Leading Curriculum Development

"A book that every practitioner should own. The author has managed to describe the complex process of curriculum development in plain English." —John Lundt, Professor of Educational Leadership University of Montana Develop a curriculum that can transform an ordinary school into a school of excellence! Curriculum development, an essential part of educational leadership, helps schools establish purpose, define activities, and guide decision making. This thought-provoking how-to resource helps leaders make sound choices and develop constructive policies as they guide a school team through this critical school improvement effort. Written by an expert in the field, this handbook introduces educational leaders to dynamic curriculum leadership and a curriculum development process that leads to highly successful school programs. The author demonstrates how administrators can adapt curriculum to meet their school's changing needs, incorporate emerging technologies, and reflect new and creative ways of thinking about education. The book walks educational leaders through the process, showing them how to: Move beyond maintenance and management to address short- and long-term school reform Create a school curriculum team Establish a regular curriculum cycle of analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation Develop a path for curriculum improvement Filled with case studies, sample challenges and solutions, planning sheets, and more, Leading Curriculum Development is a much-needed guide for designing academic programs that lead to excellence in student achievement.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments About the Author Preface List of Figures 1. Defining Effective Curriculum Leadership What Is Curriculum? Curriculum is the Essential Function Dynamic Curriculum Leadership School Leaders Must Also Be Curriculum Leaders The Leader as Helper and Guide Accepting the Challenge of Curriculum Leadership Summary End Notes 2. Basic Tasks of Curriculum Leadership Defining the Program Collarborating for Success Providing the Path Coordinating Activity The Leader′s Role Summary End Notes 3. Making Curriculum Purposeful Finding Your School Philosophy Techniques for Finding Consensus If-Then Logic The Role of Standards and Benchmarks Clarifying Goals and Objectives Pre-Assessing School Capacity Establishing a Destination Validation as a Critical Element Summary Sample Problems and Leader Actions End Notes 4. Building the School Curriculum Team Selecting the Team Using Committees to Activate Change Small Groups Conducting Meetings Conferencing Other Methods of Effective Communication Leadership Style and Climate Formation Achieving Consensus for School Improvement Summary Sample Problems and Leader Actions End Notes 5. Constructing the Path for Curriculum Improvement Visioning Clarifying the Steps The Use of Feedback in Curriculum Work Management and Time-Dating Goals Standards as Boundaries, Not Goals Summary Sample Problems and Leader Actions End Notes 6. Detailed Planning to Implement Change Curriculum Mapping Alignment Criteria Standards in the Curriculum An Emerging Blueprint for School Improvement Planning Tools That Empower Summary Sample Problems and Leader Actions End Notes 7. Curriculum Improvement Means Staff Development Teachers as the Critical Ingedient Why Many Teachers Dislike Staff Development Preferred Staff Development Designs Assessing Staff Development Efforts A Word About Adult Learners Curriculum as the Rationale for Staff Development Summary Sample Problems and Leader Actions End Notes 8. Closing the Circle Through Evaluation General Functions A Generic Design Four Purposes of Evaluation Eight Areas for Study Using Technology in Evaluation Summary Sample Problems and Leader Actions End Notes 9. Coordinating Successful Curriculum Work Some Reasons for Curriculum Failure The Elements of a Comprehensive Plan We′re All in This Together Planning Tools Reporting to the Board and Superintendent Timing Is Everything in School Improvement Program Evaluation and Review A Bath Tub Filling Up Boosters That Can Accelerate Change Summary Sample Problems and Leader Actions End Notes Resource A. Reproducible Planning Sheets Resource B. Standard Curriculum Planning Resources Resource C. Curriculum Resources Sites on the Internet Resource D. Recommended Resource for Keeping Up-to-Date Resource E. Glossary of Terms References Index