Summer Curriculum Updates: Preparing for the New Academic Year

At the end of every academic year, there is reflection and adjustment to curriculum to be made. As schools reflect on curriculum, instruction, and student outcomes of the year, consider these steps to to maintain the quality of your curriculum maps and identify opportunities to refine and improve upon them for the upcoming year.

Capture the changes

At the conclusion of each unit of study, teachers reflect on the teaching and learning and make appropriate updates in the moment. Similarly, the conclusion of the academic year is the time to review the learning that did or did not occur during the school year. Review the planned units of study and note standards or content that was not covered in the year and identify these in Atlas.

Use standards flagging to identify and text color or highlighting to show areas that require ongoing focus.

Identify the gaps

Once teachers have clearly documented their reflections in their units, the next step is to begin the process of identifying the gaps in student learning. Using a curriculum management platform like Atlas allows teachers to compile reports and compare units side-by-side to identify these gaps.

Use the Comparative Unit Calendar to look at units side by side

Prioritize the essential

Determining the most essential of the essential is key. Of the standards or learning targets that were determined to be opportunities for gaps, teachers should determine the non-negotiable essential targets. Some questions to consider during this process may include:

Knowing that not all targets can be addressed the following year, each grade level should determine 3-5 most essential targets.

Think Vertically

Once essential targets and standards have been identified, teachers can conduct a vertical review. By leveraging the reporting features in Atlas to analyze the progression from one year to the next, considering the gaps and priorities identified, teachers should plan for the following year. Some options may include:

Depending on the grade level, content area, and specific course, schools may opt for a combination of these to ensure adequate coverage of all essential learning targets.

Use the color coding feature in the unit calendar to clearly mark unit changes made to the course

Edit and Revise

Once vertical reviews are completed, teachers can document any updates to ensure gaps are covered. This may mean making adjustments to standards, learning targets, and concepts. As updated learning goals are clearly defined, teachers will need to create or adjust assessments and learning activities to ensure alignment and coverage. By using a curriculum management software, such as Atlas, this process can be streamlined by sharing units and pulling resources from other courses.

Use the copy a unit feature to copy a complete unit from one course to another

Ongoing Support

As teachers update courses, department heads, instructional coaches, and other leaders can support this work by leveraging their curriculum management tools. Periodic and ongoing review of progress can be supported by using the different reports in Atlas.

Use a Standards Analysis report to see where grade level standards are being targeted

As with every year, by taking this time to pause, reflect, and prepare for the upcoming year, we can continue to provide our students with a high quality education and prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow.