Curriculum Project - Memo

Lodi High School
99 Putnam Street, Lodi, NJ 07644
Phone: (973) 123-4567 Fax: (973) 987-6543

To: Barry A. Bachenheimer, Superintendent

From: Maria Debowska & Jill Friedman, Principals

Date: December 4, 2008

Re: Proposed Curriculum Changes

Animal Farm is a novel that is as relevant today as it has been in years past, which is why it has been studied on the freshman level for years and it should stay in the curriculum as such. However, many of the activities and assessments are not up to current standards; hence, the reason for this memo is to propose several curriculum changes that would steer away from the traditional lessons to ones that meet the demands of today’s society. By making the changes we propose – merging research based practices and a NJ Core Content Curriculum Standards driven curriculum – our students would highly benefit from the learning experience and the integration of technology, which would lead them to become better prepared critical thinkers and problem solvers.

It is essential that the following changes in activities and assessments take place:
• The lesson will be planned using Wiggins and McTighe’s UbD format, allowing teachers to be more goal-oriented as they use the backward design for planning. The lesson will include essential questions on both the overarching and topical levels and the related misconceptions. By having teachers create such a learning plan, they will be better prepared to help students with the big questions. Additionally, students will be able to reflect and rethink before moving on. Ultimately, the assessments will be varied to optimize the engagement and effectiveness of all students, without compromising the goals of the unit.
• Based on Schmoker’s research, all “crayola curriculum” activities will be removed, which take time away from the reading and writing that is essential in the English classroom.
• Team projects will be assigned, since Csikszentmihalyi’s “flow experience” most likely occurs during team work.
• Technology will be incorporated into numerous lessons in this unit.

There is absolutely no monetary cost involved in revising this curriculum. Additionally, if you approve it prior to the end of this year, the freshman English teachers can put it into effect immediately since the Animal Farm unit is usually taught in the spring.