Knoxville District 202 Implements Curriculum Mapping
January 23, 2007
In the Fall of 2006, the Knoxville CUSD #202 Administration and Faculty began a curriculum update and renewal process. The system that was chosen to assist faculty with this large project is Curriculum Mapper. Curriculum Mapper is based on the common sense ideas championed by Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs, the recognized pioneer of curriculum mapping. After over ten years, curriculum mapping is now supported by research showing improved student performance.
Two teacher leaders and all building level administrators from Knoxville went to training to learn to use the Curriculum Mapper software and to be trained in the Curriculum Mapping process. Teachers and administrators then returned to their buildings to train their staffs on Curriculum Mapper and the process of Curriculum Mapping.
Each School Improvement Day this school year has been dedicated to teachers working on mapping the curriculum taught in their classrooms. Curriculum Maps are a monthly view of what really took place in our classrooms. Teachers write down the essential elements of what was taught, what skills the students worked on, and what tools were used to assess student learning.
Curriculum Mapping is all about authenticity. They give teachers an accurate picture of what is happening in their classrooms. Using this data, teachers and administrators are then able to align the curriculum of the district grades K-12. The curriculum is no longer static, but is a living process. Teachers work together to create a seamless journey for students from Kindergarten at Mable Woolsey Elementary School through Graduation from Knoxville High School.
The complete process will take several school years to complete, but already we can start to see and analyze any gaps or overlaps that we have in our curriculum.
