Curriculum Corner Winter 2019
From the Desk of Kelly Harmon, Director of Curriculum, MCVSD
Diving Deeply into Year 2 of Our Curriculum Redesign Initiative: Moving from Good to Great
While many teachers were still enjoying their summer vacation, some teachers decided to get a head start on redesigning their curriculum by volunteering to attend the UbD workshop on August 6, 2019 at BTHS. Instructors of various disciplines came together to unpack standards, design essential questions and learn how to truly plan with a purpose. They were then given time to apply the conceptual UbD framework to a current curricular unit and import it into Rubicon/Atlas.
The next day, our district's curriculum coaches met with Dr. Hite, a professional learning education consultant who specializes in curriculum development and strategic assessment strategies, to discuss how to coach and guide teachers as they begin to create a living curriculum.
Later that month on Aug. 27th, Dr. Hite met with administrators and the Fall & Spring curriculum cohorts to not only take them through the curriculum design process but to share John Hattie's work from Visible Learning for Literacy to show them how teacher efficacy and a viable curriculum positively affects student growth.
The Summer '19 Cohort is Introduced to UbD Maria Arnao (CC), Ray St. Denis (CC), Chris Hanas (HTHS), Sue Romano (AAHS), Sabina Campbell (CHS), Emily Crelin (CHS) & Kayt Diver (CHS) listen as the curriculum training team reviews the workshop's learning objectives. | Fall '18 & Spring '19 Cohorts Attend UbD Part II As Dr. Hite looks on, Mohammad Shafaie (BTHS) and Tom Cherubino (BTHS) work together to distinguish essential questions from leading and guiding questions. | Fall '18 & Spring '19 Cohort Members Discuss Assessment Design During the summer UbD Part II workshop, Chris Arpa (BTHS), Jen Martino (HTHS) and Kelly Reilly (AAHS) discuss how to create authentic assessments that get students to transfer their learning. |
The Summer '19 Cohort is Introduced to UbD
Fall '18 & Spring '19 Cohorts Attend UbD Part II
The Fall '19 Cohort is Established & Trained During the October Staff Day
Dr. Ford Addresses the Fall '19 Cohort | Curriculum Coaches Meet Over Dinner at CEC | Fall '18 & Spring '19 Cohorts Discuss Their Assessment Practices Sue Feiring (CLASS) and John Elfers (CLASS) share their best practices. |
Curriculum Coaches Meet to Discuss Curriculum Initiative

Honoring Teachers Dedicated to Curriculum Work
Dr. Ford and I are recognizing teachers who have been instrumental in initiating curriculum changes! We recently honored Joan Lynch (AAHS) and Cameron DiCostanzo (AAHS) for being the first teacher team to redesign their Alternative Medicine curriculum in Rubicon/Atlas and submit for BOE approval.
Be on the look out! You could be next!
