Teaching & Learning

marquardt school district 15

Marquardt School District 15's mission is to implement an educational program which provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become productive members of society and life long learners. Our curriculum is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards and designed to cover a variety of content in the core learning areas: Language Arts, Mathematics,  Science, Social Science, Fine Arts, Physical Development and Health. At all grade levels, teachers employ varied instructional methods and materials, tailored to the needs of individual classes and individual students. 


I. CURRICULUM

Marquardt School District 15's curriculum is aligned to the Illinois State Standards and focuses on the following fundamental learning areas:

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD

In every grade level, teachers choose instructional methods and materials to help meet the needs of individual classes and students as they implement the curriculum. Below are a few ways you can help your child succeed academically this school year.

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Your child’s teacher or principal can best answer specific questions about what your children are learning and how you can support their growth.

Top 8 Questions Parents Ask Teachers is a Q&A resource authored by Student Achievement Partners' Core Advocate teachers.

Milestones Videos show students demonstrating what success looks like in reading, writing, and math in grades K-8


II. INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Marquardt School District 15 monitors the progress of students very closely. We strive to meet the needs of each of our students through a variety of instructional practices. Any parent who feels that their child requires such services may contact their principal for assistance.

  • English Learner Program is designed to enable EL students to attain both English proficiency and parity with their non-EL peers in academic content at grade level. This is accomplished within a variety of effective program models.

  • Special Education-Services are provided for students who qualify according to state criteria for specified programs or services. Services may include occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech/language therapy as well as programs designed for students with learning disabilities and behavioral disorders.

  • Early Childhood Special Education Program is designed for students with identified developmental delays in the area of speech and language, motoric, behavioral and/or cognitive functioning. This program is designed to provide early intervention in each of the developmental areas.

  • Social Workers and Psychologists are a vital part of the educational process. They work in collaboration with school nurses, teachers, administrators, parents and various community agencies to ensure the success of the whole child. These professionals work to provide social, emotional, and behavioral support to students, families, and the school.

  • Accelerated Math is a challenging accelerated program for academically able learners in the upper elementary grades. Advanced math learners receive daily math instruction with certified math teachers in content a year or more above their current grade level.

  • Co-Taught Classes use an instructional model where two or more teachers work together to support student learning and growth. Co-taught classes provide students with the opportunity to receive instruction and feedback from multiple instructors with different strengths and perspectives. This model can be used to support general instruction or specific differentiated instruction.

  • Summer School is a great way for your child to learn throughout the summer. We offer a variety of opportunities that allow your child to learn in a fun, hands-on environment. For students who are in instrumental music, there are band and orchestra camps. Sports camps are also available where students can hone their skills or just get active and try something new.

  • PBIS Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports is a framework from which good behavior is systematically described and taught through expectations and rewarded when evidenced by students.

  • e-Learning: MSD15 is offering e-Learning in the case of an emergency including, but not limited to, snow days, “cold” days, etc. This is not to be confused with remote learning due to COVID-19. To learn more about e-Learning, please view the following documents:


IIi. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

We offer 1:1 computer learning for all learners where educators can use interactive texts, videos, animations, and other features in digital instructional programs. Technology-based teaching and learning provides more dynamic, personalized lessons with assessment tools that determine each student’s level of performance to help teachers quickly identify academic strengths and areas of growth.

Classrooms across the district are also equipped with digital displays, projectors, document cameras, and also have access to computers. 


Iv. STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Every school’s goal is for all children to grow and learn. Just as we use a tape measure to mark a person’s physical growth, in schools we use a variety of assessments to measure learning. Teachers use these results to help plan instruction and provide appropriate support. The following assessments are used in Marquardt School District 15 to understand what students know and can do:

  • NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment measures each student’s reading and mathematical achievement level and growth throughout the year and from one year to the next. It compares a student’s performance to students in the same grade in District 15 and across the nation. Taken on the computer, it individualizes the test for each student; a question’s difficulty is based on how well the student answered all previous questions. The tests are administered online to all kindergarten through 8th grade students three times a year: fall, winter, and spring. The MAP assessment is aligned to the Common Core State Standards.

To support your child with NWEA Map...

Check out NWEA Resources for Parents, a website that provides parents information about NWEA, videos and parent guides in English and Spanish

  • Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) is a State-mandated achievement test that measures a student’s learning in relation to the Illinois Learning Standards. The assessments of English Language Arts and Mathematics are administered in grades three through eight.

  • Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) is a State-mandated achievement test that measures a student’s learning in relation to the Illinois Learning Standards in Science. This assessment is administered in grades five and eight.

  • PSAT is administered to 8th-graders . The PSAT prepares students not only for their high school coursework, but for their post-high school choices as well. It marks an important beginning for a student's future academic and career success. It is administered in October of a child’s 8th grade year.

To support your child with PSAT...

Read the "Benefits of Taking the PSAT" an informational parent handout.

  • ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Learners) is a summative English language proficiency assessment. It is taken annually by English language learners in kindergarten through grade 8.

To support your child with ACCESS...

Check out the Illinois Board of Education's ACCESS Resources page and these How-to Videos.

  • Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) is an observational tool designed to help teachers, administrators, and families better understand the developmental readiness of children entering kindergarten. Data for this tool is recorded in the fall and spring of the kindergarten year.