Skip to main content
Partnerships - Accountability - Wonder - Support
Main Menu Toggle
JC Options » Curriculum Options

Curriculum Options

JC Options logo
Curriculum
Students and parents can choose from a variety of options and mix and match to create a full customized education plan.
 
Visit our homepage to learn more about Edgenuity
EDGENUITY
                                                   grades 6-12                                                   
 --ONE OF THE TOP CHOICES BY PARENTS & STAFF--
 
 
 
NOTE: not all courses listed in the course catalog are available through JCO. Refer to the "Course List" for available courses.
 

Program Overview:

Edgenuity Student Experience Overview Video

Edgenuity courses and curriculum are built using an instructional model grounded in research and are aligned to state standards, the Common Core, and the NGSS. We combine direct-instruction videos featuring expert, on-screen teachers with rigorous assignments, performance tasks, and assessments to engage students and ensure subject-area mastery. Edgenuity is a video-based program that provides instruction students can hear and see.  Edgenuity courses are built using the latest research in online learning, educational psychology, and instructional design, and support the three guiding principles of Universal Design for Learning—multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement. Students also have access to a wealth of learning scaffolds and tools, including translation capabilities, read aloud, guided notes, and a dynamic interactive glossary. Students control the pace of their learning and can pause and review content whenever they need, they can focus exactly on what they need to in order to move forward. Many classes have off line components.  Science classes have options for virtual or "wet" (hands on) labs. For more information visit their website at https://www.edgenuity.com/

 

If you would like to dive deep into learning about the Edgenuity program here are some additional resources:

Edgenuity Course Design Paper

 

Recommended for:

Virtually all student for math, students who are more visual/auditory learners, the best choice for ELL students and students with an IEP.  This is a good choice for most students.

 
Pros:
  • A wide variety of core subjects and electives are available for grades 9-12
  • Grades 6-8 electives are available
  • Students are able to hear the instruction and see graphics that go with what they are hearing
  • Simulates the traditional classroom for students that are trying an online class for the first time.
  • Students are not able to skip the content (they can't fast forward through the videos).
 
Cons: 
  • Students sometimes feel like the program takes a long time.
  • Some students find some of the instructors in the videos annoying
 
 
Odysseyware logo
ODYSSEYWARE     
grades 3-12
 
NOTE: not all courses listed in the course catalog are available through JCO. Refer to the "Course List" for available courses.
 
Program Overview:
This program requires a significant amount of reading, supplemented with some videos and some interactive components. Some courses include off-lines projects (for example in Social Studies and Science). Some courses have multiple projects and students with their teacher are able to have some choice in which projects they prefer. Program has text-to-audio feature. Parents are able to login and check their students progress and grades. For more information visit their website at www.odysseyware.com  
 
Student Instructional Supports Overview: https://www.odysseyware.com/curriculum/instructional-supports
 
Recommended for:
  • Students that prefer learning through reading
 
Pros:
  • Easy to use for most students.
  • There is a built in calendar with "due dates" that helps keep students on track to finish on time.
  • Easy to navigate.
  • Students get to help their teacher choose which projects they complete.
  • Optional review before most tests.  
  • A text to audio feature, although the voices are not always natural sounding.
  • Most classes follow the same pattern for every unit: several lessons, quiz, several lessons, quiz, several lessons, test, with one or more projects throughout the unit
  • A wide variety of core subjects and electives are available for grades 9-12
  • Grades 6-8 electives are available.
 
Cons/Possible Cons: 
  • The built in calendar isn't smart and gives the same amount of time for a short quiz as an essay or project.
  • Students are able to scroll past content to the assignment.
  • Challenging for many students to use for math.
  • A significant amount of reading
  • The read aloud text feature used a computer voice to read the text
 
Something to Consider:
  • If your student is a struggling reading at this point in time, this is likely not the best program for them.
  • This program is often a good choice for TAG students. 
  • This program is often not the best choice for student's who struggle with reading, are an ELL student, or a student with an IEP. 
 
 
 
Bookshark logo
BookShark
(This option is ONLY available for families who used this program successfully in the 2020-2021 school year and on a case by case basis for families that want to or can be HEAVILY involved on a daily basis in their children's schooling.)
grades K-8
 
 
BookShark is an engaging program that is literature-based for all subjects. The curriculum includes an easy to follow schedule and includes parent read-a louds with discussion questions. At the younger grades there is a significant amount of parent read a louds that are a core part of the education plan.
 
Pros: 
  • literature based
  • great book titles
  • engaging
  • creates opportunities for parents and child discussion and interaction
 
Cons/Possible Cons:
  • significant amount of parent time necessary
  • if you have never used this program before it can be overwhelming
  • if your child has been in a traditional school setting it is propably very different than what your child is use to 
  • it can be difficult and time consuming to select the best level for your child
  • parents will be required to submit work samples to their child's school teacher and may be required to meet on multiple occasions to review state standards that are used to create the student's report card, which enables an accurate report card to be created
 
Something to Consider:
  • This program requires a significant amount of parent time and involvement than other programs. Parent who choose this option truly want a homeschool situation. If you are not prepared to take the lead role with this curriculum, you should consider other options.
  • Parents should contact Bookshark to thoroughly go through the correct levels and all the option details. Bookshark provides this "choosing guide" to help parents. https://www.bookshark.com/about/choosing-guide?mc_cid=ec07ed7dd3&mc_eid=8a3f485e36
  • During certain times of the year, the order turn around time for Bookshark can be lengthy
  • Some of the levels of Bookshark History are different from Oregon state standards for a particular grade. You can look at the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) website for Social Studies standards to see if the topics from ODE match the options from Bookshark. For example, 8th graders in Oregon learn about US History. Bookshark has a options for 8th grade students that include World History or US History. There are multiple considerations that need to be reviewed before ordering materials. Visit ODE's website for more information about Social Studies. One helpful thing to look for each grade level document is "points of emphasis". https://www.oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/standards/socialsciences/Pages/Standards.aspx
 
 
(This option is ONLY available for families who used this program successfully in the 2020-2021 school year and on a case by case basis for families that want to or can be HEAVILY involved on a daily basis in their children's schooling.)
Moving Beyond the Page
K-8
 
For more information visit their website at https://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/
 
Pros: 
  • great book titles
  • engaging
  • creates opportunities for parents and child discussion/interaction
 
Cons/Possible Cons:
  • significant amount of parent time necessary (possible con)
  • if you have never used this program before it can be overwhelming
 
Something to Consider:
  • This program requires significantly more parent time than online programs. If that is not a good fit for your family you should consider other options.
  • Parents should contact Bookshark to thoroughly go through the correct levels and all the option details
  • Parents may wish to order this curriculum themselves so it is shipped directly to their home and use the reimbursement process
  • as of 9/20 shipping times are long, Moving Beyond the Page is currently offering free online access to curriculum due to extended shipping times
 
 
Mystery Science
Mystery Science
K-5
Subjects: Science 
For more information visit: https://mysteryscience.com/
 
Pros: 
  • students enjoy using
  • hands on science
  • easy to do at home, no login required so no username and password to keep track of
 
Cons/Possible:
  • more of a survey of topics rather than in depth
  • to do the hands on science labs at home requires more direct parental support, especially for grade K-2
 
Something to Consider:
  • Approximately two days of science instruction per week