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Rockport details K–12 curriculum reviews, new courses and PLC partnerships
Summary
District leaders described a K–12 ELA review, new high-school computer science pathway, middle-school electives, PLC partnerships with nearby districts, and resource updates for math, science and health.
At the Aug. 20 School Committee meeting, Jody Goodhue presented a broad teaching-and-learning update that covered curriculum reviews, new course offerings and regional professional learning communities.
Goodhue said the district will conduct a K–12 English-language-arts review — marking a third year using HMH Into Reading at the elementary level — while also evaluating resources for grades 6–12. "We're going into our 3rd year using the HMH into reading in the elementary school," she said, and staff will determine whether to extend resources into higher grades.
On course offerings, Goodhue announced a new Project Lead The Way high-school course, "computer science essentials," creating a pathway that will include course 1, course 2 and a planned capstone next year. She also said the district added a middle-school elective, "computer science for innovators and makers," and that an anonymous donation will fund Crunch Labs build boxes so fifth graders receive monthly hands-on STEM kits. "Every single kid will be able to build their own and take it home with them," Goodhue said of the Crunch Labs program.
Goodhue described a regional professional-learning-community partnership with Manchester Essex, Hamilton, Wenham and Georgetown to host PLCs for specialist teachers, and said the district piloted HealthSmart for grades 6–8 for health instruction. She added the science program is shifting toward more hands-on, group-based physics labs with new interactive notebooks and physics bundles to align with MCAS-style simulations.
Committee members asked about rollout and teacher time; Goodhue said some teachers will receive PD before the first weeks of school and that PLC scheduling gives grade-level teams additional weekly collaboration time.
