Beyond the Package: Analyze, Adopt & Adapt Curriculum

Explore considerations for adapting and implementing new curricula, focusing on teacher support and administrative roles in the process.

In conversation with

​Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang
CPET Executive Director & Host of Teaching Today 
​​

Courtney Brown
Senior Professional Development Advisor​

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Snapshot

This conversation, Beyond the Package: Analyze, Adopt & Adapt Curriculum, revolves around the challenges and benefits of adapting and implementing new curriculum in educational settings, with a focus on the role of administration and teachers in the process. The conversation between Courtney Brown and Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang also touches on the evaluation and selection of curriculum, emphasizing the importance of cultural relevance and responsiveness, and the potential benefits and drawbacks of prepackaged curriculum. Lastly, the conversation highlights the importance of supporting educators and expanding access to resources, as well as the need for educators to be critical consumers and to create authentic learning experiences that integrate skills across disciplines.

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Breakdown

In this episode, we bridge theory and practice in the classroom as we discuss the following:

• Understanding and selecting curriculum
• Implementation challenges and teacher support
• Benefits and professional development

Understanding and Selecting Curriculum
The foundation of curriculum in education encompasses content and instructional strategies used in teaching, which can be presented in various formats including day-to-day lesson plans, assessments, and differentiated instruction. Pre-packaged curricula, while often high quality, are typically designed for broad audiences and may not align with specific state or district expectations. The first step in choosing a curriculum will be determining its alignment with state standards and expectations, including high-stakes assessments. Cultural relevance and responsiveness are crucial considerations, incorporating the concept of "doors and windows" to expose students to both familiar and unfamiliar concepts. It’s important to remember that these curricula are often created by private industry for profit and may not be specifically tailored to particular state or district needs.

Implementation Challenges and Teacher Support
The implementation of prescribed curriculum presents significant challenges, particularly regarding fidelity of implementation. Teachers often experience stress when expected to follow scripts or cover all topics, considering each class and student being unique. Understanding the curriculum's language and format requires substantial time and effort to adapt it to the school community's needs. Teachers need to internalize and customize the curriculum, including unit templates and lesson plans, while maintaining opportunities for differentiation. The process demands administrators provide adequate time and support for teachers to adapt and implement effectively. There are also concerns about moving away from interdisciplinary and project-based learning, potentially furthering siloed disciplines. The concept of "implementation with fidelity" needs clear definition at both school and district levels, with recognition that teachers need agency to adjust based on student needs.

Benefits and Professional Development
Prepackaged curriculum offers several advantages to educational communities, providing a shared understanding and coherent learning experience while relieving teachers of curriculum design responsibilities. This proves especially valuable for new or struggling teachers, allowing them to focus on implementation and student relationships. While not a comprehensive solution for improving teaching, a well-structured curriculum can support teacher effectiveness through regular deep dives into its components. Professional development plays a crucial role in providing teachers resources, expertise, and practical strategies as they adopt and implement curriculum. Content and practices can be differentiated based on teachers’ strengths, with some focusing on curriculum development and others on facilitating learning. This approach recognizes that curriculum development and instructional design are complex tasks requiring expertise and time that teachers may not have in abundance.

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Taking Action

• Teachers: maintain agency and critical thinking when implementing packaged curriculum, viewing yourselves as empowered consumers
• Administrators: consider how you can provide teachers with adequate time to unpack, learn, and adapt new curriculum before implementation
• Teachers: critically evaluate and adapt packaged curriculum to meet the needs of your specific student population and school community
• School leaders: facilitate regular guided deep dives into curriculum materials with teachers to ensure shared understanding and effective implementation

Summary assisted by Zoom AI Companion and Claude (Anthropic, 2024) ​