This was required reading for the next school year at the school I teach at. Interesting perspective on the curriculum development process. It requires a change of view on the way we view curriculum. Instead of set and external from our classrooms decided by the ever unengaged curriculum committee, it is an ongoing process integral and designed by ever educator in the building. The resulting progress is a solid curriculum that better suits the needs of children and accounts for the volume of knowledge that is added to certain contents on a regular basis, i.e. science and new discoveries or English and newly published books.

This text would be well served by a second edition reflecting the entrenchment of state standards throughout the country. It also utilises dated references to technology. That being said, the heart of this book is still true: teachers need to know what they are teaching, how they are teaching, when they expect to teach, why they are teaching, and how they will know the level of understanding of their students. If you are in a building or district without a clear understanding of these components, I suggest you give curriculum mapping a go!

By following the instruction in this book, I was able, all by myself without attending a course, to construct my own curriculum maps for the high school integrated science courses that I was teaching. If you would like to see the curriculum maps that I created, you can visit my blog. The link to my blog is with my profile. When you get there, you can search for curriculum maps in the search box in the upper left corner. You should be able to find my curriculum maps near the bottom of the page. Now, things have gotten more sophisticated in curriculum planning, but the basic curriculum map can be added to and adjusted. The format can be changed to fit different needs. All one needs is the basic idea of how to look at planning a yearly curriculum so that all the lessons are connected, one to another, throughout the school year.

thanks!

I've been familiar with her work for years!  She's the best!

Fast and just as promised!

This book was helpful in showing examples of how to map curriculum.  I could use it in the future to help me plan lessons better.

The approach to curriculum maps outlined in this book is fantastic. It is not judgmental, but rather a tool to maximize the integration of curriculum between subject areas.

Conceptually it was helpful. Could be updated with more standards focus and updated technology suggestions.

I got a lot out of reading this work by an author at the forefront of this educational issue.  The book does not bore you with long academic explanations or theory.  The author gets to the the point with real-world advice and examples.  The back pages contain examples and templates.  She brings mapping into the realm of the doable.  A good addition would be advice on how to coordinate school resources, teachers and time to get the job done, as it turns out to be very large undertaking.

As described and well kept.