TL;DR: Learnability may be at the top of the list of skills high school graduates need. Consider what every student should know and be able to do when developing curriculum and standards. Be careful not to just cover the unit plan or standards without considering the student evidence that demonstrates learning. It is important that students are provided opportunities to … Read More
Do We Have A System Of Schools Or A School System?
TL;DR: School systems should all have the same end goal for students. In order to achieve this goal, schools need to be aligned on what they are teaching and how they are preparing their students. School systems are designed for multiple purposes, including but not limited to a) Opportunity to Learn, b) Student Growth, c) Develop Lifelong Learners, d) Teach … Read More
Episode #131: Dan Fouts
Dan Fouts is a practicing high school social studies teacher from the Chicagoland area with 30 years of experience. In this role he has led curriculum teams, served as departmental instructional coach and spearheaded the creation of a philosophy elective which he has taught for 10 years. Critical thinking, love of questioning and conversation are what Dan values most in … Read More
Curriculum Series #6—Who Tells Your Story?
In the final installment of the Curriculum Series, Laura Cruz and I go over student memoirs and why each student has a story worth telling. She decided to try this project because she wanted her students who came from different backgrounds and races to have opportunities that white wealthy students traditionally had. This type of writing allows us to process … Read More
Curriculum Series #5—Establishing a Reusable Unit Arc
We’re getting into unit arcs in #5 of my Curriculum Development Mini-Series. Unit arcs are considered the backbone of units that are student-centered and grounded in justice. In order to make it work, you need 3 to 5 purposeful protocols. What kind of protocols you ask? Click play to find out more! Liked this episode? Rate, review, and share! … Read More