Are you ready to begin year curriculum mapping and planning for next school year? Let’s get started!
<Check out part one of this series>
In Part One I mentioned the importance of being the expert of your grade level standards. Thorough understanding of what is required will help simplify your direction and ensure your kiddos are getting exactly what they need to not only be successful in your classroom, but in the following grade levels as well.
Unpacking Standards
Produce and expand complete simple and compound declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in response to prompts.
Stepping Stones
Where Do You Want to Go?
How to Begin
- Start with a grid noting all of the standards.
- Beside each standard place a box for each trimester. (If you are on a semester system you may only want two boxes.)
- In each box note which assignments or lessons you do that tackle and/or assess that standard in that grading period.
- Note any mandated district assessments for that standard as well. If it is mandated, you MUST put priority to covering that standard effectively prior to that assessment date.
- Denote trimesters where that standard may not be appropriate (gray boxes shown). Generally this is a timing thing. Either the concept is difficult for early in the year, or too easy for later in the year.
- Start with the end goal. The last trimester. The most complicated standards or objectives and step your way to the beginning of the year with that standard. The is the “How will we get there?” step.
Grid Samples
This ELA Data Log indicates where I will assess each standard. I also have columns to track individual student progress toward mastery. B=below A=Approaching standard M=Mastery. This type of tracking is a very good way to keep data that not only gives you information about each student, but also helps guide instruction.
In those ELA sample pages above I noted district assessments in red. As you can see, I do not have adequate assessments from the district, so I need to pull from my resources. That’s not a problem. You can use nearly ANYTHING that addresses the standard as an assessment. Maybe it’s something you’ve done for years, but you’ve never actually graded it. Start grading it. Maybe it’s something you will have the kids do on a simple blank journal page. Plan AHEAD to have something to teach, progress monitor and assess for each standard. It doesn’t have to be lengthy – just accurate to the standard.
The standards noted in blue are ones that the curriculum provided by my provided curriculum does not cover adequately. I have marked it in blue to be sure that I create more substantial lessons to ensure student mastery of the skills. Click here to download the completed maps I use in my classroom.
These Standards Mapping and Mastery Data Tracking logs are a BONUS component in both the Ultimate Year Planner and Year and Weekly planner Bundles! They are included for all CCSS ELA and Math for grades K-6!
Making Curriculum Work
Unify Your Scopes and Sequences
- reading foundational skills as those standards apply to phonics
- word work
- independent work
- morning work
- guided reading group lessons
- whole group lessons
- language and phonic skills assessments
This Scope and Sequence is included in the Homework Time resources.
The point here is, taking a bit from curriculum A, assessment B, worksheet C, and game/word work activity D will not be seamless unless they are all focused on the same standard or concept. CONSISTENCY is KEY! Our goal is mastery. The kiddos need to be fully immersed in the concept.
Wrapping it Up