Welcome to the Plymouth Public Schools Curriculum & Instruction pages!

A “guaranteed and viable curriculum” has the greatest impact on student achievement (Marzano, 2003). In the Plymouth Schools, we believe that curriculum is constantly evolving in response to the ever-changing needs of the student population and society, best practices in education, district initiatives, and state directives. Currently, curricula in all core content areas are being revised to integrate the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which Connecticut adopted. As part of this process, instruction is becoming increasingly focused on higher-leveling thinking, the ability to research, evaluate, and synthesize information, using evidence to argue ideas, connecting learning in authentic ways to the world around us, and developing 21st century skills.

One of the district’s goals is to further integrate technology and instruction. This year, we significantly updated several of our computer labs and installed interactive whiteboards in elementary classrooms. In addition, we added several laptop labs so that students have greater access to technology and resources. The Board of Education adopted a technology plan as mandated by the Connecticut Department of Education for 2012-2015.

As Director of Curriculum and Instruction, I strive to enrich the learning environment for our students by working collaboratively with school principals to encourage and support our teachers in pursuing new strategies for teaching that will contribute to student engagement and achievement. In Plymouth, we believe in the power of collaboration and reflection. Our district is focused on providing teachers with opportunities to work together to share best practices, develop comprehensive curricula, analyze student work to improve student learning, and reflect upon our current practices.

This year, we are striving to create an even stronger learning community and provide time and resources for professional development for our teachers and instructional staff. We also are focused on refining assessments to align to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and providing authentic experiences for students. Lastly, while we are committed to increasing the academic achievement of our students, we are also committed to their overall well-being, health, and social-emotional development. We work closely with community groups, such as the Plymouth Early Childhood Council (PECC) and the Local Prevention Council (LPC), to promote the development of healthy, responsible, respectful, caring citizens.

Dr. Jodiann Tenney, Director of Curriculum and Instruction