Curriculum & Instruction

Our mission is to foster a love for reading, writing, and critical thinking in our students from early childhood through eighth grade. Through a rich and diverse curriculum, we aim to develop strong literacy skills that are essential for academic success, aligned to state standards, and lifelong learning. 

Curriculum Overview

• ECE-Grade 2: Focus on foundational skills, phonics, and early literacy through interactive read-alouds small group instruction. Introduction to writing basics, sentence structure, and creative expression through drawing and simple writing prompts.
• Grades 3-5: Emphasis on reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development using a variety of literacy genres. Development of paragraph writing, narrative, informative, and opinion pieces. 
• Grades 6-8: Advancing reading strategies, critical analysis and interpretation of complex texts, including novels, poetry, and informational texts. Focus on essay writing, research projects, argumentative and expository writing.  

SAVVAS MyView (Grades K-5)
SAVVAS MyPerspectives (Grades 6-8)  

ELA Parent Resources

• myview k-5 
• myperceptives 6-12
• View Illinois Learning Standards

At Cary School District 26, the safety and well-being of our students are our top priority.In alignment with Erin’s Law, we are committed to educating our students about personal body safety and empowering them with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves.

Erin's Law was passed in Illinois in 2011 as a vital piece of legislation designed to protect children from sexual abuse by requiring schools to provide age-appropriate prevention education. Our K-8 lessons are designed to teach children how to recognize unsafe situation and seek help from trusted adults if they ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Grades K-8 Program Overview 

District 26 has partnered with Second Step, which is currently used for our social emotional curriculum, to use their Child Protection Unit. In these lessons students will learn:

• Personal Safety. Students will learn important safety rules, such as safety with guns, sharp tools, and fire, and when riding on wheels or in cars. They will also learn ways to help them decide if something is safe or not.
• Touching Safety. Students will learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches, and rules about touching private body parts. They'll also learn to say not to unsafe or unwanted touches, and to tell an adult if someone breaks rules about touching private body parts.
• Assertiveness. These lessons will also give students a chance to practice asking an adult for help, telling an adult about an unsafe situation, and being assertive to get out of unsafe situations.

To review the K-5 Child Protection Unit please go to SecondStep.org, create or log iinto your account, and add your desired grade level program with the activation code found below. This will process and provide you with detailed information about what your child is learning.

• Kg / CPUKFAMILYGK
• 1st / CPU1FAMILYG1
• 2nd / CPU2FAMILYG2
• 3rd / CPU3FAMILYG3
• 4th / CPU4FAMILYG4
• 5th / CPU5FAMILYG5

For a general overview of the K-5 Child Protection, please refer to the links below.

Scope & Sequence for Chld Protection Unit (K-5)

Erin’s Law Alignment Chart to the Second Step Child Protection Units (K-5) 

Grades 6-8 Program Overview 

District 26 has partnered with Health World Education, Inc. to use their Keeping Kids Safe: An Erin's Law Program.  Along with their video, lessons will be provided on the following topics:

• Safe and Unsafe Touches

• The Safety Rule about Touching

• Safe and Unsafe Secrets

• Body Warning Signals

• Safe and Unsafe Adults

• How to Speak Up and Tell a Safe Adult

• Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse

For an overview of the 6-8 Keeping Kids Safe: An Erin’s Law Program please refer to the link below. For any additional questions related to the Erin’s Law program, please contact any of our Cary Junior High social workers.

Keeping Kids Safe: An Erin’s Law Program Overview

Health World's Human Growth and Development Parent Reference Page

Parent Letters & Opt Out Forms 

• Cary 26 Grades K-5 Parent Letter & Opt Out Form
• Cary 26 Grades 6-8 Parent Letter & Opt Out Form 

National Support Resources

If you or someone you know needs immediate support, these confidential resources are available 24/7:

• Erin’s Law Official WebsiteInformation regarding the law and prevention education.

• Childhelp National Child Abuse HotlineCall or Text 1-800-422-4453.

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)1-800-656-HOPE.

• National Domestic Violence Hotline1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

• Stop It Now!Prevention resources for families and communities.

Accessibility Support:

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TTY): 1-800-787-3224

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Our mission is to cultivate a deep understanding and appreciation of mathematics in our students from early childhood through eighth grade. Through a comprehensive and engaging curriculum, we aim to develop strong problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, and mathematical fluency. 

Curriculum Overview

• ECE-Grade 2: Emphasis on basic number sense, counting, addition and subtraction, and an introduction to geometry and measurement. 
• Grades 3-5: Development of multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and more advanced geometry and measurement concepts. 
• Grades 6-8: Focus on pre-algebra, algebra, ratios, proportions, and data analysis, preparing students for high school. 
• All Grades: 
  • Encourage students to approach mathematical problems with curiosity and persistence. 
  • Integrating real-world scenarios to make mathematics meaningful and relevant. 
  • Utilizing digital tools and resources to enhance learning and engagement. 
  • Encouraging students to explore mathematical concepts through interactive platforms and software. 
  • Developing the ability to articulate mathematical reasoning and solutions both verbally and in writing. 
  • Promoting collaborative learning and discussions around mathematical ideas.

Math Parent Resources

• Learn about Envision parent portal
• access envision family engagement portal
• Visite los Portales de Participación Familiar de enVision
• View Illinois Learning Standards

Amplify Science is an inquiry-based program that encourages collaborative, hands-on experiences with objects, organisms, and systems that enhance the development of scientific ways of thinking.  Through science investigations, students work through units to collect information, analyze data, and record results.  The science program provides opportunities for students to extend their scientific knowledge and experiences through content reading materials that support the science concepts.

