Jill MortimerRegional Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction

Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Northern Highlands, Upper Saddle River

A REGIONAL EFFORT FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT

Regional Office of Curriculum and Instruction

Grades K- 9 Curriculum Overview Booklet

Table of Contents

Quad-District Information3

History and Purpose of the Curriculum Office...............................4How to Access Curricula...............................................................5Art.................................................................................................6Health...........................................................................................7Language Arts...............................................................................8Mathematics..................................................................................9Music...........................................................................................10Physical Education......................................................................11Science.......................................................................................12Social Studies.............................................................................14Technology.................................................................................16World Language..........................................................................17Additional Grade 9 Electives.......................................................18

Jill MortimerRegional Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction

Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Northern Highlands, Upper Saddle River

A REGIONAL EFFORT FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT

Regional Office of Curriculum and Instruction

Jill Mortimer, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Highlands Regional High School298 Hillside AvenueAllendale, NJ 07401

 201-327-8700 x264

mortimerj@northernhighlands.org

Quad-District Superintendents

Allendale Mr. Lawrence Hughes, InterimHo-Ho-Kus Mrs. Deborah FerraraUpper Saddle River Dr. Monica BrowneNorthern Highlands Mr. John Keenan

A Regional Effort for Mutual Benefit3

The Regional Office of Curriculum and Instruction was established in July 2000 to promote and support articulation among the quad-districts. These four equally fund the Supervisor’s position, thereby creating a fiscally prudent shared service.  The Supervisor reports to the four Superintendents and maintains an office at Northern Highlands.

The Regional Supervisor is responsible, in part, for producing curricula in which the content and student knowledge/skills are aligned in all three sending districts.  The Atlas curriculum mapping software is used in the districts to map the curricula from September to June. The maps contain the following components: a calendar, essential questions, content, student knowledge/skills, assessments, technology integration, teaching activities, and resources and the most recent version of the State standards. In addition to these categories, all curricula also note interdisciplinary connections, the integration of 21st century skills, and modifications for various types of learners.

Curricula are developed at regional curriculum articulation meetings by regional grade level representatives and at meetings in each district. Special attention is paid to key transition points between schools, especially the middle schools and the high school. It is important to note the curriculum maps are “living documents” that are open to modifications as seen fit. All new curriculum guides and revisions of existing guides are submitted to the Boards of Education for approval before they are implemented.

There are many benefits to this type of collaboration, yet increased student achievement is probably the most important to note.  By collaborating with one another and researching model programs, we are able to produce progressive curricula that reflect national best practices.  Moreover, the fact that 9th graders come to Northern Highlands with a common background eliminates the need for a review period at the beginning of that grade in order to even out differences in preparation.

This mutual effort involves the cooperation of four Boards of Education, four Superintendents, seven principals, and more than 400 teachers. It is important to note the Regional Supervisor relies heavily on the cooperation of the teaching staff.  Their enduring professionalism and commitment to producing high quality curricula are truly appreciated.

How to Access Curricula  

4

This booklet provides an overview of the major curriculum content for grades K-9. In July 2007, all four districts purchased the Atlas Curriculum Mapping Software. At this time, we have developed Atlas Curriculum maps for all high school curricula and the K-8 Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Language Arts, Math and Physical Education curricula. During the 2010-2011 school year, we will map Art, Music, Health, and Technology. The maps are web-based and are therefore paperless, which fits our philosophy of being good global citizens. 

Accessing curricula:

 Click on this link - http://northernhighlands-public.rubiconatlas.org/public or look for the link to the Regional Office of Curriculum and Instruction on your district’s webpage.

 www.allendaleschoolsnj.com

www.hohokus.org

www.usrschoolsk8.com

www.northernhighlands.org

 

5

Art 

Curriculum Strands 

The Regional K-8 Art Curriculum is being revised in the 2010-2011 school year.

Northern Highlands 

Full-year art offerings for 9th graders include Art Experiences, Digital Arts, and Photography I. The semester course offering is Ceramics.

An Art classroom in one of the quad-districts.

6

Health The Regional K-8 Health Curriculum is being revised in the 2010-2011 school year.

 The standard sequence of Health classes at Northern Highlands is as follows: Grade 9 Family Living Grade 10 Driver Education Grade 11 First Aid & Surviving College Grade 12 Parenting and Sexuality  

7

Language Arts

The Reading and Writing Workshop philosophy is implemented.

  Northern Highlands

 All 9th graders take English 9, a full-year course and a semester course entitled Freshman Rhetoric. Works studied in English 9 may include Romeo and Juliet, A Tale of Two Cities, Of Mice and Men, The Learning Tree, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Good Earth, The House on Mango Street, Great Expectations, How Green Was My Valley, My Antonia and Alas, Babylon. The Modern Language Association format for writing is taught.  In the Freshman Rhetoric course, students learn the essentials of clear and correct writing. The course focuses on word choice, syntax, imagery, and tone.

Grade 9 English Department electives include Acting I, Journalism, Mass Media, and T.V. Production. 8

Mathematics

 Grades K-8 Strands

  Number and Numerical Operations Geometry/Measurement Patterns/Algebra Data Analysis, Probability and Discrete Math Mathematical Processes

 

Northern Highlands 

Grade 8 Grade 9____________ Advanced Algebra Honors Algebra II/Trig

orCP Algebra II/Trig

  Algebra CP Algebra II/Trig

orCP Algebra I

  Pre-Algebra CP Algebra I

orConcepts of Algebra

and Mathematical Patterns 

9

Music

 Curriculum Strands

 The Regional K-8 Music Curriculum is being revised in the 2010-2011 school year.

