As a specialist in Curriculum and Instruction, I often find so much confusion surrounding the concept of "curriculum." Many people seem to think it is the textbooks they use. Others are quite certain it is that rarely used booklet that sits on nearly every teacher's bookshelf called "Scope and Sequence." Here's what your curriculum is-and isn't.
The curriculum for any core curriculum subject or grade is the state standards (and soon, the common core standards). Imagine that! The state actually informs us of what they think students should know and be able to do at specific times during their foray into education. Then the state goes a step further-they create assessments for students based upon what they said students should know and be able to do. From my perspective, it doesn't get much better than that.
On the other hand, if one believes that their curriculum is the math book, covered page by page (snooze), then it is not surprising when state test scores are low. Instruction MUST be aligned to what the state indicates it wants students to know and be able to do. It's really that simple!
