Foreword by Stephanie Hirsh Publisher's Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. An Overview: Collaborative Curriculum Design as Professional Learning 2. Establishing Assumptions About Student and Staff Learning 3. Determining Complex Curriculum Standards and Concepts 4. Mapping the Curriculum 5. Assessment of Student Learning 6. Designing Instruction 7. Analyzing Student Work and Monitoring Student Learning to Inform Instruction 8. Using Effective Grading and Parent Reporting Practices 9. Leading Schools to Sustain the Effort and Fulfill the Promise Appendix 1. Our Assumptions About Student and Staff Learning Appendix 2. The Principles of Professional Learning Appendix 3. Our Vision of Our School: Iduma Elementary School, Killeen ISD, Killeen, TX Appendix 4. A Learning Walk Appendix 5. We are a School Community That Values Learning Appendix 6. Template for Developing Our Learning Community's Norms Appendix 7. Quakertown High School Goals Appendix 8. Sample Letter to Parents Appendix 9. Critical Attributes of a Performance Task Appendix 10. Template for Culminating Demonstrations Appendix 11. Example of a Task Analysis of a Culminating Demonstration Appendix 12. Example of a Task Analysis of a Culminating Demonstration (Term III) Appendix 13. Precision in Adverbs Appendix 14. Middle Ages Scoring Guide Appendix 15. Culminating Demonstration Rubric for First Grade Students at Heritage Elementary Appendix 16. Kindergarten Literacy Lesson Plans References Index
Written for primary and secondary school administrators and teacher leaders, Accelerating Student and Staff Learning presents a powerful model for professional development centered around conversations about curriculum. The author shows how school leaders can raise student performance by focusing the attention of professional learning communities (PLCs) on curriculum design. The book emphasizes the essential role of leaders in nurturing, inspiring, and challenging PLCs to engage in the critical work of curriculum design that is built around the following activities: - Developing common understanding of the standards and concepts students are to learn - Developing common annual work plans or curriculum maps - Designing aligned assessments - Collecting and using data to differentiate instruction and extend learning opportunities for all learners - Using the data to make ongoing modifications in the work of PLCs