Curriculum Guides

ISAACS                                                                                              Portfolio

Staff
Development

Curriculum Guidelines: Most pressing in Humanities and Social Science, Science
We propose that if funds are available to hire seasoned staff to define these guides this summer.

An example: World History: Centers of plant domestication and how this effects the rise of civilizations

Need to define the part before the colon,

• Use of archeology in the construction of history
  
• Methods of dating
  
• Geography knowledge
  
• Map making
  

• Need a workshop for staff, with an expert in uses of portfolios, early in the school year. This should be followed by several workshops in discussion format to keep the interest and ideas flowing.
  
• Students need to use the portfolios. Perhaps an end of year presentation of their portfolio work.
  

• This needs full time attention from someone, perhaps the curriculum director. We have many teachers without formal teacher training, and a regular turn over of teachers that leads to this ongoing need. Perhaps a mentoring system in addition to leadership at some level would make sure that teachers are successful, especially their first year of teaching.