District details multi-year curriculum revisions and phonics, handwriting adoptions

Trisha, the district curriculum presenter, told the board the summer was focused on implementing the next phases of a seven-year curriculum cycle covering social studies, ELA, phonics and handwriting and preparing teachers through preservice training before the Aug. 25 start of school.

She said elementary districts opted into state-provided weekly social-studies resources for K–5 and that the district purchased aligned resources for pre-K, junior-K and sixth grade. "We received those and will receive them through the next 5 years," Trisha said, adding the district also revised pacing guides and aligned science and social studies where the two areas overlap.

Trisha described the district’s emphasis on the science of reading and said the ELA committee prioritized phonics at lower grades and writing at upper grades. "The phonics emphasis will include pre-k ... and we've adopted a program called Really Great Reading," she said, adding the adoption includes diagnostic tools and teacher training to support prescriptive instruction. Trisha also said the district adopted Handwriting Without Tears for early childhood to support fine-motor development.

At the secondary level, curriculum teams shifted some 8th-grade content to 7th grade and implemented a South Dakota Native American studies course at the high-school level. Trisha said teachers worked on common assessments and writing progressions so students encounter informative, persuasive and narrative writing at every grade.

Board members asked for details about literature selections and assessment pacing; one member noted concerns about digital vs. paper reading/writing activities and another praised the handwriting emphasis. The presentation concluded with an administrative plan to continue staff training during preservice and to finalize pacing and implementation during the upcoming school year.