Curriculum & Instruction

Welcome

The office of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction ensures that the programs and instruction provided by the district assist students to achieve the goals outlined in our District and School Advancement Plans. The Assistant Superintendent works with school administration, teachers, peer based Curriculum Coaches, the Professional Development and Evaluation Committee (PDEC), the District Curriculum Cabinet, the Board of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction Subcommittee, and various other parent and community stakeholders to provide an integrated system of curriculum and instruction that meets the unique needs of each and every student.

You can teach students a lesson for a day; but if you can teach them to learn by creating curiosity, they will continue the learning process as long as they live.
Clay P. Bedford

Michelle Zawawi

assistant superintendent
Curriculum and Instruction

Phone: 860-668-3806
Fax: 860-668-3805

Melissa Bielonko

secretary to the assistant superintendent

Curriculum Coaches

Curriculum coaches work with teachers in a variety of ways. An essential component is providing professional learning experiences on an ongoing basis with teachers as both individuals and teams. Curriculum coaches model lessons, set student goals with teachers, work with Professional Learning Communities, assist with students individually and in small groups, co-teach, and provide feedback to teachers.

An integral part of the role is facilitating professional development both with and for teaching staff. Curriculum Coaches plan and present professional development in collaboration with school administration. Additionally, Curriculum Coaches work collaboratively to ensure vertical alignment, review curriculum expectations, and discuss instructional strategies and practices to improve student outcomes. We offer one another insight and knowledge to best meet the needs of our individual teachers.

A. Ward Spaulding School
Grades PreK-2

McAlister Intermediate School
Grades 3-5

Suffield Middle School
Grades 6-8

Suffield High School
Grades 9-12

Grades PreK-2

Elementary Curriculum

PreK-2 Math Curriculum

PreK-2 ELA Curriculum

PreK-2 Social Studies Curriculum

PreK-2 Science Curriculum

PreK-2 Unified Arts Curriculum

PreK-2 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum

Measuring Student Growth

Report Card Guide
Assessment
Scientific Research-based Interventions (SRBI)

Report Card Guide

This guide is intended to provide families with detailed information on expectations on standards for students as they progress from kindergarten through grade 5. Our curricula are designed to follow the guidelines of the Connecticut Core Standards for literacy and mathematics as well as social studies, science, music, art, physical education, and Spanish (MIS only). Our Standards-Based Report Card seeks to provide meaningful feedback so both students and parents can track student progress toward mastery of key academic concepts and reflect upon strengths and areas of growth.

The report card captures detailed information regarding your child’s progress toward end of year grade level standards. This means that the standards on the report card are written for mastery by the end of the year. With our reporting tool, most students will be progressing, or on the path to mastery, for many of the standards until March or May.

Please see guide below for detailed information.

Report Card Guide - PDF

Additional Resources

ELA End of Year Expectations K-2

Math End of Year Expectations K-2

Assessment

Literacy Assessments

Benchmark Assessment System
STAR assessments (four times per year: Baseline, Fall, Winter & Spring)
Benchmark reading assessments (three times per year: Fall, Winter & Spring)
Spelling Inventory Assessments (three times per year: Fall, Winter & Spring)
Fundations Assessments (ongoing after each unit of study)
- Level K
- Level 1
- Level 2
Monthly running records
Reading unit assessments (ongoing after each unit of study)
Writing On Demand Assessments (with each genre taught: Narrative, Informational, Opinion)
Common Formative Assessments

STEM Assessments

3 Act Math Tasks
Common Formative Assessments - within the units of Investigations In Number, Data, and Space
2nd Grade: Math Running Records to assess Fact Fluency in addition and subtraction
Observation and Conferring
Math STAR Screener 3x a year Grades 1 & 2
Bridges Intervention progress monitoring and placement assessments
Early Numeracy Interview
First Steps Tasks

Scientific Research-based Interventions (SRBI)

Suffield’s Vision for Scientific Research Based Intervention (SRBI)

The Suffield Public Schools support the state model for using Scientific Research Based Intervention practices in education to provide high quality instruction and intervention matched to student needs. A focus is maintained on prevention, early intervention, and comprehensive supports of different levels of intensity to support all students demonstrating diverse levels of risk. SRBI ensures that all students receive timely support in order to develop the strategies and skills necessary to meet grade-level expectations.

Please read the document below for detailed information on Suffield's SRBI Process.

K-5 SRBI Information - PDF

Resources

Humanities
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)
Rubicon Atlas Curriculum Maps

Humanities

Reading and Writing Workshop
Reading Guide for Parents
ELA Common Core State Standards
Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Frameworks

Writing Unit Learning Progressions

Learning Progression for Information Writing (PreK-6)
Learning Progression for Narrative Writing (PreK-6)
Learning Progression for Opinion Writing (PreK-6)

Website Recommendations

Starfall - Practice phonics skills and read along stories
Storyline Online - Hear some of your favorite stories read aloud by some of your favorite celebrities!
National Geographic for Kids - Learn about geography and animals
ABC YA - Practice math and reading skills while playing fun games!

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math)

Math Standards
Science Standards
Computer Science Standards (International Society for Technology Education)

Rubicon Atlas Curriculum Maps

Suffield Public Schools Curriculum Maps

Specialists

Math Specialist - Intervention and Enrichment
ELA Specialist - Intervention and Enrichment

Math Specialist - Intervention and Enrichment

Chad Sullivan
PreK-2 Math Specialist

The math specialist works collaboratively with teachers and the STEM coach to move all students towards specific learning targets; focusing primarily on the far ends of the spectrum. The specialist helps teachers to identify students struggling to meet grade level standards as well as identify students who would benefit from enrichment opportunities. Once students are identified, the math specialist works with the math team and classroom teachers to develop and implement lessons to meet student needs.

ELA Specialist - Intervention and Enrichment

Amber Lonardo
PreK-2 ELA Specialist

The reading specialist works alongside teachers and the Humanities Coach, working with small groups in classrooms, providing intense reading instruction in tier 3 and immersing students in enrichment projects. The specialist helps teachers to identify students struggling to meet grade level standards as well as identify students who would benefit from enrichment opportunities. Our goal is to reach each child’s needs.

Grades 3-5

Intermediate Curriculum

3-5 Math Curriculum

3-5 ELA Curriculum

3-5 Science Curriculum

3-5 Social Studies Curriculum

3-5 Unified Arts Curriculum

3-5 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum

Measuring Student Growth

Report Card Guide
Assessment
Scientific Research-based Interventions (SRBI)

Report Card Guide

This guide is intended to provide families with detailed information on expectations on standards for students as they progress from kindergarten through grade 5. Our curricula are designed to follow the guidelines of the Connecticut Core Standards for literacy and mathematics as well as social studies, science, music, art, physical education, and Spanish (MIS only). Our Standards-Based Report Card seeks to provide meaningful feedback so both students and parents can track student progress toward mastery of key academic concepts and reflect upon strengths and areas of growth.

The report card captures detailed information regarding your child’s progress toward end of year grade level standards. This means that the standards on the report card are written for mastery by the end of the year. With our reporting tool, most students will be progressing, or on the path to mastery, for many of the standards until March or May.

Please see guide below for detailed information.

Report Card Guide - PDF

Grade 5 Math Standards Report Card Guide - PDF