What is curriculum mapping?

Curriculum mapping is often defined through metaphors such as schools cleaning out the closets, tool belt of a teacher and my personal favorite treasure map of success. The leading guru of curriculum mapping, Hiedi Hayes Jacobs, defines it as a curriculum map is a working document that illustrates exactly what is taking place in classrooms. Maps reveal what is being taught over the course of a year, within a unit of study, and even down to a specific lesson. Often, a map for a lesson will include essential questions, the content that will be covered, skills students will demonstrate if they understand the content, assessments, and activities. Combining what teachers actually do through units lessons and cross-curricular connections. Its a verification and also guiding tool. In another article Jacobs refers to it as a diary that not only has observations but data of activities that link to standards being taught.

Why is it an important practice? What are the pros and cons of curriculum mapping?
It is important for there to be a road map to which the teachers utilize to guide instruction. The mapping verifies that the common core and essential standards are being met in some fashion. One of the benefits to curriculum mapping is
that it can be the vehicle for opening up the lines of communication among all educators within a school system. Encouraging teachers and school leaders to have conversations within their own building as well as with other schools in their district will lead to a greater sense of collegiality. Such conversations will help educators focus on more than what takes place in their own individual classrooms. http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/video/GettingResultsCurriculumMapping.pdf) According to Benade, The difficulties lie not so much in whether the claim is

workable or feasible but in whether all the teachers in a school can be unified voluntarily in the pursuit of joint or common planning, and whether the time can be created to allow this planning to occur. This concept of joint or common planning suggests too that the classical concept of a teaching professional working as independently autonomous cannot be sustained in a context where mutual collaboration and support is required. It can be challenging to get everyone onboard with an open line of communication but I believe that is changing. The only con to it is that there isnt specific evidence showing measurable improvement in student performance. As of now only survey data has been documented as verification of its use.

Who are the leading consultants/researchers in this field?

The name that is most connected with Curriculum Mapping is Heidi Hayes Jacobs. She has videos and several books out on the topic.

What are five resources that are available to curriculum leaders who wish to introduce this strategy to their school district? 1. http://www.curriculum21.com Is the guru page on everything involving
curriculum mapping from networking, conferences, background and references. 2. book:Getting Results With Curriculum Mapping - 04 edition by Heidi

Hayes Jacobs 3. Book: Curriculum Mapping as Professional Development Using Maps to Jump-Start Collaboration by Michael S. Mills 4. http://www.curriculummapping101.com Curriculum Mapping as Professional Development Using Maps to Jump-Start Collaboration by Michael S. Mills 5. http://www.ok.gov/sde/curriculum-mapping This site has a list of resources and basic templates for construction.

What are your experiences/your school district's experiences with curriculum mapping? My district is utilizing curriculum maps in the middle school and high school levels by content and grade level. We had dedicated individuals meet for three days this summer to come up with maps and in the fall will be looking at the alignment vertically. It is a great tool for new and veteran teachers alike to balance out the framework across the county. I believe it will help our transient students to adjust a little easer to their new school having been in the same spot on point at their previous school (if they are coming from within the county that is)
References Benade, L. (2008). A Critical Review of Curriculum Mapping: Implications for the Development of an Ethical Teacher Professionality. New Zealand Journal Of Teachers' Work, 5(2), 93-104
GettingResults.http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/siteASCD/video/GettingResultsCurriculumMappi ng.pdf)

Jacobs, H. H. (2004b). Development of a prologue: Setting the stage for curriculum mapping. In H. H. Jacobs (Ed.), Getting results with curriculum mapping (pp. 1-9). Alexandria, VA, USA: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.