Understanding by Design

Understanding by Design
Author: Grant P. Wiggins
Publisher: ASCD
Total Pages: 383
Release: 2005
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1416600353

What is understanding and how does it differ from knowledge? How can we determine the big ideas worth understanding? Why is understanding an important teaching goal, and how do we know when students have attained it? How can we create a rigorous and engaging curriculum that focuses on understanding and leads to improved student performance in today's high-stakes, standards-based environment? Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum. Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, this new edition of Understanding by Design offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.

Curriculum Leadership

Curriculum Leadership
Author: Allan A. Glatthorn
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Total Pages: 505
Release: 2018-07-11
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1506363180

This text helps current and aspiring administrators, teachers, and curriculum directors successfully restructure, enhance, and implement school K–12 curriculum. Now in its Fifth Edition, this foundational book highlights 21st century educational ideas and advocacy, while also remaining focused on tried and true strategies for meeting state and national standards in today’s diverse classrooms. With the support of this thought-provoking and extensively researched text, readers will develop a working and thorough foundation of curriculum to effectively implement in the classrooms of the future.

Curriculum Design for Writing Instruction

Curriculum Design for Writing Instruction
Author: Kathy Tuchman Glass
Publisher: Corwin Press
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2004-12-09
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1483361187

"The author′s conversational style hooks and easily engages readers into the four-step curriculum design process, well-sequenced array of design templates and lesson models, synthesis of the six traits and writing process elements, and integration of history, social science, and science content." Carl Zon, Standards and Assessment Consultant/Coach Connections, Sunnyvale, CA "This book effectively walks educators through the standards-based lesson design process in a way that is clear, compelling, and achievable while simultaneously building content knowledge and extending understanding." Ruth Goldhammer, Coordinator, Curriculum and Staff Development San Mateo County Office of Education, CA Design innovative and engaging lessons and units that produce measurable gains! This clever new resource takes the reader step-by-step through the curriculum design process: from identifying national and local standards and translating them into user-friendly language to crafting meaningful writing assignments and assessments that effectively reveal student strengths and weaknesses. Rooted in the six-traits model of instruction and assessment and illuminated by relevant classroom examples, Glass′s four-part process shows teachers how to: Identify grade-level content standards for writing Create a teacher rubric with a clear set of criteria for writing assessment Craft a student checklist that guides students through the unit and prepares them for teacher expectations Design lessons that help students achieve success Replete with tools, strategies, examples and reproducibles, Curriculum Design for Writing Instruction is a valuable resource for any teacher who wants to boost student achievement in writing for any subject and for any grade level!