Improving Standards-Based Learning

Judy F. Carr teaches half-time in the Educational Leadership Program at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. She is also codirector of the Center for Curriculum Renewal, a consultant, facilitator, professional development specialist, workshop presenter, and program evaluator with educators and policy makers in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean. She is coauthor or coeditor of the following books: A Pig Don't Get Fatter the More You Weigh It: Balancing Classroom Assessment; Creating Dynamic Schools Through Mentoring, Coaching, and Collaboration; Succeeding with Standards: Linking Curriculum, Assessment, and Action Planning; How to Use Standards in the Classroom; Integrated Studies in the Middle Grades: Dancing Through Walls; and Living and Learning in the Middle Grades: The Dance Continues: A Festschrift for Chris Stevenson. Carr has expertise in K-12 curriculum, instruction, and assessment; standards-based education reform; design of professional development materials and processes; systems change implementation with leadership teams in school districts and state agencies; and middle grades education. She has been a middle school teacher and a K-12 curriculum director. She was the recipient of the second annual Vermont ASCD Curriculum Leadership Award.

List of Worksheets Preface 1. Creating the Focus for Standards-Based Learning 2. Establishing a Curriculum Development, Implementation, Evaluation Cycle 3. Preparing for Committee Meetings 4. Group Dynamics: A Guide for the Committee Chair 5. Developing the K-12 Curriculum Guidelines 6. Publishing and Celebrating the Document 7. Development of Common Assessments: A Design Overview 8. Planning for Implementation 9. Three Strategies to Support Implementation 10. Curriculum-Based Program Evaluation References Index

"Carr and Harris have laid out a very clear and flexible process for developing a standards-based and learner-centered curriculum. Drawing from their experience working with schools and districts, they have compiled a set of processes, tools, and examples that will be invaluable to those charged with developing or revising curriculum. What makes this book so practical is that each of the stages of the curriculum development process can stand alone. Experienced school leaders can select the tools they need while others have a comprehensive set of procedures to guide them." -- Doug Walker, Senior Research Associate "From two of the best educational consultants who know how to develop and mentor instructional leaders on the successful implementation of standards-based curriculum, this is the best nuts-and-bolts guide for improving teaching and learning in our schools. Carr and Harris have been successful in every school district for which they have consulted. Now we all have access to their wonderful insight and experience in a book that is perfectly laid out with examples and worksheets to guide successful instructional improvement. If you're serious about instructional leadership, this is the one book you need on your desk." -- Kenneth W. Eastwood, Superintendent "As a school leader, I look for avenues to drive and support school change. This resource is a tool kit for teacher leaders and school leaders to create urgency for change and support change with these planning documents and templates. The work of Harris and Carr remains grounded in teacher leadership, ongoing support for administrators, and relevance. This resource has assisted in our academic turnaround and the building of a team of change agents among teachers and administrators." -- Joseph E. Hochreiter, Superintendent