A Curriculum Review Checklist to Support Teaching for Robust Understanding

Abstract

Part of the professional work of teaching includes selecting curricular materials. The selection might be small (for a lesson or a project), medium (for a course one is teaching), or large (for a school or district). Sometimes the selection is done by one person, sometimes a committee. Whatever the circumstances, research suggests that having a framework for examining materials and methods is valuable. The first half of this report describes how such a framework might be designed in alignment with the goals of the Teaching for Robust Understanding approach while also supporting responsive instruction. The second half of the report provides an example, in checklist format, that the reader might use immediately. The checklist consolidates the research-based experience of veteran teachers into a useful tool for a newer teacher.