Leading Curriculum Development 01/24/2010
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. On Excellence in Teaching 01/23/2010
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. 
Leading with Questions is a book that teaches leaders how to ask questions rather than provide their opinion or solve problems for the group. Superintendents, Curriculum Coordinators, Principals, Assistant Principals, Teachers, and other educators will benefit from the practical advice offered by Michael Marquardt. Great leaders recognize that they do not have the answer to all curriculum concerns, student code of conduct infractions, professional development strategies, best practices in teaching for each content area, or solutions to emerging community problems. The author shares how babies inquire and six year olds naturally ask questions. However, at some point adults tell children "Quit asking so many questions." When a Superintendent or principal becomes the leader of a school district or school, it may feel awkward to ask questions. After all, a leader who asks too many questions may be perceived as a weak leader or one without answers. "Rather than telling people what to do, the leader must have the courage to ask them what needs to be done and then make a serious attempt to remove any obstacles in the way" (p. 55). The book also addresses intentional questioning skills. Rather than asking a list of questions, a great leader asks "What do I want my question(s) to accomplish" (p. 63)? Chapter four is titled Asking the Right Questions and the author provides several sample questions that could be used in the field of education. As we enter a new year (2010), it is important to begin with some key questions which will focus on continuous improvement. Whether you are a member of a Professional Learning Community, a Department Chair, a Teacher Leader, a member of the school improvement team, a building leader or a central office staff member, these questions will provide your team with 'food for thought'. Encouraging People to Ask and Respond to Questions 1. Where are we going? 2. Where are you going? 3. What are you doing well? 4. What suggestions for improvement do you have for yourself? 5. How can I help you? 6. What suggestions do you have for me? (pp. 129-130) I recognize that the ability to ask intentional questions is a weakness in my leadership style. As a classroom teacher, I knew the power of questions and I was intentional about planning questions which led toward student understanding of key concepts and skills. However, school administrators often lose the ability to ask good questions when they enter administration. When a teacher approaches a school administrator with a potential problem, the easy solution is to offer a soultion, quick-fix, or opinion. Marquardt suggests that people are not empowered by our stories or solutions to their problems. The next time they have a problem, they will come to us for another solution. Marquardt cited John Kotter, an authority on leading change. Kotter says, leaders think change is about "writing a memo," or simply telling the organization to change. "Too often leaders launch their initiatives by calling a meeting or circulating a consultant's report, then expect people to rally to the cause. It doesn't happen that way" (pp. 166-167). This book has the potential to change how educators interact with one another, how they approach meetings, and how educators prepare K-12 students for the rapidly changing workforce which they will enter following high school graduation. It is safe to say that no educator has all of the answers for today's K-12 curriculum, instruction and assessment issues, and the ability to interact with families from diverse cultures. A leader who asks questions will support student achievement more than a leader who begins with the answers. I challenge educators to purchase this book and then to begin the practice of leading with questions! Please feel free to share your thoughts on Leading with Questions. Marquardt, M. (2005). Leading with questions: How leaders find the right soultions by knowing what to ask. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers. The Six Secrets of Change 08/15/2009
Michael Fullan is an international leader on educational change. He is the professor emeritus of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and the special advisor in education to the premier of Ontario. A list of his books and articles is available at Change Forces. The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to Help Their Organizations Survive and Thrive is an important contribution to the field of educational leadership and it helps teachers and administrators understand how to challenge the sacred cows in an organization while impacting schools and student achievement. The field of education is changing at a rapid pace, yet several educators admit that change is painful and leading an organization or system into unchartered territory requires more than top-down leadership. Whether your school system is attempting to improve from good to great or you are a system that has been identified as low-performing, this book offers advice which will help you meet your desired outcomes. The Six Secrets of Change: I. Love Your Employees School systems should enable their staff to learn continuously and to find meaning in their work (Fullan, p. 12). Fullan cites evidence from the field of business and business leadership books which research the need to love your employees. If employees feel connected to the school or organization’s goals and they feel respected, then change will be approached differently. Fullan does not indicate that employees will embrace change, but the change process will go more smoothly if Secret One is implemented. II. Connect Peers With Purpose The job of educational leadership is to provide purpose and direction through purposeful peer interaction and learning in relation to desired outcomes and results (Fullan, p.12). Fullan introduces the term purposeful peer interaction. Other authorsuse terms such as collaboration, teamwork, shared leadership, and synergy. If teachers and administrators rally around the school system’s purpose and understandthe common curriculum, educational aims, and the timeline for implementing change, then they will more likely feel like part of the team. Teachers often feel like they arethe victims of state mandates, federal policies, initiative fatigue, and decisions which impact classroom instruction. Purposeful peer interaction allows teachers to have a voice in the decision-making process and to craft how policies and mandates will be implemented. DuFour, DuFour, and Eaker (2008) address the idea of purposeful peer interaction with their research on Professional Learning Communities. III. Capacity Building Prevails Capacity building is not new in the field of leadership. One thing that has changed is building capacity within an organization or school system on an ongoing basis. In the past, leaders were advised to build capacity when big decisions needed to bemade or when change should be implemented. Jim Collins (2001) addressed the need to have the right people in the right seats on the bus. Fullan addresses this concept in Secret Three. He wrote, “organizations seek people who are not only individually talented but also system talented – that is, they can work in and keep developing cultures of purposeful collaboration” (Fullan, p. 