Let’s Talk Curriculum pt 1 - Relevance and Structure

The Alternative Jigsaw Podcast

Show Notes -

Let’s Talk Curriculum - part one - Structure and Relevance

All right. You are wondering - What do I do? Here are some steps and caveats:

1. Create Your Overall Goal.
   1. What do you want the students to learn
   2. What do you want the students to understand
   3. What do you want to the students to walk away with
   4. How will the students demonstrate their learning, understanding, and appreciation?
2. Create a Mind Map (also known as a “web”) with your goal in the center and concepts being the spikes…if there are too many ideas, then choose the most important ones for the next week/month. Work with that - do NOT overcomplicate this.
3. Choose the first concept/ idea that needs to be taught, and figure out at least 3 ways to introduce/review this with the class, so it’s relevant, challenging, engaging, and fun. If students can work in groups, then allow it. If you are a desert of ideas, ask others and look online, then create one from what’s there - don’t just copy - that rarely works.
4. Work on building the foundations with your class - every class will be different with students coming in holding different skills and talents - figure out what they can do and begin to use that.
5. Continue building your own skill sets in this manner - even asking students for input so you can create your own solid foundation that can be molded and melded in the future.
6. Look at Kagan’s Cooperative Learning, as well as Universal Design for Learning books (there are so many now!).

Good Luck!