Product Description

Teachers have always used the school calendar to plan instruction. Now, using a standard computer word-processing program, they can collect real-time information about what is actually taught to create "curriculum maps." These maps provide a clear picture of what is happening in their classes at specific points during the school year.

The benefits of this kind of mapping are obvious for integrating curriculum: when curriculum maps are developed for every grade level, educators see not only the details of each map, but also the "big picture" for that school or district. They can see where subjects already come together--and where they don't, but probably should.

In Mapping the Big Picture, Heidi Hayes Jacobs describes a seven-step process for creating and working with curriculum maps, from data collection to ongoing curriculum review. She discusses the importance of asking "essential questions" and of designing assessments that reflect what teachers know about the students in their care. She also offers a viable alternative to the "curriculum committees" that are part of almost every school district in the United States.

The book concludes with more than 20 sample curriculum maps from real schools, all of which were developed using the process described in this book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9183 in Books
• Published on: 1997-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 110 pages

Customer Reviews

Mapping the Big Picture/Review
Mapping the curriculum is an outstanding, hands-on way to record the complete scope and sequence of the curricula in your school. It is, easy to read and gets directly to the point. I recommend this book to any school administrator or team leader. It will only take an hour to read, but will pay dividends for years to come!

Great approach!
Jacobs presents a very simple, common sense approach to organizing and assessing curricula. Her curriculum mapping technique helps teachers to become better organized and it helps administrators evaluate curricula. In an age of standards and accountability, curriculum mapping also makes it easier to to incorporate standards into the curriculum. I would recommend this book to all educators involved in lesson planning and/or curriculum development.

curriculum map
A great book for a school or school district to map out curriclum. The author can be contracted to help do this with a school. It makes sense.