Since your teachers may have been asked to emphasize their state adopted textbooks, professional developers can help them find and organize the resources available. The textbook companies are posting more of their resources online. However, multi-subject teachers may have several textbooks from different publishers. Single subject teachers may have multiple sources of materials for their students. This is where you can help them.
- Meet with the curriculum leaders or department chairs to determine required resources.
- Pull together the textbooks your teachers are required to use along with supporting materials.
- Review the resources to determine areas that need more work: i.e. a blackline master that needs to be adapted, a short Web site that points to resources, or a rubric that is missing.
- Create sample materials or Web sites as models.
- Schedule time in the summer or, if you are so lucky, during release time, to map the curriculum and meet with each grade level and/or department teachers.
- Demonstrate the models you created and walk them through the steps so they can adapt the resources they use, making it easier for them and their students.
Submitted by:Barbara Bray
Image from:My eCoach eLibrary
