Curriculum Writing with Curriculum Trak Enduring Understandings

Curriculum Writing Progression So far we have: Named our units Determined a sequence for our units by six weeks Attached our TEKS to our units Added Content and Skills Created Essential Questions Today, we will select units and: Add Enduring Understandings Later we will Evidence of Learning and Key Learning Experiences Curriculum Writing Progression

Goals Describe the elements of an enduring understanding Write enduring understandings for units. Goals

Let’s get started! Login to Curriculum Trak Find the unit you want to work on- Unit Plans, Select Unit Click on the blue “Editing Mode” Scroll down to the Enduring Understandings portion of the template and click in the box Let’s get started!

What is an Enduring Understanding? Full-sentence statement reflecting conclusions about the content via big ideas- the particulars of what you want students to understand about that idea. For example, “I want learners to understand that a written constitution and encoded rule of law are essential to safeguard the people’s rights in a democracy.” Can be gained only through guided inference whereby the learner is helped to make, recognize, or verify a conclusion. They are thus not “teachable” facts. They are inherently abstract, usually not obvious, sometimes counterintuitive and possibly misunderstood by students, so simply “teaching” the understanding does not guarantee that students will “get” it. (Wiggins & McTighe, 2011) What is an Enduring Understanding?

Characteristics of Enduring Understandings Are at the heart of the discipline. Have lasting value beyond the classroom. They are transferable across time and location. Summarize insights students are supposed to take-away. Characteristics of Enduring Understandings

Why Use Enduring Understandings? When students are able to connect new learning with the “big ideas” in a discipline, they are able to store and retrieve the new information more easily. Help us set educational priorities. They identify what is most important for students to take away from a unit. Why Use Enduring Understandings?

Tips for Creating Enduring Understandings Look at your standards and ask yourself: If the content of the unit is the story, what is the moral of the story (unit)? How is the concept applied and used in the larger world? What is the real-world insight about the concept? What is the value of studying the concept? Tips for Creating Enduring Understandings

Examples of Enduring Understandings Math Different number systems and expressions can represent the same quantities. The goal, context and ease of use determine the best choice. The aim in algebraic problem solving is to turn unclear relationships of unknowns and unfamiliars into knowns and familiars by means of equivalent statements. Social Studies In a free market economy, price is a function of supply and demand. The topography, climate, and natural resources of a region influence the culture, economy, and lifestyle of its inhabitants. Science Correlation does not mean or ensure causality.

Enduring Understandings Examples Cont. ELA An effective story engages the reader by leaving out key facts and raising questions- tensions, mystery, dilemmas, or uncertainty- about what will happen next. Self-deprecating humor can be an effective (and ironic) way to persuade audiences. World Languages Translation rarely involves a one-to-one correspondence of words. Many words and expressions are idiomatic. Just because you can translate each word doesn’t mean you will understand the speaker. Enduring Understandings Examples Cont.

Enduring vs. Not Enduring

Test Yourself- Enduring Understanding or Not? The concept of estivation. The USDA Food Pyramid presents relative, not absolute guidelines for a balanced diet. Mathematical models simplify reality to enable useful solutions. How to tell time. The causes and effects of the Civil War. That the Magna Carta was signed on June 15, 1215. Test Yourself- Enduring Understanding or Not?

Test Yourself- Enduring Understanding or Not- Answers The concept of estivation. No The USDA Food Pyramid presents relative, not absolute guidelines for a balanced diet. Yes Mathematical models simplify reality to enable useful solutions. Yes How to tell time. No The causes and effects of the Civil War. No That the Magna Carta was signed on June 15, 1215. No Test Yourself- Enduring Understanding or Not- Answers

Today: Choose a unit: example: Fifth six weeks: Our Changing Earth Go to the Enduring Understandings section of your unit in Curriculum Trak Add the Enduring Understandings. The should be in statement form. Complete for as many units as you can in the time allotted. Notes: How many enduring understandings should you have? 2-3 per unit if you have 2 to 3 units in a six weeks, 1 if you have more than 3 units in a six weeks but there is no hard and fast rule, use your judgement Caveat: Many materials exist that have what they call enduring understandings written in them. Please examine any resources, internet or textbook, that you utilize to help you create your enduring understandings and make sure the enduring understandings you use fit what you have learned. Task for Today

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