CMSi Curriculum Writing Workshop

The CMSi Curriculum Writing Workshop is a three-day training that equips district leaders and teachers to develop a framework for written curriculum that is unit-based and supportive of student-centered, cognitively challenging, and engaging instruction.

TASA partners with Curriculum Management Solutions, Inc. (CMSi) to provide Curriculum Writing Workshop as well as a Curriculum Planning Workshop and Level 1 and 2 Curriculum Management Audit Training. See a full list of offerings.

There are no upcoming events.

About the Curriculum Writing Workshop

Module 1: Rationale for Curriculum

Focuses on:

the purposes of written curriculum
how written curriculum supports instruction
how that role influences curriculum design and components

Participants will:

be able to describe the two main types of differentiation: curricular and instructional and discuss how the need for each influences curriculum design
explore what the district’s expectations for effective instruction look like, inclusive of differentiation, and discuss the instructional model and the framework for strategies that will form the basis for curriculum design and development
develop a list of non-negotiable curriculum components that should be in every guide in preparation for developing a unit-based written curriculum
learn a common vocabulary concerning curriculum and instruction and the effective management of each
discuss why written curriculum is so important and how this critical tool supports engaging and cognitively challenging instruction

Module 2: The Structure for Curriculum

Focuses on:

the steps in developing quality written curriculum

Participants will learn:

learn how to develop the core of every written curriculum, the objectives, and how to chunk those objectives into manageable units within a course or year
learn the importance of the scope and sequence, a refined set of learner objectives that are derived from the standards that are measurable and specific in terms of what mastery looks like (This set of objectives distills the standards into a manageable set of non-negotiable skills, concepts, and knowledge to be mastered by each child and places them in a pre-K-to-12 sequence.)
learn how to distinguish between mastery-level objectives and supporting, ancillary, or “en route” objectives (The supporting objectives are those discrete pieces of knowledge or prerequisites that students gain while learning and mastering the mastery-level objectives.)
practice reviewing the standards at a particular grade level for gaps and overlaps, reducing redundancies and identifying the most essential mastery-level objectives so this work can be continued in the weeks following the training
receive examples of high-quality objectives that suggest contexts and the cognitive type of student performance, with clear and specific (measurable) language (Standards of performance are also included.)
see how the content in the scope and sequence is made manageable by breaking it into “chunks,” or units, and learn how to hold pacing within a course or year consistent while allowing for flexibility in daily and weekly progress through the use of units
brainstorm possible concepts or big ideas to form the backbone of the units and will identify the main components of the units and possible formats

Who Should Attend

Superintendents, chief academic officers, curriculum specialists, content department directors and chairs, district and campus instructional leaders, and individuals interested in becoming certified curriculum management auditors. District cohorts are encouraged to attend. Please note: Completion of Level 1 CMAT is required prior to attending this workshop.

Following Module 2

After completing Module 2, participants should use time off-site to finalize the scope and sequence, work on standards to develop objectives, and refine them and improve their specificity. They will also identify the main units for the course or year and assign mastery-level objectives to each. Feedback from the trainer can be provided prior to the next module.