Accelerating Student and Staff Learning: Purposeful Curriculum Collaboration

"This book brings new focus to the rich history of ideas and strategies shown to improve student learning, helping educators at all levels see not only the value of using proven strategies, but the importance of integrating those strategies into purposeful improvement efforts." —Thomas R. Guskey, Distinguished Service Professor Georgetown College "This is a book of action. The author calls for leaders in school communities to be bold, courageous, committed, and aggressive in the actions required to achieve desired increases in student learning." —Charles Patterson, Educational Consultant Former President, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Dramatically raise student achievement by engaging educators in collaborative curriculum design and professional development! Teachers, teacher leaders, principals, and staff developers can build a collaborative culture and improve staff and student performance with this content-focused, step-by-step model that ties curriculum design to teacher growth. Kay Psencik provides a powerful process whereby teachers work together in teams to examine standards, gain a deep understanding of content, create curriculum maps, and design common formative assessments. Professional development leaders can inspire and challenge teachers to: Confront assumptions about learning and professional development Clarify and establish complex standards Embed conversations about the curriculum into daily work With hands-on tools, templates, and resources, readers can help teachers become more skilled in their instruction, create a school-based curriculum that is tied to standards, and accelerate the learning of both students and staff.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Stephanie Hirsh Publisher′s Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. An Overview: Collaborative Curriculum Design as Professional Learning 2. Establishing Assumptions About Student and Staff Learning 3. Determining Complex Curriculum Standards and Concepts 4. Mapping the Curriculum 5. Assessment of Student Learning 6. Designing Instruction 7. Analyzing Student Work and Monitoring Student Learning to Inform Instruction 8. Using Effective Grading and Parent Reporting Practices 9. Leading Schools to Sustain the Effort and Fulfill the Promise Appendix 1. Our Assumptions About Student and Staff Learning Appendix 2. The Principles of Professional Learning Appendix 3. Our Vision of Our School: Iduma Elementary School, Killeen ISD, Killeen, TX Appendix 4. A Learning Walk Appendix 5. We are a School Community That Values Learning Appendix 6. Template for Developing Our Learning Community′s Norms Appendix 7. Quakertown High School Goals Appendix 8. Sample Letter to Parents Appendix 9. Critical Attributes of a Performance Task Appendix 10. Template for Culminating Demonstrations Appendix 11. Example of a Task Analysis of a Culminating Demonstration Appendix 12. Example of a Task Analysis of a Culminating Demonstration (Term III) Appendix 13. Precision in Adverbs Appendix 14. Middle Ages Scoring Guide Appendix 15. Culminating Demonstration Rubric for First Grade Students at Heritage Elementary Appendix 16. Kindergarten Literacy Lesson Plans References Index

Review :
"Succulently summarizes the best practices for curriculum design with a focus on what is also best for kids. From identifying assumptions we make about student learning to communicating and reporting student growth and progress, the text offers practical and sound advice based on current practices in the field and the author’s experiences." "This book on how to align curriculum and pedagogy with standards and create organizational coherence in schools to do the work will contribute to new ways of thinking and doing in schools." "This is a book of action. The author calls for leaders in school communities to be bold, courageous, committed, and aggressive in the actions required to achieve desired increases in student learning. Relevant and thought-provoking assignments are contained in each chapter, challenging all those in a school community to communicate, debate, question, plan collaboratively, and reflect." "This book provides a hands-on guide for creating curriculum systems that bridge theory into practice for schools. Each chapter includes vignettes and reflective questions that personalize the work for learning teams while providing a recipe for long-term success, increased student achievement, and engagement in learning." "As a dynamic authority on staff development, Psencik shows teachers and principals how to apply a collaborative systems approach to designing professional development—the perfect resource for results-driven leaders as they develop a curriculum to meet the needs of all students." "From determining important state standards to creating authentic curriculum/assessments and analyzing student work, this book is an essential read for administrators, teachers, and educators who want their students to successfully meet and exceed today’s academic standards." "A gem for educators striving to create a learning environment that embraces professional collaboration involving common curriculum maps, assessments, and instructional units. If you are already on this path, it corroborates what you are currently doing. If you are just beginning this journey, it provides you a step-by-step process. Most importantly, the book is reassuring that our vision of providing the best possible learning opportunities for both students and staff is on target. Psencik has touched both the mind and heart of our profession." "This book brings new focus to the rich history of ideas and strategies shown to improve student learning, helping educators at all levels see not only the value of using proven strategies, but the importance of integrating those strategies into purposeful improvement efforts."