Tantasqua Regional High School

COMMON FORMAT FOR DEPARTMENTAL CURRICULUM GUIDES

Updated June 14, 2004

Resources for helping develop curriculum are available online. Inside the building: http://10.1.1.251/ths/curriculum/index.htm Outside the building: http://www.tantasqua.org/ths/curriculum/index.htm

The curriculum guides for departments should follow a common format. This format is flexible enough to accommodate the individual needs of departments.

Each department should maintain four up-to-date copies of its curriculum guide. A copy should be provided to each of the following: 1. Department, 2. Principal, 3. Superintendent, 4. NEASC.

INTRODUCTION TO YOUR DEPARTMENT’S CURRICULUM GUIDE

Departmental Philosophy This brief statement must be consistent with the school’s mission statement.

Expectations for Student Learning Indicate the expectations from the school’s mission statement for which the department is responsible. Each expectation selected should be marked as a primary responsibility (P) or secondary responsibility (S) of the department. The department may choose to present the information on a matrix.

COURSE INFORMATION

In your curriculum guide, provide the same course information that is in the Program of Studies.

Name of Course

Length of Course (Semester, Full Year)

Credits (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.)

Level (Description of the targeted audience; designation of H, CP, G)

Prerequisites Brief Course Description

Course Objectives State course expectations, including appropriate expectations from the school’s mission statement.

UNIT OR THEME OUTLINES

For each unit or theme, provide the following information:

Heading –State the title of the course, title and number of the unit or theme, and time allocation.

Frameworks –State the numbers of the frameworks standards related to the theme or unit.

Student Learning Outcomes—Indicate what students should be able to know and what students should be able to do based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. Each curriculum area will adapt the frameworks to its needs. The heading should be “Students will:” Include basic skills and thinking skills. The language and spirit of the mission statement should be evident here. Take the frameworks and raise the stakes to fit our school’s expectations for student learning.

Assessment Strategies and Activities –Indicate how you will know that students have met the outcomes of a unit activity.

Instructional Strategies –List possible activities and teaching strategies.

Course Content --State topics, core knowledge, or themes. Listing key vocabulary is optional.

Resources and Materials –List possible resources and materials, including texts and software, that support the unit or theme.

CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT

Indicate national, state (MCAS), other standardized tests (PSAT, SAT, ASVAB), or documentation utilized to determine that courses result in student learning as defined by objectives, philosophy, and expectations in the school mission statement. Your statement about curriculum assessment only needs to appear once in your curriculum binder.