Curriculum Mapping Basics

Minimize Lesson Planning Time with an Outline of the Curriculum

Apr 20, 2009

Curriculum mapping provides teachers an outline of the lessons they need to teach over the course of a year and cuts down on the amount of time teachers spend planning.

A curriculum map is a valuable resources for new teachers as it provides an easy way for teachers to become familiar with the curriculum. It also provides a guide for writing lesson plans throughout the year and helps to minimize lesson planning time. Learn how to make a curriculum map and some of the benefits of curriculum maps.

How to Make a Curriculum Map

In order to make a curriculum map, a teacher must have access to the curriculum for a particular subject. Break the year down into sections. Usually breaking the year into grading periods is the most effective method for mapping out the curriculum. To make the curriculum map, a teacher will chart out each standard for a particular grading period. The following aspects should be included in any curriculum map:

So for example, a teacher can take the first quarter's math standards and map out each standard, the skills that go with those standards, what type of assessment will be used for each standard and the order the skills will be taught. This can be done for each month of the school year for a complete curriculum map.

Benefits of a Curriculum Map

New teachers will benefit from making a curriculum map as it provides an effective method of becoming familiar with the school's curriculum. Once the teacher has mapped out each unit or grading period, the teacher can then use the curriculum map to write individual lesson plans for use in the classroom. This will help to minimize planning time as the outline of what to teach has already been done.

Additionally, a curriculum map provides a method for teachers to ensure that each standard in the curriculum is taught effectively. By mapping the curriculum out ahead of time, teachers can see what topics are coming up and what has already been taught and will be able to better incorporate skills and activities that will add to the lessons.

Finding time to put together a curriculum map may be difficult for some teachers. The summertime is an excellent time for teachers to go through the curriculum and map out each standard. If possible, new teachers should ask for a copy of the curriculum prior to the start of school so that they might have time to become familiar with it. Despite the time it takes to make a curriculum map, the benefits are vast and teachers should place a priority on this extra step in lesson planning.

The copyright of the article Curriculum Mapping Basics in Lesson Plan Help is owned by Jennifer Wagaman. Permission to republish Curriculum Mapping Basics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.