I've been hankering after a curriculum map here in IUFSD.
A curriculum map, a scope and sequence, a topic matrix, a handbook, a course syllabus -- anything of that nature.
I want one.
But when Google Images tossed this up under the heading "curriculum map," I had pause.
I mean, suppose I spend the next 6 months hammering the district, insisting that what we parents need to make the preteaching/reteaching Phase 4 life bearable, is a curriculum map.
And then suppose we actually get one.
And it looks like this.
Or like this.
That would be bad.
NO! NOT THE STRANDS AGAIN!!
ReplyDeleteI hate "curriculum maps... "Teach watever".
ReplyDeleteI made my syllabus myself ( that's an advantage of being the only science teacher teaching honor classes! I m out of their control!. I would love to be given sequenced syllabus with identified objectives for each unit so I would know what other teachers are doing before those kids come to me - but no, of course, no. How the heck I suppose to know if the kids studied something (well I ask the kids - at leat a few will remember) and to what depth?
They call it interconnected or spiral curriculum - I'd prefer sequenced exact plan.
YES!
ReplyDeleteSTRANDS!
STRANDS!
STRANDS!
I would love to be given sequenced syllabus with identified objectives for each unit so I would know what other teachers are doing before those kids come to me - but no, of course, no.
ReplyDeleteyeah....me, too
What does the spiral look like?
ReplyDeleteI tried asking for syllabi as part of an IEP but didn't get much cooperation from the mainstream teachers. Now, in classes either "co-taught" between reg ed and spec ed, they do a lot of pre-teaching and I've even managed to get study guides right at the beginning of a chapter to figure out what will be important. But in reg ed, it's all a mystery. There may be little notes along with the report cards about what was covered and especially what parents need to do at home but nothing more.
ReplyDeleteI think this blog is an example of the limits of voice in reforming a school system.
ReplyDeleteWe can make people do things by jumping up and down, we can't make them do it right. It's not enough for a school to say "teach to mastery" or plan a curriculum, they actually have to teach to mastery and make a good plan of a curriculum. And if they don't see it as their goal, then they won't.
This reminds me of my mum's fights with dad over his clothing. After about 20 years she got him to a point where he stopped resisting her buying him new clothes. He still has no taste. (Sample line from one of my brothers "Dad, great trousers, great top, great shoes. Never ever wear them together again"). You can't make people do things right.
Spiral curriculum - topics or modules are repeated in consequent grades. That'like a little bit of bio is done in 6th, then in 7th, then in 8th grades. It supposingly (according to their curriculum maps} should include study of cells all three times, for instance, and every time in more depth. Doesn't work, I can tell you.
ReplyDeleteI hate jumping from subject to subject (and I am not a pro in Physics or in Earth Science, so i hate it even more}, so this year my only 7th grade received 1/2 a year of Physics (for 7th and 8th grade) and now we do Earth Science. They will have a complete uninterrupted year of proper Bio in 8th grade.
curriculum map = free association with ink
ReplyDeletelol, Myrtle)
ReplyDeleteLet your imagination fly!
Yes, this year we also have "guiding concepts": LIFE for 6th grade, DISCOVERY for 7th Grade, NATURE for 8th. I have NO IDEA what they meant by those, so I don't pay attention.)
That curriculum map looks like an example of the technique called mind mapping.
ReplyDeleteIn one case (moving definitions) I learned that spiraling is where you introduce a concept but they may not get it. Next year or months down the road you teach it again. Now they might sort of understand it. Some time later, you teach it again, they will probably get it.
ReplyDeleteI hate that method.
I'll post a link to what Connecting Math Concepts shows (visually) as spiral curriculum (they call it something like that). Theirs makes sense (to me at least).
In one case (moving definitions) I learned that spiraling is where you introduce a concept but they may not get it. Next year or months down the road you teach it again.
ReplyDeleteThat's the EM and Trailblazers spiral, I believe. Unfortunately, if you're super shaky with a concept because you never mastered it, spiraling around to it later is probably more like starting over. Again and again. Sounds like fun.