Curriculum Development
Who works on Curriculum?
Norwin School District administrators, curriculum leaders, and teachers share responsibilities to determine curriculum and individual course/subject offerings. Through collaboration during staff meetings, District Curriculum Council meetings, department meetings, professional development sessions, and after-school and summer curriculum writing projects, curriculum is planned and new instructional programs are implemented. Our curriculum evolves in order to adjust to innovations and the needs and interests our students.
The Curriculum Development Cycle
The Norwin School District's administrators, curriculum leaders, and teachers develop curriculum following a process involving data collection, needs assessment, educational research and best practices, high quality materials, academic standards, student engagement, and student achievement and growth. As such, curriculum development at Norwin is continual, collaborative, and dynamic. These activities take place along a six-year Curriculum Cycle and are described below:
Year 1: Needs Assessment - Teachers gather research, examine student performance data, conduct surveys, review sample materials, evaluate the current curriculum guides, share information at grade level, department, curriculum committee, and Curriculum Council meetings, and set the direction for the curriculum for the next five years. Year 1 concludes with the curriculum leader formally presenting findings of the needs assessment to the Curriculum Council.
Year 2: Curriculum Proposal & Resource Adoption - Teachers develop curriculum by aligning intended outcomes of learning to grade-level academic standards. This occurs across a semester or year-long course/subject and involves work during and outside of the regular school day. Teachers pilot different programs, strategies, and materials that are being considered for implementation. Year 2 concludes with the curriculum leader formally presenting recommendations to the Norwin School Board of Directors and administrators.
Year 3: Curriculum Development & Implementation - Teachers implement the new curriculum and materials, noting their strengths and areas for needed refinement and improvement. Professional development is scheduled as needed. Parents/guardians are introduced to the new curriculum and materials, and feedback is gathered to prepare for Year 4 when the curriculum is analyzed for possible revision.
Year 4: Curriculum Implementation, continued - Teachers evaluate the impact of the curriculum on student achievement. Using this data and in response to the feedback collected in the previous year, revisions are made to the curriculum as warranted and additional resources are identified in order to support the learning goals.
Years 5: Curriculum Monitoring - Teachers continue to collaborate on effective practices and implementation of resources/materials. Educational technology, methods for alternative assessment, student exemplars, and open education resources are explored to vary and diversify instructional practices.
Year 6: Curriculum Evaluation - Teachers evaluate the impact of the curriculum on student achievement in preparation for a return to Year 1 of the curriculum cycle the following year.