Calender-Based Mapping.........

     
 The article by Heidi Hayes Jacobs was helpful for introducing the importance of calender curriculum mapping. I have noticed that things seem to work better in a school setting when everyone is on the same page. In the PBS documentary, "A Tale of Two Schools", the Texas school which incorporated a uniform program for reading had a spike in test scores and literacy, everyone had to get on the same page. I think calender curriculum mapping would allow for the same to occur as well. By looking through a finer lens at what will be taught and when, we would be much more able to have quality lessons that transition in a manner from unit to unit that makes sense. Curriculum mapping allows for a much more detailed outline of what needs to be taught and when and logically flow through the academic calender year.  I agree that curriculum mapping is very important. By outlining when we teach something we are held accountable. It is one thing to have standards and another to map out when you will teach those standards and to provide specific details such as assessments and materials. It allows the teacher to allow enough time for each objective and to coordinate the curriculum in a fashion that makes sense. It allows the district to cover the broad spectrum of K-12 objectives and create curriculum that gives students the necessary information they need to be successful. My district provided me with a pacing guide so as a first year teacher I am not flying blind, but I have found that my colleagues and I are not on the same page. Both of the seventh grade Language Arts teachers have different materials and different times for teaching each objective. It is as if we are lone wolves trying to reach the same goal but all working independently. By getting more uniformity and developing a curriculum map together we could pool resources and materials and come up with the best instructional practices based on curriculum mapping. I know what objectives I need to teach each nine weeks. However, a curriculum map would allow me to specifically determine all of the scope of a unit or objective. Instead of acting as a lone wolf with broad guidelines, I could have the entire year mapped and ready to go with uniformity with my colleagues. It would allow for more organized units and therefore better instruction and lessons. The maps could also prevent parents from getting upset over the fact that different teachers are covering different things. The organization of  mapping helps everyone to see what  is going on in the classroom and allow for more transparency and accountability but would also make the teacher's job easier.
      My district really only sets a pacing guide. That does not include all of the objectives tested by the state. It is about one-third the size of pacing guides of neighboring and higher level districts. I think my district would greatly benefit from a serious examination of curriculum mapping. Too many of my fellow teachers are just flying blind and trying to hit what is on the pacing guide but there is no structure or vertical or horizontal planning. I think it could be amazing if we sat down in our subject areas and outlined the year and developed a map and had each teacher to stick to it. I think it could produce some amazing results. This summer I think that the more work we do up front, the smoother and easier it will be in school. We can also use some of our techniques again in the Fall. I may suggest mapping with the other seventh grade English teacher at my school to see what we could develop. I think the more organization and work on the front , the easier the long haul will be and the more the students will benefit from it.  

Comments

[DrE]

You nailed it spot on in your first few sentences.  Everyone needs to be on the same page for it to work.

What you'll probably find is, that it will work in summer school but not from August to May.  Unless, everyone buys in.

Good luck!