Grade Appropriate Instruction
Every student deserves grade-appropriate curriculum & strong, engaging instruction, provided by teachers who are prepared & supported.
Why it matters
4 out of 10 classrooms with a majority of students of color never received a single grade-level assignment.* Despite being academically ready, many students do not have the same access to high quality classes as their white peers. The disparity of their experiences in schools is a leading contributor to inequities we see for student achievement.
But with access to four crucial resources, underserved students rise to the challenge:
1. Grade-appropriate assignments
2. Strong instruction
3. Deep engagement
4. Teachers with high expectations
A curriculum that is comprehensive, aligned to high standards and appropriately rigorous can improve learning.
However, research done by TNTP showed that of the 180 classroom hours in each core subject during the school year, students spent…
133
hours on assignments that were not grade appropriate
47
hours on assignments that were grade appropriate
When students are consistently forced to do work below their grade level, they’re missing opportunities to learn and practice skills they’ll need to make their life goals achievable.
Putting it into practice
Schools in our portfolio are leading the way in having research-based best practices in instruction and implementation of high-quality curriculum.
They are committed to developing detailed plans to roll out standards-aligned curriculum with rigor and fidelity, including aligned systems for teacher professional development, coaching, and use of assessments.
Common high-quality, vetted curriculum our schools are using include Eureka Math and EL Education.
What does this look like?
Curriculum
- Aligned to relevant grade-level academic standards
- Gives students the chance to engage in content-specific practices
- Builds their knowledge of the world and provides opportunities to apply learnings to the real world
Instruction
- Teachers select content and materials to engage and meet the needs of all learners
- Students have opportunities to practice what they are learning and are given timely, specific feedback
- Students are coached to engage in complex, critical thinking
Family Resources
We’ve created guides as a tool for families and parents to have an easy-to-access understanding of state learning standards and grade-level expectations. Our goal: Build a bridge for families. These guides lay out what our state and our schools expect kids to know and be able to do each year.
Featured Strategic Partners
Groves Learning Organization
Through a partnership with Groves Learning Organization, Great MN Schools provides schools with on-site literacy coaching to help both emerging and struggling readers become successful readers.
Achievement Network
ANet helps schools, districts, and systems boost student learning with great teaching that’s grounded in standards, informed by data, and built on the successful practices of educators. With the right conditions in place, ANet schools see 6 months of additional learning over 2 years.
Case Study: Literacy
The Minnesota Literacy Coalition, co-chaired by Great MN Schools, established a Strong Instruction Action Team tasked with supporting districts as they select and adopt strong curricula aligned to the requirements laid out in The Read Act.
Multiple members of the MLC were included on the MPS Curriculum Selection Committee. They also launched the Literacy Leaders Cohort course to train educators on the science of reading, build their capacity to implement mandates of the read act, and lead change in their schools.
Research & Proof Points
Prodeo Academy, Instructional Coach
Get Involved
Be a part of our work to support great schools in Minneapolis that provide high-quality curriculum and instruction for all students.