Curriculum Information
Office of Teaching & Learning
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Executive Director of Curriculum & Support Services, Kristen Santilli
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Supervisor of Teaching & Learning, Tina Xavier
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Katie Sedlock, Administrative Assistant
Curriculum and Instruction
At Shelton Public Schools, we are committed to providing every student with a high-quality, engaging education that prepares them for success in school and beyond. Our curriculum is aligned with Connecticut state standards and designed to support every student’s growth and success. We focus on helping students develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, and independence.
Our curriculum is guided by the district’s Vision of the Graduate and is carefully aligned across all grade levels—from Pre-K through Grade 12—so students build knowledge and skills as they progress through school.
Understanding by Design (UbD) is the framework our district uses to plan instruction with purpose. It starts with a simple but powerful idea: begin with the end in mind. In other words, we first identify what we want students to know and be able to do, and then plan instruction to help them get there. By starting with clear learning goals, teachers design lessons and assessments that help students build essential knowledge and skills. We know students truly understand when they can apply their learning in new and meaningful ways.
We are committed to providing engaging and rigorous learning opportunities that prepare students for college, careers, and life in a rapidly changing world.
We invite you to explore the curricular resources on this page to learn more about the programs and opportunities available to Shelton students.
If you have questions about teaching and learning in Shelton Public Schools, please get in touch with Kristen Santilli at ksantilli@sheltonpublicschools.org
Office of Teaching and Learning
Phone: 203-924-1023, ext. 317
Fax: 203-567-8215
UFLI Phonics is a reading program that helps children learn to read by understanding the sounds that letters and letter combinations make. It’s a step-by-step approach that teaches kids how to decode words, spell, and read with confidence.
Foundational Literacy Programs
Geodes are based on the belief that by giving developing readers captivating and accessible books about the world, children will become lifelong learners. These books allow students to not just apply phonics skills but also build enduring knowledge and cultivate a deep learning experience.
The Heggerty Phonemic Awareness program is implemented from Pre-K to Grade 2. It helps students to build strong literacy foundations. The program follows a systematic progression of skill development, highlighting a range of phonological and phonemic awareness skills.
English Language Arts K-8
Wit and Wisdom is an English Language Arts curriculum that brings the rich content, including wisdom, wonder, rigor, and knowledge, and that literature, history, art, and science all have a place in ELA instruction.
English Language Arts Grades 9-12
Grade 9 Overview:
The Grade 9 English curriculum builds a strong foundation in reading, writing, and language skills through a sequence of thematically connected units. Students begin by analyzing story elements, developing their ability to interpret plot, character, and theme in a variety of texts. They then apply these skills to their own writing in a personal narrative unit, focusing on voice, structure, and reflection. In the second half of the year, students explore the concept of human nature through literature, strengthening critical thinking and analytical writing. The course concludes with a drama unit, where students examine plays to understand dialogue, conflict, and performance elements. Throughout the year, students also engage in targeted grammar instruction, progressing from parts of speech to phrases, clauses, and proper usage. This integrated approach ensures students develop clarity, precision, and confidence in both written and verbal communication.
Grade 10 Overview:
The Grade 10 English curriculum deepens students’ analytical thinking, writing skills, and understanding of literature through thematically rich and rigorous units. Students begin with expository writing and historical connections, learning to research, analyze informational texts, and communicate ideas clearly using evidence and proper MLA format. In the second unit, students explore the theme of man’s inhumanity to man, examining complex texts that address injustice, morality, and human behavior while strengthening their analytical and argumentative writing. The focus then shifts to the author’s craft, where students closely analyze how writers use language, structure, and literary techniques to shape meaning and impact. The course concludes with a unit on identity, encouraging students to reflect on personal and cultural perspectives while making connections across texts and to their own experiences. Throughout the year, students receive focused grammar instruction, including MLA format, parallel structure, and agreement, to support clarity and sophistication in their writing. This comprehensive approach prepares students for increasingly complex reading, writing, and critical thinking tasks.
