District Overhauls Math Curriculum, Implements New Science Programs

KXLG – Watertown, SD The Watertown School Board was presented with summer curriculum changes by Tricia Walker, K-12 Instructional Design, mainly focusing on math and science education. The changes, outlined in a recent district update, aim to enhance student learning outcomes and better prepare students for future academic and career paths; however, Board Member Jean Moulton expressed some concerns.

The 2023-2024 school year began implementing a new science curriculum across all grade levels. Elementary students continued using Mystery Science but with reorganized content and assessments. Middle schoolers transitioned to Elevate Science by Savvas, featuring a balanced approach to earth, life, and physical sciences. High schools introduced a mandatory physical science course and a dual-credit environmental science option.

A more extensive overhaul impacted the math curriculum. The district recognized the need for a flexible foundation emphasizing mathematical practices and content knowledge. A dedicated committee of teachers, principals, and administrators collaborated on a two-year review process to achieve this.

Walker explains more to the board…

The committee established core beliefs guiding the curriculum update, prioritizing explicit and inquiry-based instruction, effective teaching practices, and high cognitive demand.

Curriculum Changes:

Expanded Course Offerings: The district introduced regular and accelerated Algebra I courses to accommodate diverse student needs.
Increased Course Time: Algebra I and accelerated Algebra I will become ninth-graders year-long courses.
Math Pathways: A more transparent structure for math pathways was developed, allowing students to move between traditional and accelerated tracks based on their abilities and goals.
New Course Options: An introduction to statistics and probability course was added to the curriculum, providing students with valuable data analysis skills.
Financial Focus: Algebra 2 was redesigned to emphasize financial applications to make the subject more relevant and engaging.

After a thorough review, the district selected Illustrative Mathematics for grades 1-6 and Reveal Mathematics from McGraw Hill for grades 7-12. Both programs are designed to align with state standards and promote a deep understanding of mathematical concepts.

Walker said they will continue to support teachers through professional development, collaborative planning sessions, and resource access to ensure successful implementation.

After the presentation, Board member Jean Moulton shared some concerns…

Walker said the district will use the printed version of the textbook in the first year and, in the future, can photocopy whatever lesson they want to use, as needed.

Moulton expressed she was hopeful the committee would speak with districts with top scores in the subjects currently and their thoughts or what they are using. She also spoke about difficult word problems that the students may find frustrating…

Watertown Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen spoke up…

Overall, the district’s curriculum updates reflect a commitment to providing students with a rigorous and engaging education that prepares them for success in college and careers.

Full audio from the meeting below: