Curriculum FAQ... Continued Curriculum FAQ... Continued 2. What aspects make a strong curriculum? Aligned to State Standards: The curriculum should be aligned with CA educational standards. This ensures that students are learning the essential content and skills required for their grade level or course. Clearly defined and measurable learning objectives: These objectives help both educators and students understand the intended outcomes of the curriculum. Objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Sequencing and Progression: Content should be organized in a logical sequence, building on previous knowledge and skills. A strong curriculum ensures a progression of difficulty and complexity, allowing students to gradually advance their understanding and abilities. Engaging Instructional Strategies: The curriculum should suggest or incorporate a variety of research-based instructional strategies that cater to different learning styles. This includes hands-on activities, group work, technology integration, and other methods that keep students engaged and active in their learning. Robust Learning Activities: A curriculum that connects learning to real-world scenarios and applications makes the content more meaningful and engaging for students. It helps them see the practical implications of what they are learning while also giving opportunities to practice important skills and demonstrate the mastery of standards and concepts learned. Assessment and Feedback: Assessment tools should be aligned with learning objectives, providing educators with a way to measure student progress. The curriculum should also include mechanisms for giving constructive feedback to help students understand their strengths and areas for improvement. 3. My Educational Philosophy is different than a traditional public school? Can I still school with your charter? Absolutely! Regardless of educational philosophies, we can support you and your student to grow and love learning. By partnering together, we can set goals, monitor student learning and progress, and focus on mastering the California State Standards. Your teacher will use their experience and training along with our school’s curricular and instructional resources to create a standard-based curriculum plan that will ensure your student learns and masters the skills needed to be successful in today’s ever-changing world. 4. What curriculum choices do you recommend and why? There are several curriculum options that are our curriculum department’s favorites. When implemented with fidelity, these curricula are comprehensive in nature and provide a robust and meaningful experience so learners can progress and master grade-level standards. The curriculum incorporates a variety of pedagogically sound practices while also providing students with meaningful learning experiences that develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Curriculum Recommendations