K-12 Curriculum Development

As we enter the second semester, many teachers and administrators are meeting around the country to determine the best use of time for the remainder of the school year.  Some staff members call this pacing, some call it curriculum alignment and some staff may even call it survival.

What should every student know and be able to do?
This may be the most fundamental question asked by K-12 curriculum developers. At this point in the school year, it may feel like a race to Spring Break, followed by a final sprint to summer vacation.  According to Jay McTighe (2010), "The most successful teaching begins with clarity about important learning outcomes and about the evidence that will show that learning has occurred" (p. 274).

What can school administrators do?
Provide classroom teachers with uninterrupted time during the workday or on early release days to focus on curriculum development and curriculum revision.  Many teachers state that they desire to participate in collaborative conversations, but the central office staff or the building administrators conduct so many other meetings that curriculum conversations get lost in the shuffle. 

What can teachers do? 
Using Web 2.0 tools such as a curriculum blog, wiki, threaded discussion, Skype or Google docs will allow teachers to communicate with their grade level and with teachers in other disciplines and across the school district.  While this is no substitute for the time that administrators should provide teachers, these online tools make communication possible 24/7.  Collaborative decisions can be made prior to the meeting and the online collaboration will allow each teacher to use face-to-face meetings for the topics that require a face-to-face meeting.

Why is K-12 Curriculum Development important?
"Curriculum for school districts is no longer 'just nice to have.'  Curriculum is a necessity for furthering student achievement.  Further, school districts through their curricula, have the tools at their disposal to control and ensure what students learn" (Squires, 2009, p. 133).

K-12 curriculum development allows educators to identify key concepts and skills, identify important content, reflect on student understandings and misunderstandings, and create plans for ensuring student success at the next grade level or level of learning.  The end of the school year is filled with awards assemblies, guest speakers, fundraisers, grade level parties, field day, job shadow day, spring break, AP exams, state assessments and other events.  These events happen each year and we should be prepared to balance our instruction around interruptions.  Wiggins and McTighe (2005), wrote, “In the absence of a learning plan with clear goals, how likely is it that students will develop shared understandings on which future lessons might build” (p. 21)? 

If your school system does not have a common curriculum, select one of the following strategies and watch student achievement soar:

1.   Unwrap State and National Standards

2.   Begin Curriculum Mapping

3.   Clarify Content Priorities

4.   Determine what you will Stop Teaching

5.   Write Generalizations/Enduring Understandings/or Learning Outcomes for
      each unit of study and for each course

6.   Identify Areas where the Curriculum can be Integrated

7.   Use a Share Drive, Google Docs, or other Online Tool to Communicate what is
      essential


8.   Develop a commitment to "guarantee" certain parts of the curriculum to all
      students

9.   If your district already has a common curriculum, begin to develop
      assessments to identify student strengths and weaknesses.

10. Begin to conduct vertical conversations to discuss what students should know
      when they enter your course and what they need to know at the next grade
      level.  These conversations can be handled online in the beginning and
      teachers can get together at the end of the school year to discuss next
      steps.  It may be impossible to have a district meeting in the spring, but 
      Web 2.0 tools make communication possible and efficient.  Skype,
      Dim Dim, and other free tools make face-to-face communiction possible and
      teachers don't have to leave their classroom.   

If you have thoughts regarding K-12 Curriculum Development or additional strategies that you use in your school, please join the conversation and share how your school or district provides time for teachers to collaborate to identify what every student should know and be able to do.


References:

McTighe, J. (2010). Understanding by design and instruction. In Marzano, R. (Ed.),
         On excellence in teaching. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.  

Squires, D.A. (2009). Curriculum alignment: Research-based strategies for
        increasing student achievement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Wiggins, G., and McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by Design (2nd ed.). Alexandria,
        VA: ASCD.