Tips for Curriculum Planning {Mapping, Long Range Plans, Year-Long Planner}

As teachers are planning out their entire year of their classroom curriculum, they need to be thinking of the big picture.  The article titled Tips for Curriculum Planning {Mapping, Long Range Plans, Year-Long Planner}  provides templates and examples for teachers.  Below is an approach that the author uses while planning out the curriculum.

• "Begin by jotting down all of the major themes and big ideas that you'll be teaching.
• Think about read alouds you want to share with your class.
• How long will they take?
• When would be a good time to read them?
• Do they align with any concepts or themes? 
• After you have established the "Big Ideas" you can start looking at the nitty-gritty: specific standards, lessons, and pacing.
• Consider your district's requirements.  If they have created a pacing guide you'll want to use it to form your own long-range plans."