AUBURN — Auburn teachers are seeing more engagement from students after the adoption of new math and reading curriculums in elementary and middle schools, according to several support coaches who spoke at Wednesday’s School Committee meeting.
Elementary math coach Lisa Coburn said she’s heard only positive reviews from teachers about the new math curriculum, Illustrative Mathematics, which was implemented this year.
“Every single teacher I meet . . . says the amount of student engagement has increased so much this year with this program,” Coburn said. “It really values student voice and sharing their thinking and collaboration.”
Stephanie Hathaway, the literacy coach at Park Avenue and Washburn elementary schools, said teachers have grown more confident with teaching the new reading curriculum, now in its second year. Like the new math program, she said students and teachers are also more engaged with the new literacy program developed by Savvas Learning Co.
Curriculum coaches provide professional support to educators to improve teaching practices and implement instructional programs.
Superintendent Cornelia Brown said improving achievement levels has been a priority for the district. Poor standardized test scores in 2021 underscored the need for better programs, she added.
Last school year, in the first year of the new literacy program, Brown said eight out of 10 students scored at or above proficiency on the state standardized test.
Before the new curriculums were implemented, Auburn elementary schools used different curriculums for teaching math and literacy. Now, the same program is used across the district.
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