The Powerful Impact of Curriculum Gaps

Steven WeberBlog, Leadership, Lesson Planning

TL;DR: Traditional curriculum design involves a focus on key skills, conceptual understanding, and assessment strategies. Identifying curriculum gaps is crucial for student success and requires collaborative efforts. Strategies like SWOT analysis, evidence-based evaluations, and identifying common misunderstandings help bridge these gaps. Traditional curriculum design teams focus on key skills, conceptual understanding, essential questions, formative assessment, resources/materials, and instructional strategies.  Most … Read More

3 Questions For Curriculum Design Teams

Steven WeberBlog, Classroom Management, Leadership, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Traditional curriculum focuses on content coverage, but shifts are needed towards prioritizing student learning over teaching. Identifying common misunderstandings aids in adapting instruction, fostering deeper understanding for diverse learners. Ownership of learning must shift from teacher-led activities to student agency, with emphasis on transferable understanding for real-world application. 3 Questions For Curriculum Design Teams Traditional teaching focuses on content, … Read More

Beyond Curriculum Design: 5 Questions School Teams Should Ask 

Steven WeberBlog, Leadership, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Educators must reflect on what an empowered learner looks like and how to design learning experiences. 5 questions school teams should ask include: What are the priorities for this course? What is the ratio of compliance/contribution in my school or classroom? Do we have a culturally responsive curriculum? What is the hidden curriculum? How will we measure student understanding? … Read More

Curriculum Design: Are We Creating a Draft or a Masterpiece?

Steven WeberBlog, Classroom Management, Leadership, Lesson Planning, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Effective curriculum design teams don’t view their work as a masterpiece but as a draft. Having a draft allows room for reflection, feedback, and modifications to improve the curriculum. Curriculum design teams are often torn between creating a draft document or a masterpiece.  Teacher leaders are typically perfectionists, and they strive to create a masterpiece before sharing the curriculum … Read More

5 Scandals in Education

Steven WeberBlog, Classroom Management, Differentiation, Grading & Assessment, Leadership, Lesson Planning, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Scandals exist in schools. Teachers and administrators must analyze their schools to see if they exist or have the potential to develop. There are 5 scandals in education: low expectations, lack of instructional leadership, culture does not emphasize formative assessment, curriculum alignment is left to chance, and students are not required to think. Throughout history, scandals have been documented. … Read More