My Curriculum &
Instruction Handbook
Dan Gutterud
Ed 6334 July2009
Bemidji State University
Image from http://www.sxc.hu

What is your focus?
"To have taught well is not to have used a great set of techniques or given the learner some words to give back, but to have caused understanding through words, activities, tools, guided reflection, the learner's efforts, and feedback(McTighe & Wiggins, 2005).
Image from www.flickr.com

Curriculum Definition & Approach
A curriculum can be defined as the planned educational experiences offered by a school which can take place anywhere at any time in the multiple context of the school, e.g. public schools as caring communities(Todd, 1965).
Image from www.sxc.hu

Paulo Freire
Students, as they are increasingly posed with problems relating to themselves in the world and with the world, will feel increasingly challenged and obliged to respond to that challenge(Freire, 1989).
Image from www.sxc.hu

NelNoddings
At the present time, it is obvious that our main educational purpose is not the moral one of producing caring people but a relentlessand, as it turns out, haplessdrive for academic adequacy(Diessner& Simmons, 2000).
Image from www.sxc.hu

The Road to Success
Instruct using Best Practices for Mathematics
Design instruction using the principles of Understanding by Design by Wiggins & McTighe
Follow the NCTM & State of MN Standards
Create an atmosphere for critical thinking
Involve parents in the education of their children
Image from www.sxc.hu

Best Practices
in Mathematics
(from Daniels, Hyde, Zemelman, 2005)
Image from www.flickr.com

13 Practices to Increase
Questioning and making conjectures
Justification of thinking
Being a facilitator of learning
Develop problem solving strategies (especiallyrepresentational strategies)
Use open-ended problems & extendedproblem solving projects
Students create ones own representations
Justifying answers and solution processes
Image from www.sxc.hu

13 Practices to Increase
Connecting mathematics to other subjects and to the real world
Developing number and operation sense
Thinking strategies for basic facts
Actual measuring and exploring the concepts related to units of measure
Using statistical methods to describe, analyze, evaluate, and make decisions
Using multiple assessment techniques, including written, oral, and demonstration formats
Image from www.sxc.hu

13 Practices to Decrease
Single answers and single methods to find answers
Stressing memorization instead of understanding
Being the dispenser of knowledge
Practicing routine, one step problems
Copying conventional representations without understanding
Reliance on a few representations
Relying on authorities (teacher, answer key)
Image from www.sxc.hu

13 Practices to Decrease
Developing skills out of context
Memorizing rules and procedures without understanding
Memorizing equivalencies between units of measure
Memorizing formulas
Memorizing procedures
Having assessment be simply counting correct answers on tests for the sole purpose of assigning grades
Image from www.sxc.hu

Understanding by Design
Plan units that focus on understanding
Explain common practices that often get in the way of understanding.
Use a backward design process to avoid common problems.
The goal of this approach is to engage students in inquiry & uncovering ideas.
Follows design standards to achieve quality control in curriculum & assessment designs.
Image from http://www.sxc.hu

The Standards
Follow the NCTM & the state of MN Standards. The state standards are requirements.
NCTM standards are more in line with the best practices in Mathematics. Pay special attention to the process standards.
Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Critical Thinking
My top 5 ways to develop more critical thinking:
Think of myself as a coach
Encourage students to think about their thinking
Model skilled thinking for my students
Relate content whenever possible to issues and problems and practical situations in the lives of your students.
Design assessments with the improvement of student thinking in mind
(from Elder & Paul, 2002)
Image courtesy of www.criticalthinking.org

Involve Parents
Research shows that students with involved parentsregardless of their background or income levelreap a bevy of benefits, including attending school regularly, enrolling in more advanced classes, getting better grades, graduating from high school, and pursuing post-secondary education (Be Strategic, 2003).
Communicate with parents and bring them into the classroom.
Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Methods to communicate with parents
webpage
calls home
progress reports
newsletter
conferences
surveys
blog
e-mail
Image from http://www.sxc.hu

Conclusions
Best practice fits well in most approaches in education and those described in this course.
Best practice addresses the concerns of Paulo Freire in challenging students and encouraging teachers as facilitators.
Best practice addresses the concerns of NelNoddings in keeping the needs of students in focus.
Best practice will lead to greater success in NCLB due to the streamlining of teaching methods and assessments.

Whose knowledge is of most worth?

Our students!

Visit my links by going to my wiki at
http://room13allstars.pbworks.com
Image from http://www.sxc.hu

References
Be strategic to boost family involvement. (2003, December). District Administration, Retrieved November 5, 2007, from ContentSelectResearch Navigator database.
Daniels, H., Hyde, A., & Zemelman, S. (2005). Best practices: Todays standards for teaching & learning in Americas schools (3rd ed.). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Diessner, R. & Simmons, S. (2001). Sources: Notable selections in educational psychology (1st ed.). Guilford, CT: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin.
Elder, L. & Paul, R. (2002). How to improve student learning: 30 practical ideas. Dillon Beach, CA: The Foundation of Critical Thinking.
Freire, P. (1989). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Continuum.
McTighe, J. & Wiggins, G. (2005). Understanding by design (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Development.
Todd, E.A. (1965). Curriculum development and instructional planning. Nederland, TX: Nederland Ind. School District.