Curriculum & Instruction
Overview
The Office of Curriculum and Instruction supports student and adult learners’ acquisition of the knowledge and skills to empower every learner to achieve personal excellence. This work creates and sustains the systems that foster continuous learning which support teaching for deeper learning. These systems are:
- Curriculum Development which provides a guaranteed and viable curriculum.
- Professional learning that focuses on content and impactful practices in instruction and assessment.
- Intensive instruction to support diverse learners through the following programs: English Learners, Bilingual Instruction, Reading Intervention Support, and Summer Success.
- Curriculum embedded instructional technology and mobile learning to support learners as they acquire the important skills of communicating clearly to a variety of audiences, collaborating with others, and persevering with challenging work.
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Literacy/Learning Innovation Hubs to support development of research skills, teach instructional technology use, promote literacy and provide print and digital resources for students.
- Balanced assessment system that collects a variety of information providing a holistic picture of student achievement that is multifaceted and focused on student growth
- District and school improvement processes to support continuous improvement.
As a result, Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95 has an infrastructure to ensure the success of educators and their students.
District 95 Instructional Model
The D95 Instructional Model
At the heart of every classroom in District 95 is a shared commitment to how we teach and how students learn. The D95 Instructional Model reflects our belief that great instruction is grounded in a meaningful and intentional curriculum and nurtures students' social and emotional well-being, and defined by four interconnected qualities: authentic, dynamic, responsive, and growth-focused.
This model guides the decisions our educators make every day, from the design of learning experiences to the way we support every student's growth.
Together, these elements form a shared instructional language for District 95, one that supports our mission of Empower95: empowering every learner to achieve personal excellence.
Authentic Student Experience
Learning that gives students agency, feels relevant to their lives, invites innovation, and connects to the world beyond the classroom.
Responsive Instruction
Teaching that is personalized to student needs, communicated with clarity, informed by evidence, and delivered with skill.
Dynamic Learning Environment
Classrooms that are collaborative and engaged, where curiosity drives learning and content is thoughtfully integrated across disciplines.
Growth Focused Community
A culture that embraces challenge, evolves with the needs of learners, pursues purpose in its work, and reflects to continually improve.
Curriculum Resources
Department Staff
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K-12 Core Curricula
Overview of Core Curriculum in D95
The department ensures the development and maintenance of a curriculum that is both guaranteed (consistent across all schools) and viable (aligned with educational standards). This curriculum serves as the foundation for teaching and learning across the district.
ELA
D95 K-12 English Language Arts Learning Experience Summary
In D95, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and rigorous English Language Arts (ELA) experience for all students in grades K-12. Our ELA program is aligned with D95 priority standards and proficiency scales and is supported by high-quality core literacy resources, ensuring that every student develops the literacy skills necessary for academic and lifelong success.
Our curriculum is guided by the Common Core ELA Standards—grounded in research on effective literacy development—and emphasizes four key areas at every grade level:
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Reading: Building comprehension, analytical, and critical thinking skills by exploring a wide range of increasingly complex texts, fostering deep understanding of themes, perspectives, and literary devices.
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Writing: Developing writing abilities across argumentative, informative/explanatory, and narrative genres, with a focus on clarity, structure, coherence, purpose, and the effective use of evidence.
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Speaking and Listening: Strengthening communication and collaboration skills through discussions, debates, presentations, and active listening, promoting respectful dialogue and confident expression.
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Language: Mastering grammar, vocabulary, and conventions to enhance clear, precise, and sophisticated communication in both written and spoken forms.
Our Literacy Community
At the heart of our ELA approach is a commitment to nurturing literacy-rich environments where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. Inspired by the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, we recognize and celebrate the diverse literacy identities and experiences our students bring to the classroom.
We strive to create inclusive communities where students actively engage with texts, express their ideas both orally and in writing, and connect their learning to the world around them. By fostering thoughtful communication, academic curiosity, and collaboration, we empower every student to see themselves as capable readers, writers, speakers, thinkers, and lifelong learners.
