Proposed Shifts in Curriculum Planning
Targeting Students through Goals
Research and assessments illustrate the varying levels that students enter the same classroom. In one class period, I've had fourth grade readers and college-ready readers. Differentiation can no longer be ignored. Unfortunately, the current educational system shows that if it is not tested and it is not prioritized in the curriculum framework, any idea or program will be pushed aside. Curriculum designers and educators must develop a scope and sequence that prioritizes differentiation in the attainment of a standard. As students progress, they continually strive to reach the highest level. As an educator, a curriculum organized by Marzano's Learning Goals removes some of the frustration in planning, especially for new teachers. It is explicit on what students on each level should be doing and how they will be assessed to determine mastery. Furthermore, the differentiation in the curriculum guides provide a path on grouping students and designing levels that best meet the students' needs.
Marzano's New Taxonomy
Marzano's New Taxonomy
- Level 4-Knowledge Utilization
- Requires students to use knowledge in the context of a robust task and addressing real-world issues
- Level 3-Analysis
- Higher-ordered thinking which focuses on inferences and analyzing implicit knowledge; extends beyond what was taught
- Usually selected as the on-target goal for the class
- Level 2-Comprehension
- Identify, articulate, and represent major ideas and supporting details of knowledge being studied
- Level 1-Retrieval
- Often looked at as the repeating step of knowledge; students recognize and recall basic information
Learning Goal Scale and Mental Processes
Half-Point Scale Indicators
High School Math Example
PD OPPORTUNITY
provide Marzano Research's guide to scaling learning goals in the new taxonomy to groups or pairs of teachers in the same grade level. have them level two to three goals for their course and then have the teachers break and regroup with teachers both above and below their grade/course level. Have teachers below the teacher's course to review level 2 information and teachers of grades above to review level 4. This will also promote a vertical alignment through teacher collaboration as well.
Marzano, R. J. (2009). Designing & teaching learning goals & objectives. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Research Laboratory.