curriculum Committee on June 3 recommended that the full Board approve a set of Grades 6–8 social studies curriculum units after a staff review and unanimous committee vote.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Hills-Papetti reviewed the proposed units for middle-school social studies and presented a motion to recommend their approval. Danni Cruz, committee chair, moved the motion and Bianca Alexis-Sylvain seconded; the motion carried, 3-0. The package approved for recommendation covers Grade 6 units on Europe and East Asia; Grade 7 units on Africa, Oceania, North America and South America; and Grade 8 units spanning Establishing an American Identity, Westward Expansion, Industrialization & Immigration, Sectionalism, Civil War and Reconstruction.

Dr. Hills-Papetti also presented a sample ESOL I unit, saying the unit includes learning skills, content, compelling guiding questions and LAS standards and that lesson development will continue through the summer and into the next school year to ensure vertical alignment. She told the committee staff are starting unit development from the standards to ensure consistency between grade levels.

On world-language curriculum, Dr. Hills-Papetti reported that "in January the State adopted new standards for World Language curriculum," and said curriculum specialist Ms. Texidor has been updating district materials to align with the new requirements; that work will continue over the summer.

Committee members thanked staff for the curriculum development work. Bianca Alexis-Sylvain and Nathan Caron each expressed appreciation, and Chair Danni Cruz noted his long involvement with the district’s curriculum work and thanked Dr. Hills-Papetti and her team. The committee moved and carried a recommendation to forward the social studies units to the full Board for approval.

The meeting began at 6:01 p.m. and adjourned at 6:13 p.m.