This is where we will delve into interesting sidebars, current practices, horrific misunderstandings and what to expect generally.

First, I’d like to share a couple of presentations designed for teachers as preparations begin for curriculum planning. We have a series of short professional development sessions which provide very basic guidance on how standards-based instruction is incorporated into the planning process. As precursors to workshops to begin the collaborative process of instructional teams, we provide basic review of The Skills-based Learning and Assessment Curriculum principles and how they are incorporated into this particular school in Chicago, Illinois. It should be noted that these sessions are not introductory.

- Curriculum Development: Assessment Planning – This is a review of the standards-based instructional cycle. It presents a look into the complexity issue of building assessments. The Critical Benchmark Skills List, in this case, has already been developed.

- Curriculum Development: Curriculum Mapping – This outline reminds us of important ideas as we begin the process of laying our curriculum maps for the upcoming year.

- Curriculum Development: Lesson Planning – This presentation is a review/overview of the five-phase lesson planning process which lends itself to skills-based instruction within the classroom.

A sample of a five-phase lesson plan can be found here.

Please visit the National Research Council of the National Academies to download a PDF file of ” How Students Learn” to find out more about cognitive development in the classroom.  There are specific sections about history, mathematics and science learning.

Here’s a little story about Power Skills.