What the experts say about how the Balanced Curriculum process can tip the scales in favor of your students! "The work that Dr. Squires has done in moving the curriculum development process onto the Web has removed some of the tedium involved in crafting curriculum, making it ′user friendly′ and open to the kinds of ongoing changes that make the promise of continual renewal of curriculum a reality." From the Foreword by Fenwick W. English --R. Wendell Eaves Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill "A coherent approach to curriculum, instruction, and assessment in the age of standards-driven education.... It will be an excellent contribution." --H. Lynn Erickson Author, Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction "I′m happy with the Balanced Curriculum process, my Board is happy, and my students are benefiting by it." --Philomena T. Pezzano, District Superintendent Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Public Schools "The book builds a bridge of confidence that will convince readers of both the ideas and of their own ability to succeed." --David W. Champagne, Professor Emeritus University of Pittsburgh "A wonderful and thorough explanation of the Balanced Curriculum." --Michelle Barnea, Educational Consultant Milburn, New Jersey Aligning and Balancing the Standards-Based Curriculum highlights the research, theory, method, practice, and implementation guidelines from a successful 15-year track record of schools already using the BalancedCurriculum.com Web site and its curriculum balancing process. Benefit from the invaluable insights, experience, and expertise of author David A. Squires, as he outlines curriculum innovations that include: Web-based solutions to simplify curriculum development and writing Professional development opportunities designed to achieve school and districtwide consensus on curriculum development Practical methods for ensuring that the curriculum is consistently reviewed, evaluated, enhanced, aligned, and rebalanced Full of field-tested practices, clear-sighted diagrams, sample lessons, assessments, and case studies, this comprehensive handbook shows how schools and districts all across the nation can use the Balanced Curriculum process to put their schools on the track to success.

Full of field-tested implementation tools, this comprehensive handbook shows how schools and districts can use the Balanced Curriculum process to put their schools on the track to success.

Avoid "analysis paralysis" and just get started! Now that most states have adopted the new Common Core State Standards, the next major challenge is to simplify and implement them by 2014. That is why it is important to begin this work now. Joe Crawford, Milken Award-winning educator and author of Using Power Standards to Build an Aligned Curriculum, shares his proven process for building a viable local curriculum based on the CCSS. Readers will find: A system for creating local standards from the CCSS Methods for connecting the common, formative assessments to quarterly instructional objectives Ways to scaffold learning expectations Examples taken from districts where CCSS is currently implemented Included are helpful charts and graphs plus access to Internet-based software for mapping the CCSS to curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Schools cannot continue to do what they have always done and expect a different result. This book explains how to facilitate learning for all students while taking advantage of the new culture, technology, and norms of today′s learning environment.

"The authors have designed a process that respects the teacher′s professionalism and works to collaborate with stakeholders in a discussion about standards and possible educational outcomes without becoming mechanical." -From the Foreword by Fenwick W. English Create a standards-based instructional plan that works! In recent years, educational reform has required standards-based instruction and high levels of accountability from schools. To cope with an overcrowded and often overwhelming curriculum, educators need a way to meet the challenge of translating standards into effective teaching and learning. Aligning Standards and Curriculum for Classroom Success provides teachers with the tools and strategies they need to plan instruction that meets state and national standards. This updated, revised edition includes the latest research about standards and curriculum design, expanded coverage of the development of criterion standards, increased attention to assessment, and new sample instructional plans. It also features: A structured dialogue process to help stakeholders reach consensus about what students should learn Step-by-step directions for developing criterion standards Guidelines for designing instructional plans based on standards Strategies for using standards to integrate the curriculum Examples of standards-based instructional plans for different content areas, courses, and grade levels A framework for ensuring that teachers evaluate students consistently and with continuity throughout a school or district Providing high-quality instruction and ensuring student achievement in a standards-driven system is a challenge for all educators. This guide offers all the tools needed to successfully align standards to lesson planning.

The need for a cohesive and comprehensive curriculum that intentionally connects standards, instruction, and assessment has never been more pressing. For educators to meet the challenging learning needs of students they must have a clear road map to follow throughout the school year. Rigorous Curriculum Design presents a carefully sequenced, hands-on model that curriculum designers and educators in every school system can follow to create a progression of units of study that keeps all areas tightly focused and connected.

Education in Michigan and around the country is shifting to a new curriculum with a foundation in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Teachers at Fennville Middle School must adapt their curriculum to align with the CCSS. After teachers have the curriculum aligned, students will then be assessed using standards-based assessments. Research proves that for teachers to most effectively assess student learning, they must use standards-based assessments. This project illustrates the history of different kinds of assessments before standards-based assessments and how ineffective they were in comparison. The final product of this project will be a curriculum aligned to the Common Core State Standards, complete with standards-based assessments. This will be for an eighth grade English Language Arts classroom and will ensure that students’ knowledge is properly demonstrated. This will encourage professional growth for teachers and support our youth to reach their highest academic potential.

Award-winning educator Joe Crawford describes how to use Power Standards to build an effective standards-based curriculum and integrate them into instruction to achieve student success.