Curriculum
Click on a link below to visit a content area for grades 6-8
- English Language Arts
- Spanish Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Health & Safety
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
English Language Arts
In 6th-8th grade, students participate in various units of study in language and literature. This includes classroom and small group novel studies and many opportunities for developing in the area of writing. Choose a grade level below to view the ELA syllabus. This document describes the units and their outcomes. Your child's ELA teacher will complete the BLUE sections for their classroom and post the syllabus in Canvas at the start of the year. This will include additional information on expected student products and any supplemental resources that your teacher plans to use. Contact your child's ELA teacher if you have specific questions about a classroom activity.
Additional Resources
Spanish Language Arts
Middle school Dual Language students participate in learning of both English Language Arts (ELA) and Spanish Language Arts (SLA). Choose a grade level below to view each syllabus. This document describes the units and their outcomes. Your child's ELA or SLA teacher will complete the BLUE sections for their classroom and post the syllabus in Canvas at the start of the year. This will include additional information on expected student products and any supplemental resources that your teacher plans to use. Contact your child's teacher if you have specific questions about a classroom activity.
Resources
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En Español (6-8)
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Spanish History Alive (TCI) (6-9)
Math
Choose a grade level below to view the Math syllabus. This document describes the units and their outcomes. Your child's Math teacher will complete the BLUE sections for their classroom and post the syllabus in Canvas at the start of the year. This will include additional information on expected student products and any supplemental resources that your teacher plans to use. Contact your child's teacher if you have specific questions about a classroom activity.
If your child is participating in math acceleration and is scheduled in Algebra or Geometry, please visit the high school section below to see the course syllabus.
You can learn more about enVision Mathematics from Savvas here! We use this math program in D100 starting in Kindergarten and in every grade level and course up through Algebra 2 in High School. We've selected this program because of it's alignment to research and best practices. You can read more on why enVision Mathematics is top-rated by EdReports here.
Resources
Science
Choose a grade level below to view the Science syllabus. This document describes the units and their outcomes. Your child's Science teacher will complete the BLUE sections for their classroom and post the syllabus in Canvas at the start of the year. This will include additional information on expected student products and any supplemental resources that your teacher plans to use. Contact your child's teacher if you have specific questions about a classroom activity.
6th Earth Science 7th Life Science 8th Physical Science
Middle school uses a variety of resources for instruction, including the following:
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Savvas Elevate Science for 6-8
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Discovery Education Experience
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Newsela Science
Additional Resources
Social Studies
Choose a grade level below to view the Social Studies syllabus. This document describes the units and their outcomes. Your child's Social Studies teacher will complete the BLUE sections for their classroom and post the syllabus in Canvas at the start of the year. This will include additional information on expected student products and any supplemental resources that your teacher plans to use. Contact your child's teacher if you have specific questions about a classroom activity.
Resources
Health & Safety
Middle school students receive 6 weeks of health instruction during each grade level year. During this 6 week period, they rotate out of regular physical education instruction. An opt out form for available topics will be sent home at the start of the 6 week session. You can view each grade level syllabus below. These will also be posted in Canvas by your child's health teacher. All district schools carry out annual state-required fire, inclement weather, and school safety drills with students and staff. Please contact your building principal if you have questions about safety-related drills.
Resources
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The Second Step Curriculum is used in grades K-8. It includes health and safety education-related topics including mental health, conflict resolution, and avoiding drugs & alcohol. You can view the complete Scope and Sequence here.
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Parents may contact their student's health teacher if they have concerns about resources that will be used for instruction.
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Central Middle School's Erin's Law Programming (Sexual Abuse/Assault Prevention) is provided by the school social worker. South Middle School uses an outside presenter to provide Erin's Law Programming (Sexual Abuse/Assault Prevention). This learning is presented by Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, Inc.
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RSAC Contact: Jimmie Getter, M.A., M.S., LPC, Prevention Supervisor & Therapist; 5301 E. State Street Suite 301, Rockford, IL 61108, 815-636-9811
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Additional Resources for Families
- Bikeology: Bicycle Safety Learning for Families
- Talking about the Dangers of Vaping - Parent Resources from the FDA
- Parents Guide to Preventing Child Abduction - Resources from the IL State Police
- Teen Dating Violence Awareness - Resources from Care Solace
- Self Harm Awareness - Resources from Care Solace
- Illinois Learning Standards for PE and Health
- ISBE-Provided Resources for Health Education (used by D100 Teachers)
- ISBE Mandated Units of Instruction (Includes specific topics for Health that have an opt out available)
UPDATE for 2022-23 School Year: As a result of Senate Bill 818/ Public Act 102-522, ISBE adopted new national standards for comprehensive personal health and safety learning and comprehensive sexual health education learning during the summer of 2022. School districts in Illinois are not required to offer comprehensive programming, and our local Board of Education is granted the authority to decide whether to offer comprehensive health programming and to adopt these learning standards. At this time, District 100 will not offer comprehensive health education programming or adopt the new standards until we can conduct further research. We need to spend more time to understand the new standards, the resources available, and the training needs of staff and parents, before making any decisions about adoption. As a result, a health education study action plan will be carried out and will include the collection of feedback from internal and community stakeholders to better understand our community's needs.
Our topics of learning related to personal health and safety and sexual health education remain limited to the learning listed below under each grade band. These topics continue to be mandated in Illinois with some available opt outs for families. Should any adoption and expansion of learning occur in the future, as described in the new legislation, parents would continue to have the ability to opt their student out of specific learning. You can read more about state changes and resources available to districts on the ISBE website.
Illinois law prescribes the courses of study and learning standards that all students are expected to learn in grades PK-12 in Illinois public schools. Illinois law allows parents/guardians to request 'opt outs' regarding only specific curricular topics, as follows:
- Sexual Health Education
- Family Life Class (not offered in D100)
- HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases
- Avoiding sexual abuse (Erin's Law annual programming)
- Instruction on organ/tissue and blood donor and transplantation programs
- Animal dissection
Parents can access the district opt-out form here. For applicable topics, this form will be sent home to families ahead of instruction. When participating in middle school or high school health education courses, parents will receive opt out communication at the start of the course.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Illinois schools are required to include the Illinois Social Emotional Learning Standards as part of their curriculum. The resources below will allow you to become more familiar with the standards and tools used in D100 to provide educational experiences to our students. Students don't learn these skills in isolation. They are integrated into all subject areas and as part of building a positive classroom environment for learning.
The SEL Standards
Goal 1: Develop self-awareness and self-management skills to achieve school and life success.
Goal 2: Use social awareness and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive relationships.
Goal 3: Demonstrate decision-making skills and responsible behaviors in personal, school, and community contexts.
Resources for Instruction
K-8 schools use Second Step as their core instructional resource for social emotional learning instruction. In addition to the core program, elementary students also participate in child safety and bullying prevention lessons. You can learn more about the individual lessons and what is covered in the program below.
Visit the Illinois State Board of Education site to learn more.
A parent or guardian can complete a Curriculum Objection Form to express objections to a unit of study or resource. The form should then be submitted to the building principal. The concern will be investigated and any involved materials reviewed to determine whether a change in curriculum or resources is warranted, based on IL curriculum and mandates. Parents are always encouraged to make contact first with a classroom teacher when there is a concern about your child or their participation in a specific course or classroom.