Curriculum mapping is a process which involves collecting and recording curriculum related data that identifies elements of instruction such as core skills, content taught, delivery of instruction and assessments used in specific subject areas and grade levels. Once a curriculum map is developed, it is then used as a tool that helps teachers keep track of and plan for instruction. Curriculum maps are a good way to hold teachers accountable for skills that should be taught and what actually takes place in the classroom.
The district in which I currently teach does not use curriculum mapping. I really do like this idea, however, and I think that my district could benefit from something like this. I understand that there would be a tremendous amount of work involved if we were to implement this idea correctly but I think it would be worth it. The district is very large and often times I feel an inequality among schools from one side of town to the other. Class sizes are much smaller in schools on one side as in comparison to the other. It also appears that resources differ as well. Some schools are strongly encouraged to use items such as the adopted reading series, and others do not follow it at all. To have some type of standard guidelines which all were following as well as to be provided equally with the resources to do so would be very beneficial. In addition to this benefit, it would also provide some guidelines for special teachers such as resource room and ESL teachers. It would be a way to keep everyone on the same page. I think the reason that we do not use curriculum mapping is because of the size of the district and the many other initiatives that seem to come up. Curriculum mapping seems to be one that would be worth spending some time on.
Curriculum mapping would definitely help move along the process of changing curriculum. So often we are provided with curriculum guides that only specify the goals needed to be reached instead of going into detail about how to reach those goals. It seems as if something like curriculum mapping might be able to provide the specifics for changing curriculum as well as ensuring that all teachers are kept on task for common goals.
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2 comments:
Dana, I really like the idea of curriculum mapping also. Not only certain schools in the district, but certain grades in our school veiw things differently. This makes it difficult for the child's next year teacher. A teacher then has a class with everybody having mastered a different skill. If everyone was on the same page more meaningful work could be accomplished.
This is common in many schools/districts. Even when there is a curriculum available, it's seldom used to plan instruction.
Many curriculum are so overwhelming that is not wonders teachers are not using them.Curriculum map are more comprehensive and cohesive, so they can actually be used in the classroom.
Some district have adopted district wide text in order to bring more uniformity, yet this is hardly ideal as the goal is not to teach from the book. The results are text-guided instruction. I wonder what would happen in all teachers manual are taken away? What would teachers use to plan their lesson?
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