8. Curriculum Plan & Development
a. Demonstrate the ability to enhance teaching and learning through curriculum and assessment and strategic planning for all learners - early childhood, elementary, middle level, and high school, special education and adult levels
b. Demonstrating the ability to provide planning and methods to anticipate trends and implications
c. Develop, implement and monitor procedures to align sequence and articulate curriculum
d. Identify instructional objectives and evaluate procedures to measure performance outcomes
e. Appropriately using learning technologies
f. Demonstrating the understanding of alternative instructional designs, curriculum, behavior management and assessment accommodations and modification
g. Demonstrating an understanding of urgency of global competitiveness
Reflection
In order to ensure high student achievement, the effective school leader must be involved in curriculum planning and development. The instructional leader must help teachers prepare, plan and implement curriculum by providing resources, training and time. They must also ensure that they identify essential content, growth and reflection through professional development and monitoring the effectiveness of the curriculum. The effective school leader will understand best practices for teaching in all content areas and be able to assist staff in this area.
During my field experience, I had the opportunity to learn more about curriculum planning and development. I was able to do this through my role as area lead. I helped the Career and Technical Education department develop curriculum and new course offerings that would meet the needs for our new Gifted and Talented program. It was critical that we looked at what we were currently offering for classes and design new curriculum to meet the needs of our new audience. We needed to ensure that we were aligning the old curriculum with the new, as well as offering accelerated courses and curriculum compacting. It was important for our school leader to have knowledge about all areas of instruction in making these decisions. I was able to learn and identify areas in which I need to continue to explore and learn through this process.
Another experience I was able to gain was through my position as summer school coordinator. Through this lens, I was able to help select curriculum for our extended year program to use for teaching reading. Not only was I able to help select the curriculum, I was also able to ensure that staff had the resources and training that they needed to effectively implement this new curriculum in the classroom.
As a future school leader, I know that it will be essential for me to continue to grow and develop in the area of instructional leader. I will need to ensure that I have an essential understanding of best practices, teaching strategies, and assessment in all content areas. I will plan to support teachers in the implementation of effective curriculum by making classrooms visits as well as inviting staff to share ideas and knowledge about curriculum they are using. I know that it is essential that all teachers are teaching students 21st century skills and I need to ensure that I am doing my part in assisting, monitoring and evaluating the use of the curriculum.
Artifacts
Course Offerings for Gifted and Talented Progam
FACS Gifted and Talented.pdf (8,8 kB)