If you’re at a lost when it comes to deciding on high quality curriculum and instructional materials then keep reading this post because you’ll get a basic understanding of what to look for when selecting high quality materials for your classroom.
1. The first point to look for in a high quality curriculum is the quality of texts in the curriculum.
In other words, does the curriculum offer a diverse set of text that range in complexity based on Lexile reading levels. Do the texts feature characters from diverse backgrounds with a multicultural lens?
If the curriculum offers anchor texts, are the anchor text 2 or 3 grade levels above the students level, so the teacher is able to model different skills and concepts.
The curriculum should also offer multiple opportunities for students to be able to independently read texts at their level.
2. The second point to look for is does the curriculum continually build knowledge.
Building knowledge, meaning that, students are able to gain, add to and extend their background knowledge to gain more understanding of a subject and or topic.
Are students able to build upon what they have already done in previous units and complete culminating projects that assess the new knowledge gained.
3. The third point to look for is alignment with state and national standards.
Some curricula will say they there is alignment but sometimes when you take a deep dive, this is not the case.
The question to ask is does the curriculum address all of the standards in complete way so that students are able to master the standards.
For example, the curriculum might address major standards but may lack alignment with supporting standards.
4. The fourth point to look for in a curriculum is usability.
With usability, you want to look for students ease of use when completing assignments digitally. I think this is especially important for younger grades.
Are teachers able to access to the instructional materials from anywhere? Do the materials provide teachers with professional development on how to use the materials?
These are some of the basic things to look for when selecting high quality instructional materials. If you would like more details you can check EdReports.org.
Summary: Four basic things to look for:
- Text quality
- Build knowledge
- Alignment
- Usability
What are your instructional materials missing and or which one of these points is already included?