The following is a list of modules/units taught in each grade:

View Illinois learning standard

The district's Social Studies K-5 program, TCI Social Studies Alive!, was adopted starting the 2024-2025 school year.  Each grade level focuses on a theme that incorporates Civics, Economics, Geography and History that integrates language arts instruction, providing many opportunities for students to practice reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language skills.  Below are the themes for each grade level K-5.

Kindergarten: Me and My World
1st Grade: My School and Family
2nd Grade: My Community
3rd Grade: Our Community and Beyond
4th Grade: Regions of our Country
5th Grade: America’s Past 

View Illinois Learning Standard

SEL Curriculum and Instructional Time  

Cary District 26 utilizes Second Step as its Tier I Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum across all elementary and junior high schools. This evidence-based program helps students develop critical life skills such as self-awareness, emotion regulation, empathy, and problem-solving.

Learn more about second step for middle school (6-8)

To ensure dedicated time for social-emotional development, students in grades K–5 engage in 30 minutes of SEL instruction daily, while students in grades 6–8 participate in 30 minutes of SEL instruction weekly.

SEL Universal Screeners 

To better understand and support the social and emotional needs of our students, District 26 uses two research-based screeners:

• Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA): A teacher-completed tool that identifies students’ strengths and areas for growth across key social-emotional competencies.

• Social-Emotional Competency Assessment (SECA): A student-facing self-assessment that gives insight into how students view their own social and emotional skills.

These screeners are part of our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and help us provide timely, targeted support where needed.

Learn more about dessa and seca 

VIew Social Emotional Learning Guide

SEL Universal Screening Windows

DESSA (Grades K–8):

• Fall: September 29 – October 3
• Winter: January 19 – January 23
• Spring: April 27 – May 1

SECA (Grades 5-8 only):

• Fall: September 29 – October 3

Human Growth and Development

As part of D26’s Human Growth and Development curriculum a Puberty Unit is taught during 4th and 5th grade. Classroom instruction is provided by the school nurse and Candor Health under the supervision of the classroom teacher. The purpose of this unit is to teach students facts about their bodies and prepare them for the up and coming changes they soon will encounter during their journey through puberty. As this is the first formal school guided introduction to gender specific changes, boys and girls will receive separate classroom instruction for portions. The following are guidelines for things that will be covered.

4th Grade Hygiene Lessons 

Whatsa Hygiene Objectives: 

• Understand what hygiene is 
• Understand why taking care of ourselves and our hygiene is important
• Boys and girls together 
• Classroom Teacher as instructor 
• Personal Hygiene video 

Personal Hygiene Topics:

• Explore the importance of personal hygiene
• Learn the everyday habits that keep harmful bacteria away from your skin, hair, and teeth 
• See. how good hygiene prevents illnesses and helps you feel calm and confident
• Boys and girls together
• See how good hygiene prevents illnesses and helps you feel calm and confident
• Boys and girls together

5th Grade Human Growth and Development Lessons 

Day 1: 
Candor Health-Puberty I: Understanding Objectives: 

• Understand physical and emotional changes related to adolescence
• Understand change is normal
• Know that all people mature at their own pace
• Realize the importance of good hygiene
• Boys and girls separately for instruction
• Instruction provided by Candor Health

6th Grade Students will:

• Identify and describe ways to reduce health risks common to adolescents (e.g., exercise, diet, refusal of harmful substances)
• Describe how the individual influences the health and well-being of the workplace and the community (e.g., volunteerism, disaster preparedness, proper care to prevent the spread of illness).
• Identify potential environmental conditions that may affect the health of the local community (e.g., pollution, landfill, lead based paint).
• Explain how positive communication helps to build and maintain relationships at school, at home and in the workplace.
• Apply a decision-making process to an individual health concern.

7th Grade Students will:

• Identify and describe ways to reduce health risks common to adolescents (e.g.,exercise, diet, refusal of harmful substances)
• Identify how positive health practices and relevant health care can help reduce health risks (e.g., proper diet and exercise reduce risks of cancer and heart disease).
• Identify various careers in health promotion, health care and injury prevention.
• Explain how body systems interact with each other (e.g., blood transporting nutrients from the digestive system and oxygen from the respiratory system, muscular/skeletal systems [movement] and structure of the brain).
• Explain the effects of health related actions upon body systems (e.g., fad diets, orthodontics, avoiding smoking, alcohol use, and other drug use).

8th Grade Students will:

• Identify how positive health practices and relevant health care can help reduce health risks (e.g., proper diet and exercise reduce risks of cancer and heart disease).
• Identify various careers in health promotion, health care and injury prevention.
• Explain the effects of health related actions upon body systems (e.g., fad diets, orthodontics, avoiding smoking, alcohol use, and other drug use).
• Describe the relationships among physical, mental, and social health factors during adolescence (e.g., the effects of stress on physical and mental performance, effects of nutrition on growth). 

Opt Out Forms 

CJH Health Opt Out
5th Grade Human Growth & Development (Puberty Education) Opt Out  

Other Resources 

Glencoe Teen Health 

Boys Booklet-English
Boys Parent Conversation Guide-English
Librito para niños-Español
Guía de conversación para padres de niños - Español 

Girls Booklet-English
Girls Parent Conversation Guide-English
Librito para niñas - Español
Guía de conversación para los padres de las niñas-Español 

Puberty Program Overview & FAQs