Curriculum Mapping: its MANY benefits of investing time and effort

An overview of the many benefits of curriculum mapping: click here to begin video (If you have trouble opening this link, you can go directly to click here to begin video

Curriculum mapping can help schools maintain a focus on MISSION

What is YOUR school’s mission? Successful schools stay focused on their mission. BRAINSTORM: What are some of the things you think might distract your school from staying MISSION focused? (i.e. day-to-day urgencies, a lack of long-range planning, student behavioral issues)

Curriculum mapping can help schools clearly articulate GOALS & EXPECTATIONS

When mapping curriculum,  outcomes are identified  student expectations are clarified  instructional strategies and resources are shared

Curriculum mapping creates a common understanding about what a school expects students to know and be able to do. Make a Connection: How do you think curriculum mapping can benefit teachers in regard to unit planning and student assessment? Provides commonality regarding important content and skills; helps teachers design tests that are compatible to the learning objectives, and gives teachers a place to attach helpful resources.

Collaboration is the KEY to clarity and consistency. Pair & Share: What changes might be needed in your school to better enable teachers to collaboratively map their curriculum? What might happen if just one teacher is “out of sync”?

Curriculum mapping can help schools improve ALIGNMENT

Why should schools align their curriculum to external standards and benchmarks? to take advantage of objective expertise Educational experts have already determined what should be accomplished by students in each subject area. to ensure appropriate scope/sequence Alignment helps identify gaps and areas of repetition in a school’s learning expectations.

Improved alignment PAIR & SHARE:  What freedoms do schools and teachers have for standard and benchmark selection within the alignment process? There is intentionality in regard to the attachment process. There is flexibility as to the grade level in which something is taught. There are cross-curricular opportunities.

Curriculum mapping can help schools improve by encouraging CONVERSATIONS among the faculty

Curriculum mapping is a vital tool for school improvement. It helps identify answers to important questions about teaching and learning. For example – Where is “this skill” taught in your curriculum? Do the maps or reports reveal a curricular problem? Has an instructional problem been uncovered?

…that focus on best practices, engaging resources, quality assessments, and student learning PROFESSIONAL CONVERSATIONS

that include: problem solving, asking good questions, improving the status quo, and sharing new ideas COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATIONS

Curriculum mapping can help schools improve by positively impacting COMMUNICATION

TRANSPARENCY Communication is enhanced through the internal transparency of curriculum maps: Teachers become aware of what is happening in classrooms other than their own.

As a result, Classroom teachers teachers are knowledgeable about what content is taught by teachers at every grade level…

…and all teachers in a school have access to the same curricular information. Classroom teachers Support teachers Specials teachers

TRANSPARENCY Communication is improved as a result of external transparency: Parents, community members, and other schools can have access to the curriculum of the school.

THE RESULTS OF CREDIBILITYACCESSIBILITY ACCOUNTABILITY Discussion: How is your school doing in the area of transparency? Is your internal or external communication in need of improvement?

Curriculum mapping can help schools capture their assets and help teachers leave their legacy

Maps capture a school’s “assets” Curriculum maps articulate the very best thinking and practices of the school. For example, information assets such as…

The work of master teachers can be passed on to teachers not yet hired. Teachers leave a legacy for others

Curriculum mapping helps schools articulate and communicate their plan for student learning. Curriculum mapping helps schools have meaningful conversations around teaching and learning. Curriculum mapping helps teachers seek out the most effective resources and strategies for teaching and learning. In summary…

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