Curriculum Mapping & Assessment Planning Resources

CURRICULUM

It is important that all schools engage in continuous curriculum review cycles. The process of curriculum mapping — the process of making a curriculum map — is the practice of aligning skills to classes and grade levels and supporting those through a Catholic lens.

In 2023-24, OCS will be facilitating in person curriculum adoption cycles for Math and Health/Wellness. More information can be found here: Curriculum Adoption Committee 2023-24 – My Catholic School

In a traditional sense, a curriculum map can look a lot like a spreadsheet, or formatted in a way that compartmentalizes the different aspects of curriculum. Some rows show the weeks or months in a marking period, and the columns show information taught in that timeframe, like state standards and the resources available to address those standards. Here are a few resources to help schools begin their curriculum writing process:

Course Design and Materials Selection Toolkit – OSPI

Curriculum Planning Packet (from GRACE 2020)

Curriculum Mapping by Unit Example (from SJS)

 

ASSESSMENTS

Assessments are important for schools, teachers, and students themselves as a process of accountability, instructional guidance, and goal setting for student progress. At the Office for Catholic Schools, we support rigorous formative (regular, official and non-official) and summative (final, comprehensive) assessments in the classroom. We support common assessments created individually in school settings based on the curriculum used in each school, as well as standardized process Archdiocesan-wide assessments such as the NWEA MAP test and STAR testing.

Assessment Resources

Archdiocesan Common Assessment Data Analysis Protocol (GRACE 2019)

Distance Learning & Assessment Guidelines Q & A (2020)

 

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES PROCESS

How do I begin the process of creating a curriculum review cycle and continuously align assessments? 

Every year, before the school year even begins, the school instructional leaders must determine what the focus areas of curriculum review will be for the most impact on student learning. This can be determined by looking at the areas of growth and accomplishment based on MAP or STAR assessments, formative and summative assessments from the previous year and relooking at the resources available at schools currently to continuously challenge and inform teaching practices.

In order to prioritize this process, the school leader must determine the cadence of the school year professional development calendar, including the monthly staff meeting times and purpose of the meetings. OCS recommends that at  a minimum, one staff meeting a month is dedicated solely to the curriculum/assessment process in a PLC format. (If your school is beginning the PLC process and would like professional training in the Learning by Doing (DuFour) protocols, please consider participating in the GRACE Teacher Leader program or reach out to the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Excellence for more information).

Here are some resources to help get that process started:

PLC (Professional Learning Communities) resources

Template-PLC Action Plan- 18-19 -blank

The PLC Work of Collaborative Teams

Establishing a Culture of PLCs Packet (GRACE 2018)

Resource- Sample Completed Agenda for the PLC

PLC Action Plan for Full School Year Planning