NORWICH – For students in the Norwich School district, this year is bound to be different. With changes in curriculum occurring at nearly every level, the students may be in for some surprises.

In the Gibson primary school, the focus this year will be on reading and math. Benchmarks have been determined for each grade level in math, and a new reading and literacy program has been put into effect. As part of this program, students in the elementary school will be asked to take part in the 100-book challenge. This skill based program has children read a certain number of books on one tier, before graduating to a more complex level.

Reading and math will also be on the docket for the Perry Browne intermediate school. The same system of benchmarks will be used to gauge progress in the math department and reading improvement will be the focus for students at this level.

In an attempt to ensure that progress is being made across the board, a group of teachers at the middle school level have put together a comprehensive educational program. The group, headed by Iraina Steers, describes the range of services offered to the students in the form of alternative instruction by classroom teachers as well as in designated alternative instruction rooms.

“We are working hard to systematize instructional practices in collaborative teaching, differentiated instruction, transformational math, cooperative learning, critical thinking, and best practices in literacy instruction,” the plan states.