  

Northern Highlands 

Music offerings for 9th graders include Chorus, Symphonic Band, Chorus/Symphonic Band, and The Evolution of Popular Music. 

10

Physical Education

The curriculum has a wellness and lifetimes fitness philosophy.  

 Northern Highlands Offerings

Personal Fitness I, IIProject Adventure I, II3 on 3 BasketballAerobicsArcheryBadmintonDanceFloor HockeyFootballGolf

PickleballPowerwalkingSelf DefenseSoccerSof-crossSoftballSpeedballTennisUltimate FrisbeeVolleyball

 

11

Science

The Regional K-5 Science Curriculum is divided into two grade bands: K-2 and 3-5. Each district will cover all of the content within each section; however, the grade level at which it is covered remains at the discretion of each district. Hands-on and inquiry-based learning are the hallmarks of the program.

 Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2

  Variety of Animals Variety of Plants Changes in Animals Changes in Plants Natural and Harmful Changes in Terrestrial and Aquatic

Habitats Variety of Materials Properties of Matter Changes in Balance and Motion Changes in States of Matter Variety of Seasons/Weather Conditions Changes in Air and Weather

 Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5

  Interactions in Ecosystems Interactions with Wetlands Experiments with Animals Microscopic Structures Sound Systems Solar System Electrical and Magnetic Systems Interactions of Matter Interactions with Water Buoyancy Light and Solar Energy Geological Interactions

  

12

Science  

Grade 6 

Movement and Forces in the Human Body Motion and Forces Affecting Weather Systems Environmental Issues Solar System

 Grade 7

  Life Science at the Microscopic Level Chemistry Dynamic Earth

 Grade 8

  Genetics Forces, Motion, and Energy Geology

  

Northern Highlands 

Grade 9

Honors PhysicsThe co-requisite is Honors Algebra II/Trig.

orCP Physics

The co-requisite is CP Algebra I or CP Algebra II/Trig.

orPhysics

 

13

Social Studies

Hands-on geography, historical fiction, global knowledge and research are represented in the philosophy of the program.

 Kindergarten

Time Goes By Making Good Choices and Being a Good Citizen Family and Community Life Famous Americans and Symbols Workers, Goods and Services Where We Live

 Grade 1

Time Goes By Rules, Laws and Choices Family and Community Life Basic Goods and Services Environment, Resources and Society

 Grade 2

People Long Ago Issues Influencing U.S. History Civic Participation Challenges of Meeting the Needs of People in a Community Community Comparisons

 Grade 3

Town/Community History New Jersey Regions/States/Map Skills

 Grade 4

Economics Government/American Symbols Immigration/Cultures and Connections

 

14

Social Studies 

Grade 5World GeographyWorld History

(the birth of civilization and early human societies)

Grade 6World History

Medieval Europe Rise of Islam Rise of West African Empires Rise of Asian Civilization Renaissance, Reformation, & Age of Global Encounters

Grade 7U.S. History

Colonization and Settlement Revolution and the New Nation Expansion and Reform Civil War and Reconstruction

 Grade 8

U.S. History Industrial Revolution Emergence of Modern America Great Depression and WWII Postwar Years Contemporary America

 Grade 9 World History

 This required survey of world history begins with the Scientific Revolution then traces the evolution of the philosophical ideas that inspired the Enlightenment and the French Revolution of 1789. Students evaluate the changing face of European society as industrialization and national rivalries shape the continent and the wider world through the age of imperialism. The course provides detailed focus points on the Middle East, the Asian sub-continent and East Asia. Emphasis is placed on 20th century history and current global issues.

15

Technology 

Grades K-4 

The K-8 Regional Technology Curriculum is being revised in the 2010-2011 school year. 

Northern Highlands 

The Grade 9 required technology class is a semester course, Contemporary Business Technology. The course focuses on developing 21st century business and technology skills. Students create their own “personal web space” containing their financial, career, school, and personal profiles. Technologies include Adobe Dreamweaver and Photoshop, as well as advanced functions in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Topics include global awareness, personal financial management, presentation skills, and career and college planning.  

16

World Languages 

The Regional World Language Curriculum features the benchmark years of grades 4, 7 & 8. All districts agree to meet the regional objectives by the end of those grades. The goal of our communicative-based language instruction is to prepare students for authentic language use in the real world

 Northern Highlands

 Grade 9 World Language offerings include the following: 

Latin I French I CP French II French II Enriched Introduction to Spanish CP Spanish II Spanish II Enriched Italian I Chinese I Exploring Languages and Cultures

Skype can be used to communicate globally.

17

Additional Grade 9 Electives at Northern Highlands

 Career Education & Consumer, Family and Life Skills

 

Business Education

Introduction to Business  

Applied Technology

Computer-Aided Drawing and Design I Real World Engineering Woodworking

 

Family and Consumer Science

Foods and Nutrition Fashion and Textiles Interior Design

Northern Highlands Regional High School18