"Helps with planning content, methodology, and assessment and gives an overview of current trends that directly impact the classroom. The illustrations are great, the charts make it easier to understand, the style is easy to read, and the research discussed leads directly into practical ideas that all teachers can use." —William Fitzhugh, Second Grade Teacher, Reisterstown Elementary School, MD Reframe instructional practice in your differentiated classroom through successful curriculum mapping! Curriculum mapping has evolved as an invaluable communication, planning, and teaching tool. Using this dynamic method, educators can document what is being taught, what students are learning, how well they are learning, and how closely the curriculum reflects local and national standards. This lively, easy-to-use resource is a cohesive and accessible guide to curriculum mapping and instructional planning for classrooms that support diverse learning styles and needs. With a "Teacher′s Tool Chest" that offers an abundance of reproducibles, templates, and task cards to accompany sample lessons and units, this rich reference shows educators how to: Use standards and rubrics for developing interdisciplinary units and lessons Analyze and assess students′ learning styles and needs Develop differentiated content, process, and products, including homework Create a student-centered classroom Successfully integrate curriculum mapping, differentiated instruction, and interdisciplinary units within a manageable framework This remarkable handbook provides everything teachers need to revitalize the relationship between standards-based curriculum and instruction, using real-life strategies that work!

This easy-to-use guide to curriculum mapping and instructional planning for K–8 student-centered classrooms blends standards, rubrics, interdisciplinary units, and a "Teacher's Tool Chest" for successful learning.

"With imagination and serious reflection, the author has generated a detailed resource with exercises, worksheets, staff development activities, and sample maps to assist any staff developer or curriculum designer. This book particularly connects to those who are at the beginning levels of their mapping journey." —From the Foreword by Heidi Hayes Jacobs A step-by-step guide to successful curriculum mapping initiatives! While curriculum mapping is recognized as a highly effective method for serving students′ ongoing instructional needs and creating systemic change, the means for putting this data-based decision-making process into practice may not always be clearly understood. This in-depth resource speaks to teachers and administrators with varying levels of curriculum-mapping experience and describes how teacher groups drive the process by engaging in collaborative inquiry as they review one another′s curriculums for gaps, redundancies, and new learning. The collected data assist in designing month-to-month instructional plans for all grade levels and subjects, resulting in a curriculum that is coherent, consistent, and aligned with standards. Drawing on her experience in working with thousands of educators across the country, Janet A. Hale offers specific steps for coordinating and sustaining strong mapping efforts that become embedded in school culture. The author explores the stages of contemplating, planning, and implementing a curriculum mapping initiative and helps the reader examine critical components that affect a learning organization′s progress through each phase. The book presents powerful tools and features that significantly enhance curriculum mapping efforts: Samples of four types of curriculum maps—Diary, Projected, Consensus, and Essential Guidelines for deciding what type of map to use to begin the process Assistance for selecting a Web-based mapping system Reflective questions at the end of each chapter A complete glossary of terms A Guide to Curriculum Mapping includes extended coverage of the challenges of curriculum mapping, offers encouragement and advice from educators who have successfully implemented a mapping initiative, and provides the necessary clarity to put curriculum mapping into action.

Eliminate “idea block” with this practical resource that includes more than 100 planning tools, matrixes, rubrics, templates, and choice boards for differentiating instruction during extended learning blocks.

A GPS for connecting standards to lessons Translating the Common Core State Standards into an effective curriculum is at the top of many educators’ to-do list, and this book shows you how. This text familiarizes teachers and curriculum designers with the key points of the ELA core standards and demonstrates how to design effective curriculum units to align with them. The author provides practical and accessible tools for developing a map and for making the important connections among all unit map components, including differentiated instruction. Also included are: A rationale for each of the ELA common core standards An overview of the key benefits Reproducible templates and examples of unit curriculum maps

Offers a definition of differentiated instruction, and provides principles and strategies designed to help teachers create learning environments that address the different learning styles, interests, and readiness levels found in a typical mixed-ability classroom.

The untold story of the root cause of America's education crisis--and the seemingly endless cycle of multigenerational poverty. It was only after years within the education reform movement that Natalie Wexler stumbled across a hidden explanation for our country's frustrating lack of progress when it comes to providing every child with a quality education. The problem wasn't one of the usual scapegoats: lazy teachers, shoddy facilities, lack of accountability. It was something no one was talking about: the elementary school curriculum's intense focus on decontextualized reading comprehension "skills" at the expense of actual knowledge. In the tradition of Dale Russakoff's The Prize and Dana Goldstein's The Teacher Wars, Wexler brings together history, research, and compelling characters to pull back the curtain on this fundamental flaw in our education system--one that fellow reformers, journalists, and policymakers have long overlooked, and of which the general public, including many parents, remains unaware. But The Knowledge Gap isn't just a story of what schools have gotten so wrong--it also follows innovative educators who are in the process of shedding their deeply ingrained habits, and describes the rewards that have come along: students who are not only excited to learn but are also acquiring the knowledge and vocabulary that will enable them to succeed. If we truly want to fix our education system and unlock the potential of our neediest children, we have no choice but to pay attention.

In this student-centered book, Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt provides proven tips and innovative methods for teaching, managing, and assessing all aspects of art instruction and student learning in today’s diversified educational settings, from pre-K through high school. Up-to-date with the current National Visual Arts Standards, this text offers best practices in art education, and explains current theories and assessment models for art instruction. Using examples of students’ visually stunning artworks to illustrate what children can achieve through quality art instruction and practical lesson planning, Teaching and Learning in Art Education explores essential and emerging topics such as: managing the classroom in art education; artistic development from early childhood through adolescence; catering towards learners with a diversity of abilities; integrating technology into the art field; and understanding drawing, painting, paper arts, sculpture, and textiles in context. Alongside a companion website offering Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, assessments, and tutorials to provide ready-to-use-resources for professors and students, this engaging text will assist teachers in challenging and inspiring students to think creatively, problem-solve, and develop relevant skills as lifelong learners in the art education sector.

In the schools of today, English learners are the fastest-growing segment of the student population. As such, it is increasingly imperative to educate these students properly, while still practicing inclusion for overall student success. The Handbook of Research on Pedagogies and Cultural Considerations for Young English Language Learners is an authoritative research publication on research-based, theoretical frameworks and best practices for teaching young English language learners. Featuring exhaustive coverage on a variety of topics and perspectives such as co-teaching, inclusion, and social awareness, this publication is ideally designed for academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on the examination of how diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences contribute to curriculum and pedagogy for bilingual young learners.

This book offers practical recommendations to reach every student in a K-8 classroom. Research-based and written in a teacher-friendly style, it will help teachers with classroom organization and lesson planning in math and science. Included are math and science games, activities, ideas, and lesson plans based on the math and science standards. This book will help your students to develop positive attitudes and raise competency in math and science.