Manuals for Developing a Balanced Curriculum

The manuals provide step-by-step staff development activities for writing the balanced curriculum. Staff developers or subject area supervisors use the manual to guide teacher groups through the curriculum and assessment writing and alignment processes using the online data-base to house their results. (Training in using the manuals to conduct staff development is available.)

The manuals are delivered to the district over the Internet using Acrobat Reader.  Purchase of the manuals allows the district to duplicate as many manuals as needed for internal use. This option is recommended for districts who have successfully implemented a district-wide project in the recent past and who have cohesive central office leadership can organize the time needed to complete the balanced curriculum process.

The Web-based course and manuals includes modules on:

Overview of the Balanced Curriculum Process

Rationale for the Balanced Curriculum Process

Components of a Good Subject Area Program

Review of State Standards

Review of Standardized Tests

Review of State Assessments

Conducting an Inventory of Materials

Review Local Standards and Assessments

Generating Unit Titles

The Developmental Pathways and Blooms Taxonomy

Describing Significant Tasks

Aligning the Curriculum Using the Web-based Data Base

Balancing the Curriculum Using the Web-based Data Base

Generating Assessments that Assist Students in Practicing the Format of the State And Standardized Test

Generating Performance-based Assessments for Each Significant Task

Developing a Rubric for Determining an Adequate Assessment

Managing Implementation