Curriculum



“Ms. Knuttila believes all students can learn. She encourages her students to do their best and often gets them to go beyond what they thought they could do.” 
– Susan Jystad, Peer Coach
“[Lauren] can be counted on to reach each student’s individual needs. One particular student is in 4th grade and had not yet began to read. She was able to gain 
his trust and inspire him. 
He read me an entire passage 
after just two months!” 
– Shauna Ames, Principal

“Her insights, problem solving abilities and understanding of the daily curriculum was greater than any non-tenured teacher that I have encountered, and she continued 
to grow each year.” 
– Jeffrey Fague, Teaching Colleague

Writing Curriculum

After serving as the middle school representative on the K-12 English Curriculum Committee, I led the 7th/8th grade English department in writing a new curriculum to meet the increased demands of the Common Core and to utilize the new textbook that we selected as a department. Below are a few snapshots as examples of the information included in the map, or see the full curriculum map. 

Project-Based Learning

Letter to the Editor

Summary
Students will choose a topic and conduct research, locating credible sources with relevant facts to cite. Students will write a persuasive letter to the editor, including a Works Cited page. Several letters will be sent to the local newspaper for publication. 

Anchor Standards
  1. Write arguments to support claims in  an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
  2. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.

Summative Assessment
The letters will be assessed using a rubric focusing on the 6+1 traits of writing. 

Public Service Announcement

Summary
Students will choose a topic and conduct research, locating credible sources with relevant and persuasive facts to cite. Students will learn persuasive techniques and incorporate them, along with the persuasive information, into a Public Service Announcement (video) that will be uploaded to the school tv station. 

Anchor Standards
  1. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
  2. Analyze the purpose of information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and evaluate the motives (e.g., social, commercial, political) behind its presentation.

Summative Assessment
Videos will be assessed using a rubric focusing on persuasive techniques, relevant information, and production quality.