From the Ground Up: Modeling Original Curriculum Design
Presented and Designed by:
Josh Kascak
Frontier Academy
The Journey
Okay… I don’t want to do all that.
Curriculum
Shift your mindset
John Dewey, Nel Noddings, Amy Demarest - Curriculum Guides
Curriculum isn’t the books or the guide or the content you teach.
Curriculum is the unique experience you bring to your classroom.
In order to create learning, we need to create learning experiences that matter to the student.
As teachers, we should be trying to create memories.
What do you want your students to experience in your classroom this year?
To start: Keep it simple.
What did I want students to experience this year?
Leadership
Language Arts
What are the essential questions you want them to explore?
Think Thematically.
Open-Ended
Student-Centered
What are the skills you have to teach them?
These are your standards.
Find a starting point.
The best starting point is one they can define, as students, on their own.
Plus, it’s empowering.
And tests are stupid.
Essential Skills Pre-Test Where did I start?
Students rate themselves, an average for each standard is created, and they have a starting point for their skill level for each standard.
Track the Starting Point
An excellent time for a conversation on Growth Mindset: “We are all working to get better.”
“At the beginning of the year, of course you are low, I haven’t taught you anything yet this year!”
By the end of the year, my goal is for you to improve in whatever way that means for you.
Tracking Our Essential Skills
Here’s where the work comes in:
Single-Skill Rubrics
How will you know when students have met that skill?
Single-Skill Rubrics
Okay… Your curriculum is done.
Assessments?
Standards?
Lessons?
Administration?
Year-Long Plan?
Have them answer the essential question.
You have them tracked and addressed already.
Focus on the experiences, ask the students; it’s about them.
Plus, they are already aligned.
Just write everything down. You’re covered. Promise.
Controversial Note: Year-Long Plans aren’t good teaching.
✨Idea-Sharing Time✨
Photo Board
Started from Kelley Gallagher’s “Beautiful Words”
A student gets the camera each day, takes 2-3 pictures, and I print the pictures each week.
Mandalas
Circle Practice
Comes from Restorative Practices
In class, take 15 minutes to check-in with students: get to know you questions, 1-4 of how you are doing.
It’s safe. Everyone gets a chance to speak.
How do we keep track of it all?!
How are your students doing?
Untitled Goose Game
Creating Curious Classwork
Self-Care Plan
Personal/Someone-Who-Helped Me/Character Awards
Some books for inspiration
A link to this presentation for you to scan - just in case.
:)
Thanks!
Don’t forget to take some time to fill out the evaluation! This helps both ME and the CCIRA Conference. :)