Curriculum planning is super fun!

In my role as Elementary Division Head, one of my absolute favorite responsibilities and activities is discussing curriculum with faculty. I miss that part of being a teacher - the excitement and thrill of thinking about what I want students to understand (not just "know" or "be able to do") - and being able to engage with teachers as they go through that process not only scratches that itch; it both helps me get a better sense of how they are intentionally designing curriculum, and gives me an opportunity to engage in some coaching with them around this essential teacher task.

Today I had the pleasure of having two such meetings, focusing around the ideas from Project Zero's Teaching for Understanding unit design framework. First, I met with Mike from the Cerrito Creek classroom. Our conversation began by looking at the TfU framework together, moved to reflecting on the recently-completed science unit he taught on oceans, focused on the development of understanding goals (the essential ideas about which we want students to develop understanding) as the key driver in curriculum development, and then looked forward at his upcoming plans to sharpen the connection between what is being taught, and the goals that underlie the curriculum. It was a powerful experience in which we were able to discuss subtle nuances of the TfU approach, and Mike's sense of his own curriculum planning approach.

The second meeting was with Amy and Danette from the Sweet Briar Creek classroom. I had passed the Teaching for Understanding framework on to Amy last week, and she and Danette had already begun brainstorming possible Understanding Goals for their upcoming Ancient Egypt unit. Through conversation, we revised and consolidated those goals into the following list: 1) how the citizens of the age met their fundamental needs (building on their recently completed study of the fundamental needs of humans, a classic Montessori lesson), 2) how different classes of people experienced life differently, and 3) the connection between water and early agrarian human civilizations. From there we discussed possible performances of understanding - what kids will do to develop and show their understanding - including the plans for a culminating Ancient Egypt Festival performance, complete with food, writing, dancing, drama, and other representations that will show kids' understanding of what life was like in that culture.

Similar meetings are scheduled for January with the rest of the elementary classrooms!