Curriculum
Teaching and Learning in Hawthorn District 73
Hawthorn District 73 educators work together as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) to support student growth and learning. We implement a Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC), provide a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and use high-quality instructional resources to ensure high levels of learning for all students.
Professional Learning Community (PLC)
A Professional Learning Community (PLC) is an ongoing process in which educators work collaboratively to achieve better results for the students they serve. PLC practices and structures create a sustainable focus on learning; build a collaborative culture in which learning matters; and focus on results. Our grade level teams and departments engage as PLCs to ensure student learning. In doing so, they respond to four key questions:
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What is it we want all students to know and be able to do? (GVC: Essential Outcomes)
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How will we know if each student has learned it? (Assessments)
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How will we respond when students don’t learn it? (MTSS: Intervention)
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How will we extend for the students that already demonstrate mastery? (MTSS: Enrichment & Acceleration)
Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC)
A Guaranteed and Viable Curriculum (GVC) is a curriculum in which specific grade level content is identified for students to learn, and corresponding instructional time is then provided for student learning. In developing a GVC, we first prioritize specific learning standards to serve as our essential learning outcomes. This ensures a common understanding and collective focus on what all students must know and be able to do. We then work together as PLC to ensure that every student learns essential outcomes.
Hawthorn’s GVC Leadership Team includes teacher leaders, as well as school and district administrators. We continually refine and clarify our understanding of what all students should know and be able to do, how we measure student success, and how to ensure implementation to best meet the needs of our students.
Please click the links below to access our essential learning outcomes for students.
Curricular Materials
Hawthorn District 73 has secured a number of high quality curricular materials to support the implementation of our GVC. At the elementary level, this includes Bridges in Mathematics, Into Reading (English language arts), ¡Arriba la Lectura! (Spanish language arts), and Second Step (social emotional learning). At the middle school level, this includes myPerspectives (English language arts), Amplify Desmos Math (Math), Activate Learning OpenSciEd (Science), myWorld Interactive (American and World History), Project Lead the Way (STEM), and Wayfinder (social emotional learning).
Middle School Health
Included in our students' middle school health class are units of study focused on personal and sexual health. Our sixth grade unit addresses mental and emotional health, our seventh grade unit addresses violence prevention, and our eighth grade unit addresses sexual health. Lessons include age-appropriate resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT). These and other instructional materials are accessible via Google Classroom. Parents/Guardians play an important role in health education, and are encouraged to discuss these topics with their children. Parents/Guardians choosing to opt their child out of sexual health education must send a written request to their child's school principal each school year. For additional information about our units of study, parents/guardians are encouraged to connect with their child's health teacher, school principal, and/or the Department of Teaching and Learning.
Katie Waggoner (waggonerk@hawthorn73.org), Principal of Middle School North
Rob Natale (nataler@hawthorn73.org), Principal of Middle School South
Allison Stein (steina@hawthorn73.org), Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning