resources

Curriculum Alignment/Standards-based Instruction

Burns, R. 2001. Curriculum renewal: Curriculum mapping.

A chapter of the Curriculum Handbook. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Available online in the Curriculum Handbook at www.ascd.org, or in print. The author uses her rich experience and a standards-based perspective to provide an overview of curriculum mapping and the specifics of the process. She also includes descriptions of how five districts used this strategy successfully and answers critical questions often asked about mapping.

 

Jacobs, H. 1997. Mapping the big picture: Integrating curriculum and assessment.

Alexandria, VA: ASCD. This is an easy-to-read book on how to map the curriculum for the school year.

 

Jacobs, H. (Ed.) 2004. Getting results with curriculum mapping.

Alexandria, VA: ASCD. Following the processes outlined in the ASCD best-seller Mapping the Big Picture: Integrating Curriculum and Assessment K-12, teachers and administrators offer concrete advice on how to get the most out of curriculum mapping in districts and schools. For more information on Heidi Jacobs’s work, www.curriculumdesigners.com.

 

Mitchell, R., Willis, M., & Chicago Teachers Union Center. 1995.

Learning in overdrive: Designing curriculum, instruction, and assessment from standards. Ahead of its time, this manual gives teachers a process for planning standards-based instructional units.

 

Perna, D., & Davis, J. 2000. Aligning standards and curriculum for classroom success.

Arlington, VA: Skylight Training and Publishing, Inc. This resource provides a systematic approach to developing curriculum within the framework of standards. The authors also show how their methods can be used with student assessment and teacher evaluation.

Integrated Curriculum

Figliano, F. 2007. Strategies for Integrating STEM Content: A Pilot Case Study.

Master of Arts Thesis: Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Tech.
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12122007-163540/

Burns, R. 2002. Interdisciplinary teamed instruction. In Interdisciplinary education in

k-12 and college: A foundation for K-16 dialogue. (J. Klein, ed.) New York: The College Board.

 

Drake, S., & Burns, R. 2004. Meeting standards through integrated curriculum.

Alexandria, VA: ASCD. By combining case studies with a wealth of supporting research, the authors offer teachers a user-friendly system for meeting standards while advancing broad-based learning. A free study guide is available -- for details, click here.

 

Drake, S. 2000. Integrated curriculum. A chapter in ASCD’s Curriculum Handbook.

Alexandria, VA: ASCD. This chapter features a collection of the most popular integration models to have emerged in the 1990s. It provides examples of rigorous and relevant curriculum implemented in schools across North America as well as a section on problem-based learning.

 

Erickson, H. L. 2001. Stirring the head, heart, and soul: Redefining curriculum

and instruction (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. To gain a deep understanding of concept-based education, educators should read this book. It is informative, rich in both theory and practice, and presents detailed sample standards-based units developed in real school districts at all grade levels. Creating concept-based curriculum for deeper understanding is a video offered by Corwin Press that provides more insights into concept-based education.

 

Interdisciplinary Studies Project at www.pz.harvard.edu/interdisciplinary. This site provides

findings from a multi-year research project at Project Zero, Harvard School of Education. The project develops practical tools to guide quality interdisciplinary education. Descriptions of their studies, as well as papers emerging from the projects’ work, are available for download.

 

Wiggins, G., & McTighe, J. 1998. Understanding by design. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

The backward design approach is the core the Understanding by Design series, which is extensive and well-worth investigating. There are a number of products related to this approach on the ASCD Web site at www.ascd.org.

Project-based Learning

Buck Institute for Education at www.bie.org. The Buck Institute

provides resources and training on project-based and problem-based learning.

 

Fleming, D. (2000). A teacher’s guide to project-based learning.

Charleston, WV: Edvantia, Inc. This book introduces readers to the ideas and methods that underpin project-based learning. Teachers who are new to PBL will find it particularly helpful as a starting point and resource guide.

 

George Lucas Educational Foundation at www.edutopia.org.

This site contains a wealth of resources on project-based learning for all grade levels.

 

Meridian Journal at http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/. This journal is an

especially good resource for middle schools.

 

Project Education at www.motivation-tools.com/youth/project_education.html. This is

a particularly good resource for middle schools and high schools.

 

Senior Projects at www.serve.org. SERVE and its partners provide training

for schools wishing to implement senior projects as a component of summative high school assessment.

 

Steinberg, A., Cushman, K., & Riordan, R.  (1999). Schooling for the real world: 

The essential guide to rigorous and relevant learning. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers. The authors outline how three high school reform initiatives combine the academic core of teaching with learning in the real world of work. Many examples from schools are described.

Effective Teaching: Building on Students’ Strengths

Black, S. (2006, January). Respecting differences. American School Board Journal, 193

(1).  U.S. classrooms are becoming more culturally diverse, and that creates problems between teachers and students. Experts say educators must be aware of cultural traits that may affect behavior, and they also need to focus on creating an environment where all students feel accepted.

 

Caine, R., Caine, G., & Klimek, K. 2005. 12 Brain/mind learning principles in action:

The fieldbook for making connections, teaching and the human brain. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. This book provides practical “how to’s” for utilizing the theories and research discussed the Caines’ earlier work.

 

Gardner, H. 2006. Multiple intelligences: New horizons. New York: Basic Books. This is

a new addition to Howard Gardner’s publications on multiple intelligences.

 

Keyes, M., Burns, R., & Kusimo, P. 2006. It takes a school: Closing achievement gaps

through culturally responsive schools. Charleston, WV; Edvantia, Inc. Readers learn the fundamental attributes of culturally responsive schooling and teaching practices. A companion CD contains standards-based culturally responsive units of instruction for grades 1-11.

 

Teaching to students’ strengths. Educational Leadership, 64 (1). September 2006. This

issue of ASCD’s monthly journal includes a number of articles, written by experts, about ways to teach to students’ strengths. A study guide is available online at www.ascd.org/el.

 

Tomlinson, C., & McTighe, J. 2005. Integrating differentiated instruction and

understanding by design: Connecting curriculum and kids. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. This book explains how to build a curriculum with the goal of student understanding and integrate it with instructional approaches that emphasize reaching every learner.

Culturally Responsive Schooling

Delpit, L. 2006. Other people’s children: Cultural conflicts in the classroom

(updated ed.). New York: New Press. Other People's Children offers a shocking view of the desperate cultural ignorance that is increasingly impacting our schools. The book is split into three separate sections, each relating to an idealistic, but certainly achievable plan of creating a culturally sound community of students, educators, and administrators. Additionally, Delpit offers valuable tools to educators looking for a non-traditional approach to teaching.

 

Education Alliance at Brown University. The knowledge loom. This Web site,

www.knowledgeloom.org, maintains collections of resources on a variety of education topics, including culturally responsive teaching.

 

Edvantia, Inc. at www.edvantia.org. This Web site contains products, including

It Takes A School, and training options that can help schools and school districts close achievement gaps. The site also offers many resources on other topics related to school improvement.

 

Gay, G. 2000. Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, research, and practice. New York:

Teachers College Press. This is a seminal text on culture and its impact on teaching and learning. Gay provides a sound rationale for using teaching practices that promote learning for culturally and linguistically diverse students. She also explains the components of culturally responsive teaching.

 

Good Morning, Miss Toliver. 1993. This video, available from the Foundation for the

Advancement of Science and Education (FASE), profiles the teaching of Presidential Award winner Kay Toliver in her seventh-grade class at East Harlem Tech/PS. 72. It may be purchased at www.fasenet.org

 

Irvine, J., & Armento, J. 2001. Culturally responsive teaching: Lesson planning

for elementary and middle grades. Boston: McGraw-Hill. The first two chapters of this book discuss culturally responsive pedagogy and curriculum. The remaining four chapters offer examples of instructional units for grades K-8.

 

Keyes, M., Burns, R., & Kusimo, P. 2006. It takes a school: Closing achievement

gaps through culturally responsive schools. Charleston, WV: Edvantia, Inc. Readers learn the fundamental attributes of culturally responsive schooling and teaching practices. This book contains a wealth of activities for faculties to use and a technical assistance process leaders can use to help schools become more culturally responsive. A companion CD contains standards-based culturally responsive units of instruction for grades 1-11.

 

Ladson-Billings, G. 1994. The dreamkeepers: Successful teachers of African

American children. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc. Based on a study of a group of excellent teachers, this book discusses the culturally responsive teaching and provides examples of effective teaching for African American students.

 

Lindsay, R., Roberts, L., & Campbell-Jones, F. 2005. The culturally proficient

school: An implementation guide for school leaders. Thousand Oaks. CA: Corwin Press. Contains background reading, activities, and vignettes to explore ways in which schools organize and operate that may be to the detriment of minority students.

 

Lindsay, R., Roberts, L., & Terrell, R. 2003. Cultural proficiency: A manual for school

leaders (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Using the activities and readings, school faculties can become acquainted with the concept of cultural proficiency.

 

Williams, B. 2003. Closing the achievement gap: A vision for changing beliefs and

practices. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. This book provides new insights on the influence that race, class, and cultural experience have on learning and achievement. It explains ways to close achievement gaps by changing school policies, learning environments, teaching practices, curriculum programs, and professional development. And, it explores a total framework for reform that integrates accountability measurements with a view of teaching and learning based on normal human development.

Authentic Assessment

Assessment Laboratory Network. 2000. Making assessment work for everyone:

How to build on student strengths. Intended to provide teachers with research-based information and practical ideas for modifying assessments to make them more effective, this book offers background information, activities, vignettes, and how-to’s. Available in PDF (no charge) or in print ($20.00) from www.wested.org.

 

Exemplars at www.exemplars.com. Exemplars offers easily differentiated,

classroom-tested, standards-based assessment and instruction materials, including standards-based rubrics and benchmark papers. Ross Brewer, president of Exemplars, was the architect of Vermont’s groundbreaking portfolio assessment system.

 

George Lucas Educational Foundation at www.edutopia.org. This site provides

a module on assessment that includes many resources and activities to help teachers understand how and when to use various forms of assessment and how to design effective assessments and scoring rubrics. Links to other sites that provide information on assessment are included.

 

Martin-Kniep, G. 2000. Becoming a better teacher. Alexandria, VA: ASCD. This book outlines

eight innovations that work in student-centered classrooms, including integrated curriculum, essential questions, standards-based curriculum and assessment design, authentic assessment, scoring rubrics, portfolios, reflection, and action research.

1. rubistar.4teachers.org. This site lists a number of different products and allows you to create, save, and retrieve your rubrics. Prompts in dropdown boxes are provided or you can create your own.
2. intranet.cps.k12.il.us. This is the Chicago Public Schools site. It provides many examples of assessment tasks and rubrics.
3. school.discovery.com. Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators
   In addition to rubrics, this site also offers many good resources for lessons and teaching tools.
4. pblchecklist.4teachers.org. Here you can develop checklist rubrics that are written in student terms and good for self-assessment. Prompts are provided, or you can create your own.

Building Professional Learning Communities

DuFour, R., Eaker, R. (2006). Professional learning communities at work: Best practices

for enhancing student achievement. Bloomington, IN: National Education Service.

 

DuFour, R. (2004). What is a professional learning community? Educational Leadership,

61 (8), pp. 6-1.

 

Hord, S. (1997).  Professional learning communities: Communities of continuous inquiry

and improvement. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. http://www.sedl.org/pubs.

 

Annenberg Institute for School Reform, http://www.annenberginstitute.org

 

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, http://www.ascd.org

 

Instructional Practice Review Protocols, http://www.nsdc.org/library/publications/jsd/easton203.cfm

 

National Staff Development Council: http://www.nsdc.org/standards/learningcommunities.cfm.