Curriculum

Our goal is to provide support and resources to the teachers and administrators of Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District.  In an effort to build well-rounded students that are problem solvers and critical thinkers, our curricular decisions are made with much collaboration and consideration.     

Our Curriculum: Ohio's Learning Standards

The district of Benton-Carroll-Salem uses the Ohio's Learning Standards as the foundation of curriculum development and instructional delivery.  This ensures that written curriculum, classroom instruction, and assessments of learning align to make a powerful impact on student achievement.

To account for the diverse abilities and needs of our students, our teachers utilize Ohio's Learning Standards Extended to differentiate their instruction and assessments.  These extended standards challenge students when appropriate, and allow for intervention when necessary.   

Textbooks and instructional materials for B-C-S go through a curriculum - alignment process, as well. Committees made up of teachers and administrators participate in reviewing resources to determine how well they align with the standards in order to meet the needs of our student population.  

EdReports is an educator-based, curriculum review tool that we value when making curricular and instructional decisions as a district.  In addition, we look to The Ohio Department of Education when going through any curriculum adoption process.  In particular, The Ohio Curriculum Support Guide and Ohio Materials Matter are two resources that guide our conversations and selections regarding instructional materials.

B-C-S is Focused on Literacy

In response to Ohio's Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement, Benton-Carroll-Salem is excited to have adopted Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) for the 2023-2024 school year.  CKLA’s focus is on an explicit, multisensory approach to phonics.  Throughout the year, our students (K-3) will read diverse texts to build content knowledge simultaneously with reading fluency.  Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, all students K-5 will also adopt CKLA as their reading curriculum, creating continuity between grades and buildings. 

Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum

At B-C-S, we value our students’ emotional and mental health.  7th and 8th graders at Oak Harbor High School are learning how to build social and emotional skills through our SEL curriculum, Second Step. Our goal is to help students learn how to create positive relationships, manage their emotions, and set realistic goals so they can be successful in both school and their everyday lives.