This year has been an interesting year for me. I am learning a whole bunch of new things regarding education. One of the projects for my administrative internship involves curriculum mapping; the following describes the problem it will try to solve.
Eleven of the thirteen (resource) special education students that took the HSPA last year were not proficient. After speaking with the Resource English/Math and Regular Education teachers, the school realized that students in resource room English and Math settings are not receiving the same learning experiences as their regular education counterparts. Ergo, getting on the same page was the first idea shared. Curriculum Mapping was chosen as the answer; this year we are starting with English.
This year, a couple times per month, the volunteer regular education English teachers, Resource English teachers, myself, and our supervisor are working together to map the curricula for English 9, 10, and 11. Our contention is that if each special education student enrolled in resource room receives the same learning experiences as everyone else, they will improve on the HSPA.
Unit by unit, the grade level teachers (resource and regular) discuss the objectives, essential questions, activities, and assessments; next, they complete a template (similar to UBD) for each respective unit. Here, the goal is to provide the same content, form and delivery to each student.
The Math department in my school also engages in curriculum mapping in order to certify that students receive the same instruction at each level. They have also begun to invite the Special Education teachers. I believe that curriculum mapping will become a major project at my school. Following the same curriculum does not mean that the same learning experiences will take place; curriculum mapping helps the aforementioned.
Curriculum mapping establishes a community of learners; no matter what teacher students have, they can work together in learning.
As curriculum mapping takes place, teachers realize how curriculum may be outdated or how it can be improved. Here, teachers are looking at older curricula and reflecting on how it will change. Different teaching styles working together on one map may prove to be very successful. Also, this may be a chance for all the teachers of one subject to discuss how technology may be incorporated into the classroom. If they all work on it they will all implement it!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
When I was thinking about the benefits of curriculum mapping, I didn't even consider how special education students might be impacted. Great point!
It really affects several aspects: assessment, technology, pacing, emphasis....and most important as long as it is adhered to...uniformity between staff.
I think you hit on the biggest benefit of curriculum mapping, that it requires collaboration of staff. When all staff are involved in creation, then the development and implementation of new curriculum becomes more streamlined. Staff understand the rationale for curricular change and are motivated to shape the new curriculum to be the best it can. But the biggest draw is the communication that it fosters. Teachers can share common frustrations and good ideas to insure that all classrooms perform to expectation.
I think you hit on the biggest benefit of curriculum mapping, that it requires collaboration of staff. When all staff are involved in creation, then the development and implementation of new curriculum becomes more streamlined. Staff understand the rationale for curricular change and are motivated to shape the new curriculum to be the best it can. But the biggest draw is the communication that it fosters. Teachers can share common frustrations and good ideas to insure that all classrooms perform to expectation.
Your article made me think. As a specialist in gifted ed, I am called upon to make a program or extra work for a student who is finishing work or compacting out of the math unit. I have not sat in on common planning and realize how we could benefit from that. Although when I teach, I am the relief for teachers so they can common plan, I am going to make an effort to sit in on some of their time. We have a great relationship but never put the two together because of time. I will now make the effort to work with my schedule to get with the teams that meet!
As a parent of a special ed child...I hope my daughters teachers put in that much effort for her!
Special ed students are one of the reasons to maintain curriculum mapping. In most schools, different curricula is used for reg ed vs. special ed. Curriculum Mapping should help to eliminate any stigmas.
Post a Comment