K-12 Curriculum Development

Leading Curriculum Development is a book that supports the ongoing work of K-12 curriculum developers.  For several years, ESPN has aired classic sporting events on a channel called ESPN Classic.  Recently, ESPN started airing games under the title ESPN "Instant Classic."  It could be argued that Leading Curriculum Development is an "Instant Classic" in the field of education.  After reading this book, I would rank it with the following classic curriculum books:

Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction (1949)
Ralph Tyler

The Process of Education (1977)
Jerome Bruner

Curriculum Renewal (1987)
Allan Glatthorn

Understanding by Design (1998)
Grant Wiggins & Jay McTighe

Deciding What to Teach and Test: Developing, Aligning, and Auditing the Curriculum (2000)
Fenwick English

The main chapters in the book are titled, Defining Effective Curriculum Leadership,
Basic Tasks of Curriculum Leadership, Making Curriculum Purposeful, Building the School Curriculum Team, Constructing the Path for Curriculum Improvement, Detailed Planning to Implement Change, Curriculum Improvement Means Staff Development, Closing the Circle Through Evaluation, and Coordinating Successful Curriculum Work. 

The author, Jon Wiles, provides several helpful reproducible planning sheets and tools for curriculum developers in the book's appendix.  K-12 Curriculum Developers will benefit from these templates and resources.

It is difficult to identify a favorite chapter in this book, because I can see how I will benefit from different chapters depending on which stage in the curriculum development process I am currently encountering (i.e., Planning, Developing, Reviewing, Revising, Professional Development, Leadership, Developing a Teacher Leadership Team, etc.).  Wiles wrote, "Curriculum development is the essential function of school leadership.  Whether this role is carried out by a principal, an assistant principal, for curriculum, a team leader, a department head, or by leading classroom teachers, the curriculum defines all other roles in a school" (p. 2).  I agree with this definition of curriculum development and I like how the author introduces his book by stating that curriculum development is essential and it can be carried out by several different people in a school system.

Leading Curriculum Development shares Eight Common Curriculum Designs, Components of Detailed Curriculum Planning, Ten Tools That Empower Curriculum Leaders, and Four Evaluation Questions.  These are important things to consider when developing or revising a K-12 curriculum.  Some curriculum books are difficult to read or are filled with charts and templates that would take several years to complete.  While the author does not imply that curriculum development can be completed at a workshop or during the summer months, he does offer practical tools and strategies for increasing student achievement through the 'essential function' of curriculum leadership.  If you are serious about K-12 Curriculum Development, then you should order this book.  If you are a novice at curriculum development or you are a new principal, district leader, or teacher leader, then this book provides a solid introduction to the field of curriculum development.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Leading Curriculum Development.

Wiles, J. (2009). Leading curriculum development. Thousand Oaks, CA:
         Corwin Press.

If you have a desire to learn more about curriculum development, assessment, differentiating instruction, curriculum mapping, and the science of teaching, then this is the next book you should purchase.  On Excellence in Teaching is the fourth book in a series published by Solution Tree.  The Leading Edge series unites education authorities from around the globe and asks them to confront the important issues that impact teaching and learning.

Readers will have a difficult time selecting which chapter to read first.  This book was written by some of my favorite authors (Grant Wiggins, Lynn Erickson, Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Carol Ann Tomlinson, and Jay McTighe).  Robert Marzano served as the editor of On Excellence in Teaching.  About ten years ago, it was not the norm for authors to share their ideas in the same book.  Solution Tree has managed to get authors to collaborate for four consecutive books and it is beneficial to educators.  Many educators have felt like these authors were saying the same thing regarding curriculum development, but each author wrote their own book(s) with a slightly different angle.  While I still encourage educators to read the full-length books by each author, this may not be practical for every educator.

In chapter one, Grant Wiggins addresses What's My Job? Defining the Role of the Classroom Teacher.  This chapter focuses on curriculum development, teaching for understanding, assessment, grading practices, and the aims of education.  This chapter alone is worth the price of the book.

David Berlliner states, "We are headed the wrong way with accountability practices.  The same politicians and business persons that want high-stakes testing to be the cornerstone of a school accountability system also want students to develop 21st century skills.  They cannot have it both ways"
(p. 141).  Often teachers admit that they would prefer to teach 21st century skills, but the AP exam or the state's End-of-Course exams do not assess 21st century skills.  It is sad to hear teachers say, "I know that my teaching would be different if I did not have to prepare students for an End-of-Course test."  Berliner and other authors suggest concept-based curriculum and instruction, differentiated instruction, authentic assessment and instruction that leads to enduring understanding of key concepts and skills.

In chapter nine, Robert Marzano shares his framework known as The Art and Science of Teaching.  Several authors describe the problems associated with instruction that merely aims to 'cover' state standards or the local curriculum.  Heidi Hayes Jacobs summarizes 'coverage' instruction with the following analogy:
"Imagine if your doctor said, I give the same medicine every September. So be sure, when you enter the hospital, that your illness matches what I am prepared to give" (p. 209).

Marzano shares more about On Excellence in Teaching on YouTube at:
On Excellence in Teaching

If you are serious about improving curriculum development, increasing student achievement, differentiating instruction, identifying what students should know and be able to do, and improving classroom teaching and assessment of key learning goals, then you need to order this book today!  When you read this book it will challenge your views on education, but it will make you a better educator.  You may even wish to have a study group with your colleagues.  Solution Tree offers a FREE Study Guide (See Attached Document Below).

Please feel free to share your thoughts regarding On Excellence in Teaching.

Marzano, R. (Ed.). (2010). On excellence in teaching. Bloomington, IN: Solution
         Tree Press.