TEACHING STANDARDS

    CURRICULUM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

    Effective mathematics and science teachers are active participants in the ongoing planning and development of the mathematics and science programs and their relationship to the overall school curriculum.

    It is important that teachers are involved in curriculum planning and development because they are the key to implementing what is expected. Because of their direct, daily interaction with students, teachers are the ones who are most aware of and sensitive to students' needs. Therefore, teachers are in the best position to make recommendations for reviewing and revising the curriculum. Effective teachers are ready to adapt changes and seek ways to make improvements in the curriculum. They are able to engage in:

  • long-range planning to establish broad goals for their mathematics and science programs that are part of and reflect an overall school plan or scope and sequence,
  • mid-range and daily planning to elaborate the particular activities in which students engage.

    • The planning process of an effective teacher is an interactive one. While engaging in this process, teachers:

  • plan lessons that are designed to meet the students' needs in learning the content,
  • use in the planning their analysis of what actually takes place in class,
  • revise plans for future lessons based on classroom experience,
  • engage in an ongoing cycle of planning, implementation, and revision,
  • assess whether a particular program meets the needs of their students, school district, or community,
  • are open to making needed improvements or modifications.

    • In their role as curriculum coordinators, teachers make decisions about what and how students will learn. They coordinate and develop the curriculum which defines learning objectives, organizes learning experiences, and develops assessment strategies.

    Teachers function as curriculum coordinators when they:

  • participate in committees choosing among and working to influence the content of different published programs,
  • are involved as curriculum designers for themselves or their school system,
  • decide on curriculum content to implement for themselves or for the school system,
  • work with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary learning experiences.

    • Effective teachers are dedicated to the growth of mathematical and scientific literacy of all students. The teachers focus on big ideas in curriculum planning rather than on transmission of disconnected facts. And they provide instruction based on direct experiences that allow students to construct deep understandings of the major ideas of mathematics and science.