Although making a curriculum map is time consuming, it can help a new teacher get ahead with lesson planning and know what to expect to teach in the coming days and weeks ahead. Careful planing ahead will help teachers be finished with each unit before students are let out on break, and help them to cover everything required.
How to Map the Curriculum
In order to map out the curriculum, you need to make a list of the important standards that you want to teach for the entire month. This list, based on the curriculum provided to you, should firstly include the standards. Secondly, it should include any specific books and activities you think of as you go through the curriculum that you would like to remember to use for teaching the standard. This mapping activity will enable you to prioritize the standards, and teach more effectively instead of attempting to cram every single standard into your lesson plans.
How to Choose the Important Standards
If your particular school district does not map out the curriculum for you and tell you specifically what to teach and when, you need to apply some thought to making these decisions yourself. Think about those standards that lend themselves to teaching students problem solving skills and critical thinking skills. Teaching those lessons that extend beyond the classroom are just as important as those that apply to the state tests.
Communicate With Other Teachers
Discuss your curriculum map with the other veteran teachers on your team, as they have already taught through the curriculum. Many times you will find that the principal has a particular set of objectives that she wants you to include in your lessons. You also will find out which objectives are not necessary to teach based on previous history with the state testing. Although teachers cannot make copies or notes about the test, many times they will remember topics that were emphasized or those that were left off entirely. Glean as much as you can from their previous teaching knowledge.
Although it is up to the teacher to ultimately decide what to teach once the bell rings, the task of deciding what to teach on any given day can be overwhelming. Taking the time to map out the curriculum and make some basic decisions ahead of time will help cut down on the time it takes to plan out your individual lessons. Make it a goal to map out one month in advance, throughout the school year.
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Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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