New curriculum unveiled for No. Brunswick schools

By craig yetsko

NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Board of Education has unveiled a new district curriculum.

Curriculum Director Geri Margin addressed the public and board members Tuesday about changes for the upcoming school year.

Board member Richard Novak commended Margin, stating that she has made a "comprehensive" and "coordinated" effort to move the district curriculum forward.

He was also pleased that the board had a chance to be presented with the curriculum changes.

"It is really at the heart of what we (board) are all about," Novak said.

At the elementary level, Everyday Mathematics, an innovative program which was introduced last year, will be expanded to grades K-5 in all schools.

Last year, the new curriculum was used in grades K-2 in all township elementary schools and in grades K-5 at Judd and Parsons elementary schools.

A guided reading curriculum will be offered to grades K-2 in all elementary schools, while world languages will be expanded to fourth grade, in two 30-minute periods.

Margin explained that currently, world languages are only offered in second and third grades and only for one 40-minute period.

At Linwood Middle School, there will also be a couple of changes in language arts.

The honors literature program will be offered to sixth-graders, while a new curriculum will be implemented for seventh grade honors and regular English classes.

Also for seventh-graders, an English lab course will be offered for students scoring below the 50 percentile.

Everyday Mathematics will be offered to sixth-graders, and seventh-grade mathematics and eighth-grade pre-algebra students will get new Prentice Hall textbooks.

Margin stated that the social studies curriculum has been revised to meet the New Jersey Core Curriculum standards.

North Brunswick Township High School students will be offered the following new classes this year: Basic Public Speaking, Marine Biology, Advanced Placement Latin V, Broadcast Media Technology and Study Skills for Success.

For the 2001-2002 school year, eighth-grade English will be condensed, Margin said.