• Curriculum

    Student learning is our primary focus here in the Sunnyvale School District. We believe that children need to be both challenged and supported to do their best learning. Each of our schools offers an academically rigorous curriculum, delivered by a caring, supportive, and attentive instructional team. We can therefore expect high levels of learning achievement for our children.

    Each school also offers an enriched curriculum, including music, art, living history, and hands-on science, and we incorporate project-based learning and integrate state-of-the-art technology into our teaching methods. We select our core textbooks and materials based on our student learning goals for specific subjects, and our teachers differentiate instructional methods based on individual students’ needs, providing extra help for some and enhanced activities for others.

    ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

    In English Language Arts (ELA), the Sunnyvale School District aims to develop lifelong readers and writers. Developing lifelong readers and writers requires starting early and providing a comprehensive ELA program that balances students’ competence, motivation, accessibility, and experiences with print. Four essential components of our ELA program are 1) a strong literature, language, and writing program, 2) decoding skills needed to read fluently, 3) ongoing diagnosis and assessment, and 4) early intervention for students at risk of failure in reading. 

    Core textbooks: 

    • TK-5 Fountas and Pinnell Classroom - Heinemann
    • TK-1 Heggerty Phonemic Awareness
    • Juntos K-7 Adelante
    • 6-8 Amplify ELA 6-8
    • ELD 1 - Get Ready & Get Reading
    • ELD 2 - Bridges

    Sunnyvale School District also uses the following supplemental ELA programs and materials:

    • Really Great Reading
    • Handwriting Without Tears
    • Words Their Way
    • Leveled Literacy Intervention
    • Read 180 Universal Intervention Program Scholastic + System 44
    • English 3D ELD Program - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

    MATHEMATICS

    In mathematics, our goal is for students to understand math concepts, know how to perform calculations, and be able to solve problems. We strive to accomplish this by providing students with a balanced instructional program.  

    Core textbooks: 

    • Illustrative Math K-5 Math
    • 6-8 Carnegie Learning Math Series: Common Core
    • Algebra 1- Carnegie Learning Math Series: Common Core 
    • Geometry - Carnegie Learning Math Series: Common Core 

    Supplemental materials: 

    • Do the Math - Scholastic Education
    • Bridges Intervention
    • Number Worlds
    • Primary Numeracy Consultants
    • 6-8 Desmos
    • CPM Algebra 1
    • Illustrative Math Geometry

    http://www.illustrativemathematics.org/

    SOCIAL STUDIES

    We believe that a deep understanding of history, geography, and social institutions matched with critical thinking, inquiry, and research skills are essential skills for all students. Our social studies program also helps students develop knowledge and cultural understanding and democratic and civic values, critical for social participation. 

    Core textbooks: 

    • K-8   TCI History Alive!

    SCIENCE

    Our goal for our science program is to help students learn science to enable them to enjoy and understand their planet.  We believe that some concepts are best learned through reading and writing, while other concepts are best learned through exploration.  Above all, we want students to enjoy learning science in ways that enrich their own lives and help them be stewards of the Earth. 

    Core textbooks:

    • K-5   Mystery Science (Earth Science)
    • 6-8 FOSS Science
    • 6th Mosa Mack

    SPANISH

    • 6-8 Galeria (Spanish 1)
    • 6-8 Senderos (Heritage Program)

    ARTS

    Our arts program is carefully planned to support and enhance the district’s academic goals and incorporate the California Visual and Performing Arts Standards. 

    All K-5 students participate in 18 weeks of arts instruction in dance, drama, and music provided by Starting Arts, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is the promotion and preservation of quality arts education in public schools. Since 2001, Starting Arts has partnered with school communities and districts in the San Francisco Bay Area. Students’ classroom teachers also attend the art lessons to support the instruction and develop their own art skills and experience. 

    Students in grades 6-8 have the opportunity to take electives in three fine arts disciplines: drama, music, and visual arts. All students learn dance through the core physical education program. In addition, we offer chorus, band, and orchestra at both our middle schools.

    We also offer applied arts electives in grades 6-8.  These vary from year to year but include courses such as woodshop, robotics, computer-generated graphic arts, and mixed media.