K-12 Curriculum Development

Curriculum mapping is an ongoing process which asks teachers to develop curriculum goals, identify essential content, skills and concepts, and reflect on the taught curriculum.  Some school districts make the mistake of diving into curriculum mapping and attempting to complete a product.  When teacher teams become satisfied with the product, then the process is at risk.  If a principal or superintendent asks teachers to change their focus from curriculum mapping to test item development or writing across the curriculum, then teachers soon realize that curriculum mapping was a fad and is no longer "the main thing."

Andy Stanley wrote (1999) "Everybody ends up somewhere in life.  A few people end up somewhere on purpose.  Those are the ones with vision."  Can your school district afford for the teachers in one building to end up somewhere on purpose while the other schools work in isolation and each teacher determines what matters most for their respective classrooms?  Do all sixth grade English Language Arts teachers have a common goal or course goals for preparing students for the next level of learning?

Stanley suggests that teams answer the following questions related to "Vision":

Topic:  Curriculum Mapping

1.   Why must we see this vision through to the end?

2.   What difference will curriculum mapping make?

3.   What is there to gain?

4.   What is there to lose?

5.   What is at stake?

6.   Why should we attempt curriculum mapping?

7.   Why must it be done now?

8.   What do we lose by waiting until next year?

9.   What will we need to give up in order to pursue our vision for curriculum
      mapping?

10.  How does misalignment among team members or schools impact the overall
       vision?

Developing a vision for curriculum mapping is important for developing a common focus for all educators involved in the process.  Revisiting the vision will help educators clarify the purpose and allow educators to determine the next steps for curriculum mapping.  If student achievement is the goal, then we must identify the inputs and the process for aligning the work of teachers and teacher teams.  Does your school district have a vision for curriculum development or curriculum mapping?

References:
Stanley, A. (1999). Visioneering. Sisters, Oregon: Multnomah Publishers, Inc.