Welcome to Curriculum & Instruction
Curriculum Standards
f Education sets curriculum standards and frameworks in the areas of English-language arts, mathematics, science, history/social science, and visual and performing arts. These standards guide curriculum planning at the school district level. These documents were developed by teachers, curriculum specialists, and administrators and faculty from colleges and universities. They identify what students learn at each grade level in major subject areas. Curriculum Frameworks- for guidance on how to implement the California Content Standards, click on the following link:
California Adopts Common Core Standards
The Common Core State Standards were developed through a state-led effort to establish consistent and clear education standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics that would better prepare students for success in the competitive global economy. The initiative was launched and supported by the Council of State School Officers and the National Governor’s Association.
Forty-eight states, including California, participated in the Common Core State Standards Initiative. California is also participating in a multi-state consortium to develop assessments aligned to the Common Core standards.
OUSD Common Core Standards:
Where WE Are Now 
OUSD Common Core Implementation Timeline
To learn more about Common Core Standards, visit the following websites:
- National Common Core Standards Website
- California Department of Education Common Core Website
- San Diego County of Education Common Core Website
- English Language Arts Common Core
- A Look at Kindergarten through Grade Six in California Public Schools (a compilation of subject -matter curriculum, including information about the Common Core State Standards, organized by individual grade levels )
Common Core Resources for Educators:
- Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium released a set of sample assessment items and performance tasks that can be accessed through the link below. These innovative, technology-enhanced activities take advantage of computer-based administration to assess a deeper understanding of content and skills.
SBAC Released Sample Assessment Items and Performance Tasks
- Common Core computer-based assessments will require our students to have the ability to navigate through and use technology in numerous ways. The following sites provide additional examples of computer-based assessment activities and give us insight into the skills our students need to develop in order to feel comfortable with these assessments. Please be aware that these tasks are NOT based off of specific Common Core standards.
Computer-Based Assessment Tasks
American Institute for Research Sample Tasks
- The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) is a state-led consortium working to develop next-generation assessments that accurately measure student progress toward college- and career-readiness. To gain insight into the most current developments made by this group as they work toward creating the Common Core Assessment our students will be taking, visit the websites below.
Smarter Balanced Assessment Site
- The SBAC Content Specifications documents are a wonderful resource for educators seeking further elaboration about the assessment claims and the assessment targets that accompany each claim.
Content Specifications- ELA/Literacy
- The Depth of Knowledge (DOK) model is employed to analyze the cognitive expectation demanded by standards, curricular activities and assessment tasks (Webb, 1997). The model is based upon the assumption that curricular elements may all be categorized based upon the cognitive demands required to produce an acceptable response. Each grouping of tasks reflects a different level of cognitive expectation, or depth of knowledge, required to complete the task. Click on the following links to gain more insight into DOK as it pertains to both ELA and Math.
- The website below provides free, high-quality resources to educators doing the hard work of implementing the rigorous expectations set by Common Core standards.
- Are you wondering how closely aligned our 1997 standards are to our newly-adopted Common Core standards? Click on the link below for that information.
Analysis of California ELA standards to Common Core standards
Common Core Resources for Families:
- The document accessed through the following link will provide families with information including how the standards were developed and what the grade level expectations are for their child.
Educator Resources
The following website contains a variety of useful ideas to help teachers create an inviting and engaging environment:
Language Arts: The International Reading Association/The Reading Teacher
Resources on this site enhance literacy by helping teachers improve the quality of their instruction, encouraging a natural reading habit for students, and presenting information and research related to reading.
To access, click on this link. After clicking on this link, in the search engine on the left, type in, "The Reading Teacher", select 'publication titles', click enter.
Are you looking to enhance your thinking curriculum? Do you want to develop questions that require students to demonstrate higher levels of understanding? 
The following document contains posters, teacher guides, and printables that will help you reach these goals.
The following document contains websites for community resources offering local educational enrichment activities.
Identifying gifted and talented students can be challenging. The following PowerPoint presentation was created to assist teachers in their quest to recognize and document the work of students with exceptional skills.
GATE Identification Portfolio Process Training
GATE Scope and Sequence:
The following document provides a guideline for instructing gifted and talented learners. Some areas presented include 
themes to address, GATE icons to focus on, and possible teaching strategies at each individual grade level.
Donors Choose is an online charity connecting teachers to people interested in funding classroom resources. The link below connects you to the site where you can post your requests.
The document below can be used to view step-by-step instructions on how to access the public folders in OUSD Outlook.
How to Access Outlook Public Folders
Family Resources
Are you looking for a little extra practice for your reader? Does your young mathematician want to continue his/her studies? The following link will allow students to access leveled activities to support learning. All you need to know is your child's MAP test scores. Don't know these? Check with your child's teacher for more information.
MAP Reading Practice by RIT Range
MAP Math Practice by RIT Range
Your child may be eligible for educational and support services if your family meets the requirements of the Migrant Education Program. Please review the following form to see if your family qualifies.
Migrant Education Qualification Form
The following document contains websites for community resources offering local educational enrichment activities.
Jeanne Iman
Bess Bronson
