A Guide to Curriculum Mapping
Planning, Implementing, and Sustaining the Process
Foreword by Heidi Hayes Jacobs
"With imagination and serious reflection, the author has generated a detailed resource with exercises, worksheets, staff development activities, and sample maps to assist any staff developer or curriculum designer. This book particularly connects to those who are at the beginning levels of their mapping journey."
—From the Foreword by Heidi Hayes Jacobs
A step-by-step guide to successful curriculum mapping initiatives!
While curriculum mapping is recognized as a highly effective method for serving students' ongoing instructional needs and creating systemic change, the means for putting this data-based decision-making process into practice may not always be clearly understood. This in-depth resource speaks to teachers and administrators with varying levels of curriculum-mapping experience and describes how teacher groups drive the process by engaging in collaborative inquiry as they review one another's curriculums for gaps, redundancies, and new learning. The collected data assist in designing month-to-month instructional plans for all grade levels and subjects, resulting in a curriculum that is coherent, consistent, and aligned with standards.
Drawing on her experience in working with thousands of educators across the country, Janet A. Hale offers specific steps for coordinating and sustaining strong mapping efforts that become embedded in school culture. The author explores the stages of contemplating, planning, and implementing a curriculum mapping initiative and helps the reader examine critical components that affect a learning organization's progress through each phase. The book presents powerful tools and features that significantly enhance curriculum mapping efforts:
- Samples of four types of curriculum maps—Diary, Projected, Consensus, and Essential
- Guidelines for deciding what type of map to use to begin the process
- Assistance for selecting a Web-based mapping system
- Reflective questions at the end of each chapter
- A complete glossary of terms
A Guide to Curriculum Mapping includes extended coverage of the challenges of curriculum mapping, offers encouragement and advice from educators who have successfully implemented a mapping initiative, and provides the necessary clarity to put curriculum mapping into action.
"Curriculum mapping has been a stepping stone for our faculties to become professional learning communities. It has provided a vehicle for our teachers to engage in professional conversations for the benefit of our students. Janet Hale has given us the road map for this journey."
"Janet Hale has captured the layered foundation of curriculum mapping. She makes the journey through the how’s and what’s of mapping an easier and more understandable experience. This book is a great resource for teachers beginning or already on the path of developing individualized maps."
"Provides very practical strategies for designing and implementing a successful curriculum mapping initiative. Hale offers specific illustrations to help move teachers away from writing activities to designing curriculum. The concrete examples included throughout are easy to understand and will be used as guides by our teachers as we move forward with consensus map design."
"An essential, easy-to-follow guidebook. Hale has done an excellent job in outlining the step-by-step process of curriculum mapping. As a classroom teacher, I couldn’t imagine a better tool for planning and implementing my lessons. Curriculum mapping has helped me better plan for instruction and make certain that I have covered the necessary state standards. As I continue my journey on the road to developing more effective maps, this book will be a resource I will refer to and recommend to my colleagues."
"An excellent guide for schools and districts interested in implementing curriculum mapping. The author was honest in her approach, emphasizing that this process is not a 'quick fix' and that key components must be in place for it to be successful. After reading the book, I am ready to 'saddle up' and start preparing for a prologue year."
“An outstanding survey for putting data-based decision practices into real-world teaching experiences. Hale’s work with thousands of educators offers steps for mapping efforts that can fuel school cultures.”