71). IV. Learning Is The Work Ongoing learning will prepare educators for the rapid change that occurs during a school year. Each year, schools teach students from around the world, students who speak multiple languages, students with learning disabilities, students who live in poverty, gifted students, and students who are coping with moving from one school to another. One educator cannot be expected to be an expert in reaching all students. Through purposeful peer interaction, teachers and administrators will learn strategies which support the learning needs of each student. Fullan cites the research of Pfeffer and Sutton (2006, p. 145) – Having a learning culture and the capacity to operate effectively “is much more important to organizational success than having the right strategy” (p. 89). V. Transparency Rules Traditional models of school leadership favored the principal knowing the change initiative and sharing it with a department chair or team of teacher leaders. The teacher leaders would share information with the rest of the school staff. “Transparency concerns assessing, communicating, and acting on data pertaining to the what, how, and outcomes of change efforts” (Fullan, p. 93). If educators wish toclose achievement gaps, then they should become transparent about the results andshare strategies which work for students who are struggling to meet determinedproficiency levels. Transparency allows educators to focus on the district’s main goals. While this is Secret Five, transparency is no secret in an organization. VI. Systems Learn According to Fullan, “When the first five secrets are all put into play, the system can and often does learn, but even in the best systems, continuous learning is not guaranteed” (p. 107). He suggests that traditional organizations and school systems have focused on improving individuals. If you reflect on how most schools in the United States operate, each teacher is evaluated by the building principal. Each principal is evaluated by a superintendent or assistant superintendent. Individuals are evaluated, yet the organization often places emphasis on system change or collaborative change. Change is complex and it cannot be approached by individuals. In order to grow as a school or as a school system, leaders need to create opportunities for system learning. Fullan has spent his career researching System Learning and additional articles may be accessed online at Change Forces. Conclusion The Six Secrets of Change will challenge your thinking and will assist readers in developing strategies for coping with change and for impacting student achievement. The 21st Century will provide rapid change in the field of education and educators must create learning organizations that can adapt to change. Teachers and administrators can operate as a purposeful community if they learn how to apply the six secrets of change. Please feel free to share your thoughts on The Six Secrets of Change. Fullan, M. (2008). The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to Help Their Organizations Survive. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Additional References: Collins, J. (2001). Good to great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. DuFour, R., DuFour, R., & Eaker, R. (2008). Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work: New insights for improving schools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.  Educators have frequently struggled with the sheer volume of state and national standards which outline what each student should know and be able to do. Marzano and Kendall (1998) wrote, “if American educators were to adequately cover all of the knowledge identified in the current set of standards for the core subject areas, it might take as much as 22 years of schooling.” Power Standards: Identifying the Standards that Matter the Most provides educators with a proven process for prioritizing standards and determining which standards are most essential for student success. Wiggins, G. (1997). Work standards: Why we need standards for On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities is a powerful contribution to the field of educational theory and research. The contributing authors comprise a Who’s Who of Educational Leaders. Roland Barth, Rebecca DuFour, Richard DuFour, Robert Eaker, Barbara Eason-Watkins, Michael Fullan, Lawrence Lezotte, Douglas Reeves, Jonathan Saphier, Mike Schmoker, Dennis Sparks, and Rick Stiggins share their individual research and collective experiences to allow educators to see how curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student achievement can improve through collaboration and purposeful actions of K-12 educators. The Last Lecture 05/16/2009
Dr. Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was asked to give a lecture as part of the university’s annual lecture series. About the same time he was approached about the lecture, doctors had diagnosed him with terminal cancer. As he reflected on his childhood, his education, and the countless students he had taught, he developed The Last Lecture. While this blog typically features curriculum books, Dr. Pausch shares several lessons that can be learned about curriculum development and the purpose for being an educator. This book is inspirational and thought-provoking. Dozens of books have addressed the role of the building principal as a curriculum leader or an instructional leader, but most authors do not explain how a principal interacts with state standards, local curriculum writing committees and with the Central Office staff. In today’s schools, the principal has more responsibilities than ever before, but in the age of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and increasing levels of accountability, the principal must be aware of practical strategies which will support the ongoing curriculum work of teacher teams. While this book is designed for principals, it is also a practical book for assistant principals, classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, superintendents, state department of education curriculum consultants and others interested in curriculum development. Five Minds For The Future 03/11/2009
In 1983, psychologist Howard Gardner published Frames of Mind, the book in which he introduced his ‘theory of multiple intelligences’ (MI theory). Gardner is best known in educational circles for his theory of multiple intelligences, a critique of the notion that there exists but a single human intelligence that can be assessed by standard psychometric instruments. Five Minds For the Future (2006) introduces educators to a new way of looking at curriculum development and educational policy. In the book’s introduction, Gardner wrote, “One cannot even begin to develop an educational system unless one has in mind the knowledge and skills that one values, and the kind of individuals one hopes will emerge at the end of the day” (p. 14). Made to Stick 03/05/2009
Made to Stick is a New York Times Bestseller and should be on the bookshelf of K-12 Curriculum Developers. The authors ask, “Why do some ideas succeed while others fail” (p. 10)? What do advertisers know about customers that could translate into key concepts ‘sticking’ with students beyond the unit test? You may not have seen this book at the most recent education conference, but the strategies shared are at the heart of curriculum development. | |||
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