Content Standards: Connecting Standards-Based Curriculum to Instructional Planning (Archived)
Challenge
View the movie below and then proceed to the Initial Thoughts section (time: 1:24).
Transcript: Challenge
Ms. Begay has just been hired as a first-year fourth-grade teacher at Silverado Elementary School. At the school orientation for new staff, the principal discussed the most recent state assessment results and informed the new teachers that they would be required to incorporate state standards and curricular goals into their instructional lesson planning. As Ms. Begay begins to develop her units and lessons for the upcoming year, she focuses on one semester at a time. She recognizes that she needs to address the state standards in her lessons and begins to reflect on how to make that work for her group of students. She knows that she will have students of varying backgrounds and abilities, and wants to make sure the curriculum meets the needs of all of her students, since she is not sure if all students are even at grade level. She also wants to ensure that her students are actively engaged in learning and find the lessons exciting. She is concerned that teaching to the standards will be boring and will just be “teaching to the test.”
Here’s your Challenge:
How will Ms. Begay know she is teaching her students everything they need to learn this year?
What should Ms. Begay find out about her students before planning her curriculum units and lessons?
How will Ms. Begay know if her lesson plans are effective and her students are learning?
What should Ms. Begay know about creating effective lesson plans?
