Introduction

Curriculum specifies not only what students are expected to study and learn in schools, but often indicates how that learning takes place. The curriculum adopted by a school, district, or state has a profound impact on the teaching and learning that goes on inside a classroom. From kindergarten through 12th grade, grade level and content specific curriculum materials serve as the roadmap for teachers. This roadmap presents a starting point that represents a relatively low level of student understanding and skill ability around a defined set of learning objectives and the end point represents an improved level of understanding around the same set of knowledge and skills.

Principle 1: Arranging Content in a Coherent and Sequential Way
A coherent curriculum presents its content as a sequence of topics and establishes continuity between the end points and the starting points of individual topics.

Principle 2: Allocating Sufficient Time on Focus Topics
A good curriculum focuses on the most essential topics and spends sufficient instructional time on each focus topic.

Principle 3: Including Core Knowledge as well as Specific Knowledge
Core knowledge based curricula equip all students with a common base of ability for taking future steps towards a fuller and richer understanding.

Principle 4: Having Common Rigorous Standards for Evaluation
Effective curricula are conceived with the targeted learners in mind and expectations are communicated clearly.

Principle 5: Multiple Pedagogical Approaches to Instruction
Effective curriculum considers how students learn differently and the variety of approaches teachers may use to deliver instruction to diverse learners.

Summary
The curriculum establishes the ‘text’ of schooling. It is a vital component of a successful teaching and learning experience. The extent to which a particular curriculum measures up against these five principles can be determined by using the self-assessment rubric at the end of the report.

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