Teaching and Learning
Curriculum and Instruction
JKBS serves students grades 7-12. New curriculum, assessment and intervention resources were introduced beginning with the 2020-2021 school year. These resources provide a comprehensive assessment and instruction program to help all of our students succeed. We now have access to actionable data that helps our teachers understand both students' strengths and gaps and enables us to personalize a learning path for every student. We also employ cross-curricular direct instruction to teach reading and writing through a variety of resources. Note some of the curriculum and assessment resources below.
JKBS has moved to a new online curriculum called Edgenuity that can be seamlessly utilized in both a Distance Learning and In-Person delivery model. This Common Core Standards aligned curriculum provides asynchronous direct instruction embedded into each lesson.
JKBS is implementing MyPath which is an age-appropriate intervention program for middle and high school students that offers data-driven differentiated instruction in math and ELA. Designed to meet students at their learning level, MyPath spans skills and concepts covered in grades 3 through 11, and is designed to help students get back on track. The data and reporting features in MyPath empower educators to monitor student performance at a glance, and quickly step in to offer additional help where needed.
In addition to the embedded formative and summative assessment system in Edgenuity, JKBS is implementing the NWEA Map Assessment Suite of tools so we can plan instruction and group students based on their specific needs. This will enable JKBS to customize our program to address learning gaps of individual students and provide intervention opportunities to accelerate their progress towards grade-level competency in reading, writing, and math. NWEA Map testing data is fed into the MyPath program to provide personalized targeted intervention for individual students.
Social and Emotional Learning
Supporting our student’s emotional health has always been a top priority at JKBS, and since the recent pandemic, we have placed an even greater emphasis on social and emotional well-being. We start each day with an online emotional check-in that allows the student to let their teacher know how they’re doing and if they need any extra support. We know focusing on academics can be challenging if/when a student is dealing with additional stressors.
In addition to the daily check in, teachers are integrating Social and Emotional Leaning into their English curriculum. Students are learning the five competencies associated with Social and Emotional Learning, which are:
1. Self-Awareness- What are my thoughts and feeling and how do I express those respectfully.
2. Self-Management- How do I manage my thoughts, feelings and behaviors respectfully and constructively.
3. Social Awareness- How do I understand the perspectives, thoughts and feelings of others. How do I show empathy and compassion for others.
4. Relationship Skills- How do I maintain healthy and supportive relationships. How do I communicate effectively with other people.
5. Responsible Decision Making- The ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior. What consequences do and actions have on myself and others.
Career Exploration
What do you want to be when you grow up? The question every student is asked at some point in their early education journey. But, what does that really mean and how do you get there? Through our Career Exploration curriculum, students are learning about different careers related to their interests and what steps they need to take to make those careers a reality. By taking interest surveys, students are also able to explore career paths that they may have not ever thought of.
Students are also learning the basics of what it takes to be successful in a job- everything from interview skills to effective communication and personal responsibility.
Our goal is grow our students into forward-thinkers who are well prepared for life outside of middle and high school.