Notes

Outline

Part 2: Curriculum Mapping - Introduction and Overview  by Peter Pappas www.peterpappas.com Waynesboro Area School District August 19, 2002

"Portions of this presentation are..." Portions of this presentation are based on a talk given by Heidi Hayes Jacobs August 24, 2001 Webster New York Heidi Hayes Jacobs website: http://www.curriculumdesigners.com/

The challenge from “above” New standards and assessments Rising accountability and expectations No Child Left Behind Testing overload Changing demographics

How many teachers will a student encounter K-12?

Why mapping Our curricula are disorganized, superficial snapshots To forge a common vision for teaching and learning To provide our teachers with the tools to be successful To capture the legacy of our senior teachers

Suzie doesn’t have all the 3rd grade teachers – why are they meeting?

Students need the support of a organized curriculum - example literacy We need a common process to follow We should all be teaching it. Revise and edit in all classes All focusing on contextual use of vocabulary

What is mapping? Calendar-based mapping is a procedure for collecting a data base of the operational curriculum in school or district It links content, skills, assessments to time and standards Expands our understanding of the students’ learning experience

Mapping is a tool for: Communications - teachers, students, administration, parents, community Planning – curriculum, assessments, reforms Resource allocation - space, time, materials Staff development

Mapping is a blueprint: To align content, skills and assessments Pace instruction over time Help discover gaps and repetitions Decide what stays and what gets cut out Identify areas for integration

Maps tells us what’s going on Tell us what is taught. They’re calendar based because they exist in time Provide us with a framework to evaluate student work When you have data you attack problems, not each other

Own the map at the local level The text is not the curriculum, what you do with it is the curriculum The state standards are not the curriculum, they come to life in our program We make choices about content, skills and assessments for our students - a discreet group of learners

Mapping fosters teacher creativity The map comes to life with the teachers in the classroom Teachers can provide creative approaches to reaching a common objective Stay focused on what's good for the child, we can disagree on the approach  - we have a basis to compare Instructional time is saved by common entry / exit level skills and knowledge

Mapping creates a basis to differentiate instruction It establishes standards for mastery of knowledge and skills Teachers able respond to variance among learners in the classroom Differentiate by content, process, product, learning environment

Start by looking at samples of student work It produces a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of your program. Soon you’ll be talking about goals, instruction and schedules

Keep the focus on results Focus on the measurable competences Don’t teach to the test – teach the skills students need to be successful on the test Approach skill development as multi-year endeavors

Connect with the community Teachers and administrators finish the map -  consider a discussion with parents and community Articulate learning experiences that are meaningful to multiple audiences Remember different groups want different data Forces us to speak in plain English

Face the equity issue Be ready to address how we hold children  accountable that may never reach the standards If done correctly, then we are describing a standard that already exists in the community We can give students skills and knowledge at a time in life when they can actually do something about it

It’s a chance to take the lead We’ve ceded the agenda to business and politicians We are a very expensive service –we have to demonstrate we can provide it efficiently and effectively People expect good customer service

Its about the process We need to get people talking It’s dynamic, not a 5 year cycle It gives us a language to discuss what we do It’s an occasion for teachers to learn We model higher level thinking

How does mapping support your classroom goals ?

"Intro" Intro Survivor Rigor and Relevance Personal View Project Website www.edteck.com