Millard Education Program
Taught Curriculum

Secondary Lesson Plan Form

Definition: Course Outcome

What the students are to know and do by the time they complete the course. The outcomes for each course are stated in the curriculum framework and curriculum guide.

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Definition: Enabling Objective (Skills/Concepts)

These are specific learning objectives appropriate for a given grade or course which define what a student is to know and be able to do in order to accomplish the outcomes. Enabling objectives are identified in both the curriculum framework and curriculum guide.

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Definition: Prerequisites

A particular course, knowledge or skill necessary to participate in a course or in an enabling objective. A prerequisite course might be, "Successful completion of French I," for this field in the French II database. Knowledge and skill prerequisites include "Knowledge of the metric system," or "The ability to use a microscope," in chemistry or biology, for example.

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Definition: Resources

Those resources which have been adopted by the district or support materials uniformly available in all buildings. Generally these resources have been purchased with MEP monies.

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Definition: Duration

The length of time it takes for teachers to teach and students to learn an enabling objective. The duration is stated in terms of days. Although, for purposes of the curriculum database, a day is considered as a 45-50 minute time period, teachers may need to adjust this time, especially in schools which have block scheduling.

Duration is often stated in terms of a range, such as 4-6 days, because it is not possible to determine exactly how long it will take for teachers to teach and students to learn an enabling objective.

Good teaching is often based on a spiral curriculum, one in which specific skills are introduced and later reviewed and expanded. Therefore, determining the duration is not always easy. Many skills and activities are intertwined and occur in an ongoing manner throughout a course.

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Definition: Multicultural

The curriculum cycle includes an infusion of multiculturalism for each curricular area as outcomes, assessments and materials are chosen. All schools have plans for the study of multicultural topics as well as the emphasis on human relations and sensitivity toward all races. We continuously provide experiences for students to obtain knowledge about and respect for the diversity and commonalities of cultures, histories and contributions of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans.

Included in this section of the database are multicultural activities and/or connections that should be included in the curriculum. Although the emphasis is on those ethnic groups mentioned above, other connections may be included as appropriate.

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Definition: Instructional Plan

The strategies, methods and activities that a teacher plans to use in delivering the written curriculum. Each teacher creates an instructional plan for each enabling objective in a course in his or her classroom. This is how the written curriculum becomes the taught curriculum.

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Definition: Assessments

Methodologies by which student performance and mastery are judged. An ongoing method to determine how a learner is progressing, often for the purpose of making decisions about what instruction is needed by the learner.

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Definition: Formative Assessments

Teacher or building created, periodic progress checks of learner progress. Examples include teacher made exams, unit quizzes, lab reports, projects, written assignments, demonstrations, oral presentations and performances.

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Definition: Summative Assessments

District created and used district-wide, summative assessments are cumulative or summary determinations of learner progress. They could be performance based, authentic experiences or criterion referenced exams, for example.

Summative assessments in the curriculum database refer to course assessments. They assess whether or not, and to what degree, a student has mastered the knowledge and/or skills articulated in the course outcomes.

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Definition: Differentiation

An approach to planning and teaching that recognizes, anticipates, and addresses the unique learning needs of all students. Differentiation involves varied approaches to curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Differentiation is accomplished through adaptations in content, process and product based on the unique learning needs--readiness, interest and style--of each student.

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Definition: Accommodation

Provisions or adjustments made in how a student accesses and demonstrates learning. Changes are made to provide a student equal access to learning and equal opportunity to demonstrate what is known.

Accommodation is not limited to students identified as special education students. Accommodation applies just as much to general education students who are slower learners, have different learning styles or may be poor/reluctant readers.

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Definition: Extensions/Enrichments

Provisions or adjustments made in how a student accesses and demonstrates learning. Changes are made to extend or enrich the student's learning.

Extensions and enrichment is not limited to students identified as high ability learners. Accommodation applies just as much to general education students who learn at a faster pace, would benefit from more in-depth learning or seem ready and willing to learn more.

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