1. Purpose for Curriculum Mapping
References:
Mapping the Big Picture: for Integrating Curriculum and Assessment in K – 12 by Heidi Hayes Jacobs
A Guide to Curriculum Mapping by Janet A. Hale
Book reference: Mapping the Big Picture: Integrating Curriculum and Assessment K-12
By Heidi Hayes Jacobs, ASCD.

2. Essential Questions for Curriculum Mapping
How can curriculum mapping improve student performance?
What are initial mapping tasks?
How can we organize our work into a comprehensible plan?

3. Our roles as curriculum mappers…
Researchers
Designers
Writers
Editors
Assessment Writers

4. What is Curricular Mapping?
Calendar based curriculum mapping is a procedure for collecting a data base of the actual delivered curriculum at a school site.
It provides the basis for authentic examination of that curriculum.
It allows multiple teachers to provide guidance and direction for a grade level curriculum.

5. Who are YOUR learners?
Really think about who your audience is. What specific needs do they have? How can you best help THEM?

6. What information do we collect on the Curriculum Map?
Content
Assessment
Skills/Thinking Processes
Standards
Essential Questions
Objectives
Best Instructional Practices
Resources

7. Why Curricular Mapping?

8. Types of Curriculum
Recommended – Standards as defined by experts in their field.
Written – State standards, local goals and objectives (ie., curriculum binders).
Supported – Curriculum for which materials are actually available, such as textbooks and software.

9. Types of Curriculum, cont.
Tested – What is actually assessed at the state and local level.
Taught – The content that teachers actually deliver.
Learned – The content that students learn.

10. Curriculum Mapping Attempts to:
Create a “snapshot” of the educational activities of every classroom within the school/grade level/content area.
Capture the content skills and assessments taught by every teacher in the school/grade level/content area.
Organize this information into an easily accessed visual that presents a timeline of instruction by teacher and course.

11. Maps are never finished; they are a work in progress!
Documentation
Examination
Revision
Examination
Revision
Examination
Revision
Documentation
Revision
Documentation
Documentation
Examination

12. Mapping is a Communication Tool for Staff
Between teachers in a school site.
Between teachers in feeding and receiving sites.
For future teachers.
For a new/revised curriculum.

13. Mapping is a Planning Tool
For curriculum reform.
For meeting date/unit standards.
For ordering materials, software…
For coordinating events.
For planning assessment and data review.

14. Mapping is a Pedagogical Tool
For the new teacher.
For the special education teacher.
For the new student.
For seeing the operational program.
For designing staff development.

15. Mapping needs to be tailored to your school site
The school and district culture.
The decision making process.
A deliberate timetable.
Available time.
Leadership at each site.

16. Sample Curriculum Map Essential Questions Content (noun) Skills (verb)
Assessment
Activities
August
September
October
November
December

17. Essential Questions… Focus on a broad topic of study.
Have multiple answers and perspectives. They address “why” or “how”.
They are “mental Velcro” that helps ideas stick in students’ minds.

18. Essential Questions Examples
Which is more important – water or air?
What is change?
What if Shakespeare were a woman?

19. Skills
Skills are key abilities and processes students will develop related to specific content.
 Skills are written beginning with a verb.

20. Skills Examples Reading a map Writing a play
Analyzing non-fiction text
Writing persuasive essays
Matching words and pictures

21. Assessment
Assessments are the products or performances that demonstrate student learning.
Assessments are what the student does (the actual product or performance), not the evaluation tool used to assess the product.

22. Assessment Examples Group presentation Brochure Research Paper
Essay exam
Puppet show
Debate
Periodic Assessments
Teacher Created Tests/Quizzes

23. Activities
Key activities that lead to acquisition of knowledge and skills.
Describe the "how" for the knowledge and skills.

24. Activities Examples Writing persuasive letters to local government
Water analysis of local river
Critique a work of art
Create a 50 states quilt

25. Other Sections Other sections of a curriculum map can include:
Objectives/Goals for the unit
Best Instructional Practices for the unit
Resources and text selections for the unit
Standards ranked by weight/assessment weight

26. Curriculum Map Samples
The following slides will include some examples of curriculum maps.
Keep in mind that not all of the sections are included or required.

31. Your curriculum map reflects what actually occurs in your classroom
Remember...
Your curriculum map reflects
what actually occurs in your classroom
Reality is “messy”
May not be a “pretty” document
That’s ok!

32. Some Guidelines...
Include enough specifics to make the map useful (so it “tells” you something upon reflection)
Use specific vocabulary vs. vague/generic terms

33. Benefits as an individual teacher...
Can review timing, sequence, level of instruction
Serves as documentation of successful instructional activities
Assists in monitoring types of instructional methods used (ex., cooperative learning, direct instruction, etc.)

34. Benefits as a group of teachers of the same grade level or course...
Can share activities and assessments (both successful and unsuccessful)
Collaboration enhances “team” feeling
Can serve as a guide for new teachers

35. As a group of teachers of varied grade levels or varied courses within a department...
Can examine for “gaps” in the curriculum
Can note “repetitions” in the curriculum
Provides opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across grade levels and courses

36. --------> How does our school get from here... to here? Standardsof
Learning
>
Student
Achievement

37. Curriculum Alignment, Pacing, and Mapping Can Put You On Target for Success!