Grade 11 Overview:
The Grade 11 English curriculum emphasizes critical analysis, argumentation, and college preparation- and career-ready literacy. Students begin with a focus on the author’s craft, closely examining how writers use rhetorical strategies, structure, and language to shape meaning and influence audiences. In the second unit, students explore the theme of alienation, analyzing complex texts that address isolation, identity, and societal pressures while developing deeper interpretive and analytical writing skills. The third unit, Individual vs. State, challenges students to evaluate conflicts between personal freedom and government authority, strengthening their ability to construct evidence-based arguments. The course concludes with an exploration of the American Dream, where students analyze how this concept is defined, challenged, and reimagined across a range of texts and historical contexts. Throughout the year, students receive focused grammar and writing instruction, including punctuation and SAT-style writing skills, to enhance clarity, precision, and effectiveness. This integrated approach prepares students for standardized assessments as well as the demands of advanced academic reading and writing. Instead of English III, Grade 11 students may choose to enroll in AP English Language and Composition, a college-level course that focuses on rhetorical analysis, argumentation, and synthesis of ideas across multiple texts. Students examine nonfiction works from a variety of time periods and disciplines, analyzing authors’ craft to inform, persuade, and engage audiences. Through frequent writing and revision, students develop sophisticated analytical and argumentative essays in preparation for the AP Exam, while building skills essential for success in college-level reading and writing.
Senior Seminars:
Senior Seminars offer specialized, in-depth studies centered on specific literary themes, periods, or critical approaches. These one-semester courses are designed to transition students from high school to post-secondary academic expectations. Students take two of these courses in their Senior year, with the option to take the UCONN Seminar or AP Literature & Composition in the Fall.
Some of our Senior Seminar options:
UCONN ENGL 1007: Seminar in Writing and Multimodal Composition
AP Literature & Composition
Drama Through the Ages: Truth From Tragedy
The Dystopian Vision: Masks and Mirrors
The Epic: The Journey Within
Feminine Voices: A Woman Speaks
Historical Fiction
Horror Through the Centuries
Imaginary Worlds: Sci-Fi, Fantasy and the Supernatural
Electives:
Our ELA Electives provide students with opportunities to explore specialized interests in writing, media, and specific literary genres beyond the core curriculum. Some of our electives include:
Classical Mythology
Creative Writing
The Detective Story
Fiction & Film
Journalism
Speech & Communication
World Mythology
Yearbook Journalism
Social Studies
Social studies helps children learn about people, places, and events in the past and today. Students explore history, government, geography, and the economy, and see how these areas connect. The goal is for students to understand the world around them and use what they learn to be responsible, thoughtful citizens.
Science
Students in grades K-6 use the Generation Genius Science Program, which is aligned to Connecticut's NGSS Science Standards. Generation Genius is a K–8 science resource that makes learning fun and engaging. It combines entertaining videos with easy-to-follow lesson plans, hands-on activities, quizzes, reading materials, and more—helping students understand and enjoy science while meeting school standards.
Generation Genius K-6 Science Standards Alignment, Connecticut
District and State Testing
Students take district and state tests to help teachers understand what they know and where they may need extra support. State tests measure progress toward statewide standards, while district tests provide ongoing feedback during the year. These results are just one part of the bigger picture of your child’s learning.
Universal District Assessments
IXL Diagnostic Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies 5-12
Connecticut State Testing Assessments
Report Card Information
MTSS Multi Tiered Systems of Support
MTSS is how our schools in Shelton make sure every child gets the support they need to succeed—academically, socially, and emotionally.
All students receive strong, high-quality instruction in the classroom. Teachers regularly check on student progress, and if a child needs extra help, we provide support.
Support is organized into three levels:
Tier 1: Instruction for all students in the classroom
Tier 2: Extra help in small groups for students who need it
Tier 3: More individualized support for students with greater needs
Throughout this process, we use data to monitor progress and adjust support as needed. The goal is to identify needs early, provide the right level of help, and ensure every student continues to grow and succeed.