Paving a Curriculum Road Map
"People with goals succeed because they know where they are going." - Earl Nightingale
Do you have a map in your room? Is it a curriculum map? Can your students and class visitors see it? Knowing where you are going is the most important first step in planning a journey. Teachers and students need a clear road map (literally) of what will be learned and when the learning will occur. Everyone needs a clear visual for desired learning outcomes.
Mapping out units of study, essential questions, comprehension strategies, and projects can help students envision where they are and where they have been. This is also a great catalyst for goal setting.
Setup
Educators can create a bulletin board with the "Class Road Map" or a grade level map i.e. "The 5th Grade Journey" illustrating the major content and strategies they will learn throughout the year. You can map it out by month, unit, or 6-9 week increments. Some grade levels have used the hallways for a collaborative map. Secondary classrooms provide an online or paper map for students.
Refer to the map often throughout the year. Ask students to make connections to past learning and predictions about future learning. The human brain likes a plan.
Will you have a map this year?