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CASD Curriculum Writing Process

Planned Course of Study Writing 

  • www.pdesas.org

  • Clear Standards – PA Academic Standards and Assessment Anchors (see related links)

    • click the "Standards" tab at the top of the page

    • click the "Download Standards" button

    • you will see the PA Core Standards on the landing page - ELA, Reading/Writing, and Math

    • click "PA Academic Standards" on the left side of the page to access the standards in other content areas - science, social studies, arts & humanities, etc.

  • Focus on Effective Instruction

    • Educators know that there are students who require support in addressing unfinished learning from prior grades. Since time is a scarce commodity in classrooms, strategic instructional choices about which content to prioritize must occur.

      • Classroom Quick Tips: Instruction, Assessment, and Time Management
        Each 1-page document offers easily doable instructional, assessment, and classroom/time management strategies – offering general strategies, ELA-, and math-specific suggestions for implementation.
      • Academic Strategies
        Using the key concepts in the left-hand column of the Accelerated Learning/Focus on Effective Instruction Math and ELA documents, educators can complete a self-check for current instructional and assessment practices. After identifying areas of need, the right-hand column offers specific strategies/resources that may strengthen the selected concepts.
  • Curriculum Framework (if available for your subject) – Essential Questions, Grade Level Concepts & Grade Level Competencies - click content areas on the left side of the page
     
  • Review the sample completed planned courses of study posted on the website -– click on the different content areas on the left side of the page to access planned courses of study in a variety of content areas...they should be a helpful guide as you progress through the curriculum writing process. 

*Use this planned Course of Study Google Doc and name it COURSE NAME - TEACHER NAME

Example: CHS Environmental Science - Oswald

**Important - Share the course of study document with Melissa Inselmann**
 

Planned Course of Study Writing Procedure

PHASE 1: 
Complete pg. 1 - Course Description, Essential Questions, and Course Competencies of the Planned Course of Study Document. Copy and paste the Essential Questions and Course Competencies from the SAS website. Send to Christina for review and approval prior to beginning work on pg. 2 (Course Syllabus). Note: If you do not see essential questions/competencies aligned to the content of your course, modify the SAS info. or create your own to meet your course needs.

PHASE 2:
After you have completed and submitted Phase 1, complete pg. 2 (Course Syllabus and Teaching Strategies Utilized). Incorporate the grade level concepts from the SAS website in the course content portion of the course syllabus. Send to Melissa for review and approval prior to beginning work on the remainder of the document.

PHASE 3:
After you have completed and submitted Phase 2, complete the remaining pages of the document. Grade level concepts and competencies should be incorporated into/tied to the objectives, activities, and forms of assessment in the remainder of the planned course of study document. Use the levels of achievement document for a description of the levels of achievement. When complete, send to Christina for review.
 

Additional Resources

Compensation

Full Year/1.0 Credit Course - 18 hours

Semester/0.5 Credit Course - 9 hours

Melissa Inselmann will work with you to determine compensation options - trade day credit, flex day credit, monetary compensation at the contractual rate.