A Curriculum Map is a calendar-based blueprint of the actual curriculum taught in a course, grade, department, or school. It assists teachers to pace instruction over time, discover the gaps and repetitions, determine what gets cut and what stays, and identify areas for integration.
Levels of Mapping
04-05 |
Course Descriptions |
The descriptions teachers currently write for our course catalogs are the most simplistic form of mapping. (Schools already do this.) |
| Class Level |
An individual teacher maps his/her course. |
| Course Level |
A group of teachers who teach the same course develop a map together. The group works collaboratively towards achievement/instructional goals and provides consistency for the course for any student who takes it. |
05-06 |
Department Level |
A whole departmnet lays all individual course maps out and synthesizes one large department map. The department is: |
| • |
determining the learning plan for all students as they progress through courses. |
| • |
identifying gaps, inconsistencies or repetitions in the department. |
| • |
determining allocations of space, time, and materials. |
| • |
communicating with stakeholders. |
| • |
planning curriculum, assessment and reform. |
Optional |
Program or Building Level |
The stakeholders lay out maps across the curriculum and synthesize a whole grade/ program/ building or small school map. The stakeholders are: |
| • |
determining the learning plan for all students as they progress through courses. |
| • |
identifying gaps, inconsistencies or repetitions in the grade/program/building. |
| • |
determining allocations of space, time, and materials. |
| • |
communicating with students, parents and community. |
| • |
planning curriculum, assessment and reform. |
|
Curriculum maps ensure students have the tools to be successful. Mapping is a dynamic process that gets people talking and supports developing a collaborative culture. It gives teachers a language to discuss what teachers do and model higher level thinking. Mapping the curriculum will help buildings to capture the legacy of their senior teachers. The maps can provide a platform for discussion or program evaluation with other department members, administrators, parents, and the community. They help teachers to articulate learning experiences that are meaningful to multiple audiences.
A Curriculum Map is a powerful tool that can be used to:
- Forge a common vision for teaching and learning.
- Bring curriculum to life in the classroom. Textbooks are not the curriculum. What teachers do with textbooks and other instructional materials are the curriculum. The map comes to life with the teachers in the classroom.
- Make choices about content, skills, and assessments for our studetns.
- Respond to diversity among learners in the classroom. Teachers can provide creative approaches to reaching a common objective--differentiating by content, process, product, and learning environment.
- Design common entry/exit level skills and knowledge.
What is the difference between a scope and sequence and curriculum map?
A Scope and Sequence is a document that aligns the enduring understandings, guiding questions, grade level content expectations, assessments, processes and skills to instructional materials by grade level or grade band. The Scope and Sequence is a reference teachers use when they map the curriculum. By referring to the Scope and Sequence, teachers know what parts of The Curriculum Framework students are responsible for learning and receive guidance about a general timeframe or sequence for the learning. Edmonds has a district Scope and Sequence for Math, Science, Social Studies, and Reading, Writing, and Communicating. Other subject areas use The Curriculum Frameworks as a reference for mapping.
A Scope and Sequence is a reference for mapping the curriculum and ensuring alignment to The Curriculum Frameworks and state standards. |
