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The Curriculum and Instruction Department works collaboratively with principals, teachers, and school/community stakeholders to create, implement, evaluate, and revise instructional programs. The following programs are served under the Currciulum and Instruction umbrella.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.10 By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, in the grades 4-5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. Digital Citizen Scoring Guide (PDF) Knowledge Constructor Scoring Guide (PDF) English Language Arts: Curriculum - Reading (PDF) Curriculum - Writing (PDF) Word Study and Grammar Progression (PDF) Words Their Way Scope and Sequence Instructional Frameworks 2018-2019 (PDF) Instructional Framework (PDF) Pacing Guide - Reading (PDF) Pacing Guide. These pacing guides are to serve as a guide to what you student is learning in the classroom at any point throughout the year. The pacing guides for Grade K-8 have been revised to align with the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts and math.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS, SYLLABI AND PACING GUIDES

The FSSD follows the Tennessee Academic Standards for all courses in all schools. Tennessee’s curriculum standards were revised in 2008 and are considered among the most rigorous in the nation. At a minimum, the standards must be reviewed every six years in accordance with State Board policy 3.209. The four content areas (math, English language arts, social studies, and science) have recently moved through the revision process. For more information regarding standards revision please visit Tennessee Department of Education Standards Review online.

More information about

Curriculum and Professional Learning
Summer Carlton, Supervisor
Deb Naber, Secretary
1406 Cannon St.
Franklin, TN 37064
615-591-2802

ACCELERATED LEARNING

The FSSD Accelerated Learning program supports accelerated learners within the general education curriculum.

The Franklin Special School District recognizes the unique needs of both accelerated learners and students who meet the Tennessee state eligibility standards for intellectually gifted, a disability serviced through special education. FSSD has an Accelerated Learning Specialist (ALS) in each school. These specialists work with students and/or consult with teachers to differentiate instruction for advanced learners. Delivery of instruction by the Accelerated Learning Specialist is based on individual student need.

Evaluation for the Intellectually Gifted:

4th Grade Tennessee Language Arts Pacing Guide Answers

According to the State of Tennessee, “Intellectually Gifted” describes a child whose intellectual abilities and potential for achievement are so outstanding that the child’s educational performance is adversely affected. “Adverse affect” means the general curriculum alone is inadequate to appropriately meet the student’s educational needs.

If a parent or teacher makes a formal request for gifted eligibility testing, the general education teacher, Accelerated Learning Specialist, building administrator, and others, as appropriate, will schedule a review meeting. All gifted eligibility testing decisions are based on data.

Honors Program and Accelerated Learners:
FSSD offers a general education honors curriculum beginning in 5th grade. Meeting the state eligibility standards for intellectually gifted does not automatically qualify a student for the Honors Program. In addition, students who are served by the Accelerated Learning Specialist in elementary school are also not automatically placed into the Honors Program in 5th grade. The FSSD Honors Program has specific eligibility criteria for placement.

GRADING

The FSSD uses a Standards Based Grading System for grades K-4 and a letter-based system for grades 5-8.

• Standards Based Report Card Parent Guide (Grades K-2)
• Standards Based Report CardParent Guide (Grades 3-4)

HONORS PROGRAM

The FSSD strives to maximize the potential of students who demonstrate outstanding intellectual achievement, performance, and ability by emphasizing in-depth analytical thinking and creative problem-solving. Students are empowered to acquire the academic skills necessary for success in advanced placement courses.

Honors Program Parent Information:

4th Grade Language Arts Pacing Guide

For those who could not make it to the Honors Program Parent Information night, here are the presentation slides:

• Rising 5th Grade
• Rising 6th-8th Grades

• Reconsideration Request Form: This form is to be completed by a parent who makes a request for his/her child to be placed in the Honors Program, World Language, and/or 8th grade Algebra I when the child has not met qualifying criteria.
  • 5th and 6th Grade Reconsideration Form
  • 7th Grade Reconsideration Form
  • 8th Grade Reconsideration Form

RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION AND BEHAVIOR (RTI2-B)

The Franklin Special School District uses the Tennessee Department of Education’s Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI2-B) Model to provide academic and behavior support in the general education classroom with the goal of early intervention and prevention before a gap in achievement becomes too great. RTI2-B is a school-wide, multi-level prevention system to maximize student achievement. It is a tiered approach to service delivery that provides a systematic and data-based framework through implementation of research-based instructional practices correlated to the individual learner’s needs.

We believe that a consistent, informed intervention program for all students will result in more achievement opportunities. FSSD fully implements a unified RTI2-B approach in all grade levels. RTI2-B interventions are provided in all schools in both mathematics and reading.

Literacy and RTI2-B
Gina Looney, Ed.D., District Reading Coordinator
Deb Naber, Secretary
1406 Cannon St.
Franklin, TN 37064
615-472-3114

TEXTBOOKS

Textbook Adoption Information

The State Textbook Commission is responsible for recommending an official list of textbooks to the Tennessee State Board of Education (SBOE) for approval. Once the SBOE has approved a list of textbooks, it is the responsibility of local boards of education to decide which textbooks to use in their districts.

The state textbook adoption process is administered in accordance with the statutory requirements as set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 22 and the Rules and Policies of the State Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission. Once the local districts are provided with the list of state-approved vendors, local school systems must adopt books on the official list or submit a waiver request to the department to use textbooks or instructional materials not on the approved list.

English Language Arts Adoption 2020-2021
The Franklin Special School District is scheduled to adopt English Language Arts textbooks for the 2020-2021 school year. The FSSD selects members for the textbook review committee. In accordance with state requirements, the FSSD Board of Education will approve the recommended review committee to review the textbooks and instructional materials proposed for adoption and make their adoption upon recommendations of such committees. These committees are set up by grade and subject matter fields and composed of teachers, or supervisors and teachers, and parents with children enrolled in the district at the time of appointment to the committee.

According to the Tennessee Department of Education:
• the School Board may also choose to appoint experts in the grade level or subject matter field for which textbooks and instructional materials are to be reviewed.
• Teachers and supervisors who serve on the committee must be teaching or supervising the respective grade or subject at the time of appointment and must be licensed to teach in the state with endorsements in the subject matter or grade level for which textbooks or instructional materials are being reviewed.
• Teachers and supervisors must have three or more years of experience as teachers or supervisors in the public schools. The Director of Schools in the district adopting textbooks or instructional materials serves as an ex officio member of all committees.

After the textbook committee makes its recommendation to the School Board, the Director of Schools records the list of all textbooks or instructional materials adopted by the Board, forwards a copy of the recorded adoption to the Commissioner of Education and posts the list on the district’s web site.

Language Arts Pacing Guide

Journeys 4th Grade Pacing Guide

Students in our district are provided with all of the resources they need to support this type of instructional environment. Parents are urged to contact teachers to learn more about the specific resources used in their child’s classroom and how they can help reinforce material learned in class at home.

7th Grade Math Pacing Guide

For more information about the textbook adoption process, please visit the Tennessee Department of Education’s website for Textbook Adoption Cycle and Textbook Services.

4th Grade Tennessee Language Arts Pacing Guide 4th Grade