A Clear Path to Academic Growth

At St. Peter School, curriculum mapping ensures that what we teach is intentional, comprehensive, and aligned with the spiritual and academic needs of our students. This process reflects our dedication to continuous improvement and academic excellence.

Collaborative Curriculum Development

Our curriculum mapping initiative began in 2011 and expanded in 2018 to include all four Quincy Catholic Elementary Schools (QCES): Blessed Sacrament, St. Dominic, St. Francis, and St. Peter. Teachers work in grade-level teams to:

  • Share current instructional practices
  • Align content with Illinois State Standards and national expectations
  • Develop QCES maps that include common standards, essential questions, skills, and more

Each school also develops expanded maps that incorporate school-specific approaches to technology, assessment, and resources.

Benefits of Curriculum Mapping

Horizontal Alignment

Grade-level teachers work together to ensure consistent teaching of content and skills across schools.

Vertical Alignment

Teachers from Preschool through 8th Grade collaborate to ensure curriculum flows smoothly from one grade to the next, minimizing gaps and redundancies.

Cross-Disciplinary Coordination

Academic, PE, music, and technology educators integrate skills and concepts across subjects.

Standards Alignment

We compare curriculum to:

  • Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards
  • Illinois State Standards incorporating National Common Core
  • Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
  • National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies
What’s in a Curriculum Map?

Each curriculum map includes the following.

  • STANDARDS - Frameworks for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level.
  • ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS - Guiding questions that drive inquiry and connect learning to real-world concepts.
  • CONTENT - Key topics, concepts, and facts that support learning.
  • SKILLS - What students must demonstrate to show understanding.
  • ASSESSMENT - Evidence of learning, such as projects, discussions, or written work.
  • RESOURCES - Tools and materials used for instruction.
  • TECHNOLOGY - Integrated tech tools used throughout instruction.

Download Curriculum Maps

3 Year Old Preschool - 8th Grade