Along with creative teacher-created curriculum, quality packaged curriculum for vocabulary, composition, science, handwriting, and math add structure to K-12 classrooms.
I'm a big believer in teacher-created curriculum. Creative teachers can create brand new curriculum to support classroom goals or adapt tried-and-true curricula and lessons to support individual student or classroom needs.
There is, however, a time and a place for quality packaged curriculum. Discerning teachers should work with department chairs, textbook committees and curriculum specialists in order to find high value published texts and activities that will enhance learning.
With that in mind, I have recently spent a great deal of time researching a variety of educational titles that may be of interest to teachers who are looking for high quality K-12 curriculum:
- Handwriting Without Tears: Jan Z. Olsen's comprehensive curriculum teaches print and cursive handwriting with a step-by-step, multisensory method. Teachers will appreciate the accessibility and sound pedagogy behind this outstanding curriculum.
- Writing Strands:Although intended for homeschool use, David Marks' National Writing Institute curriculum will appeal to any teacher who uses process writing.
- Word Web Vocabulary: Veteran teacher, Elinor Miller's multi-faceted curriculum encourages students to understand word origins and make interdisciplinary vocabulary connections.
- Vocabulary Cartoons:Created by Sam and Bryan Burchers, this very visual vocabulary curriculum uses humor to teach word definitions.
- Engineering is Elementary Units: Educators from Boston's Museum of Science have developed literary-based engineering lessons to inspire budding scientists.
- Minimus Latin: Clever cartooning and associated CD-Rom make this introduction to Latin a winner.