Elementary - ELA - Learning Experience Summary
Middle School - ELA - Learning Experience Summary
High School - ELA - Learning Experience Summary
Mathematics
D95 K-12 Math Learning Experience Summary
In D95, we are committed to providing a cohesive and rigorous mathematics experience for all students in grades K-12. Our math program is aligned with D95 priority standards and proficiency scales, and is supported by high-quality core resources to ensure all learners build a strong mathematical foundation.
Across all grade levels, students develop expertise in the Standards for Mathematical Practice from the Common Core State Standards, which are grounded in research on mathematical proficiency. These practices include:
- Making sense of problems and persevering in solving them
- Reasoning abstractly and quantitatively
- Constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others
- Modeling with mathematics
- Using appropriate tools strategically
- Attending to precision
- Looking for and making use of structure
- Looking for and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning
Mathematical Community
We recognize that students arrive with unique math identities and experiences. To foster mathematical growth, our classrooms nurture a sense of community where all students are encouraged to share and develop their mathematical thinking. Students communicate their ideas both orally and in writing, using precise mathematical language. Through collaborative norms and problem-based learning, all students are empowered to see themselves as capable mathematicians, and teachers are supported in building classrooms where everyone contributes to a rich mathematical learning environment.
Elementary - Math - Learning Experience Summary
Middle School - Math - Learning Experience Summary
High School - Math - Learning Experience Summary
Science
D95 K-12 Science Learning Experience Summary
In D95, we are committed to providing a cohesive and rigorous science education for all students in grades K-12. Our science program is aligned with D95 priority standards and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and is supported by high-quality resources to ensure all learners build a strong foundation in scientific understanding and practice.
Across all grade levels, students engage in three-dimensional science learning as outlined by NGSS:
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Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI): Students build knowledge in life, physical, earth, and space sciences, as well as engineering principles, developing a robust understanding of the natural world and preparing for advanced scientific study.
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Science and Engineering Practices (SEP): Learners engage in inquiry by asking questions, making observations, designing experiments, analyzing data, and constructing evidence-based explanations to solve real-world problems.
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Crosscutting Concepts (CCC): Students make connections across scientific disciplines by recognizing patterns, understanding systems and interactions, and exploring cause and effect, energy, matter, and change.
Scientific Community
Our science classrooms at every level foster curiosity, collaboration, and a sense of belonging, empowering students to see themselves as scientists and engineers. Through supportive classroom norms and inquiry-based learning, students are encouraged to ask questions, share discoveries, and apply their scientific thinking in new contexts. By nurturing these skills and mindsets, we prepare every student to confidently contribute to scientific understanding and problem-solving in an ever-changing world.
Elementary - Science - Learning Experience Summary
Middle School - Science - Learning Experience Summary
High School - Science - Learning Experience Summary
Social Science
D95 K-12 Social Studies Learning Experience Summary
In D95, we are committed to providing a strong, inquiry-based social studies education for all students in grades K-12, aligned with our district’s priority standards. Our program is designed to help students understand their community, nation, and world, while developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for responsible citizenship.
Across all grade levels, students engage in:
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Inquiry-Based Learning: Students explore historical and contemporary issues by asking questions, analyzing sources, and constructing evidence-based arguments, fostering curiosity and critical thinking.
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Civic and Global Awareness: Learners deepen their understanding of civic responsibilities, human rights, democracy, and cultural diversity, preparing to participate actively in their communities and a global society.
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Historical and Geographical Analysis: Students build skills in interpreting maps, data, and events, recognizing patterns and relationships, and making connections across time and place.
Social Studies Community
Our social studies classrooms foster curiosity, discussion, and collaboration. We strive to create inclusive environments where students feel empowered to ask questions, share perspectives, and engage in respectful dialogue. By nurturing critical thinking and civic engagement, we prepare all students to become informed, thoughtful, and active participants in society.
Elementary - Social Science - Learning Experience