PLC Team Activities

Starting Steps
Planning a Semester Planning a Unit in that Semester
Fraser High School Math Teachers: Amy Jager, Scott Ladson, Kyle Ray
Original Sep 8, !!8 " Re#ised J$ne %, !&'
How to create a unit/theme based curriculum
Step &: (e#elop an $nderstanding o) the state standards
Step : (i#ide the state standards into ma*or $nits+themes ,-.8/
Once these $nits ha#e 0een decided, create a )lo1 o) the $nits ,logical and se2$ential
order/
Step 3: 4denti)y all the standards that )all $nder $nit+theme
Step ': Loo5 at all the standards in a $nit+theme and de#elop .' ma*or essentials per $nit
How to create an individual unit:
Step &: Meet as a 6L7 and determine the )lo1 o) the $nit ,1hich standards sho$ld 0e )irst,
second, etc/8
o (etermine ho1 many assessments are needed and 1here they sho$ld 0e placed
,logical location/
Step : 4denti)y the 2$estions )rom important standardi9ed assessments ,state test, A7T, etc8/
that relate to the state standards in the $nit8
o 6ay close attention to the 1ording o) each 2$estion8 O$r $nit test m$st ha#e
similar 1ording to help prepare st$dents
Step 3: :rite each test in the $nit
o 7reate three 2$estions per standard8 This 1ill allo1 st$dents the opport$nity to
miss a 2$estion 0$t still pro#e mastery o) the standard8
O) the three 2$estions, one sho$ld 0e easy, the second sho$ld 0e
middle le#el, and the third sho$ld 0e di))ic$lt8
Step ': 7reate 2$i99es and small )ormati#e assessment to 0e gi#en thro$gho$t the $nit8
o The 2$i99es sho$ld match the 1ording o) the test and align to standards
Step %: As a 6L7 team, thin5 a0o$t acti#ities that relate to the $nit8
o Acti#ities are de)ined as any pro0lem p$t into conte;t ,doesn<t necessarily in#ol#e
data collecting and mo#ement aro$nd classroom/
o All acti#ities m$st ha#e a p$rpose and sho$ld 0e care)$lly 1ritten to match to
standards in the $nit8
o Acti#ities sho$ld hit as many standards as possi0le and pro#ide meaning+conte;t
)or st$dents
o =ach acti#ity sho$ld co#er ne1 standards 0$t still spiral 0ac5 1ith old material8
o Loo5 to te;t0oo5, online, and peers to help )ind ready.made acti#ities and ideas
)or ne1 acti#ities8
o Ma5e s$re the acti#ity incl$des in)ormal )ormati#e assessments to monitor st$dent
$nderstanding thro$gh acti#ity and ne1 material 0eing presented8 This )ormati#e
assessment is the dri#ing )orce 0ehind the pace and )lo1 o) the lesson8
Step -: Loo5 at ho1 technology can 0e incorporated into acti#ities and $nit8
o Technology sho$ld 0e $sed as a tool to help st$dents see the content in a
di))erent 1ay8
o Technology sho$ld 0e $sed to help st$dents demonstrate their $nderstanding
1itho$t getting 0ogged do1n 1ith comp$tation8 This 1ill allo1 st$dents to
de#elop higher order thin5ing s5ills and gain con)idence in their math a0ility8
Step >: S$pplement $nit 1ill )ormal notes and practice pro0lems 1here needed8
o ?otes sho$ld 0e $sed AFT=R acti#ities8 This 1ill allo1 the a0ility )or st$dents to
re)erence the acti#ity and create indi#id$al meaning 0ehind the notes and
concepts 0eing presented8
Step 8: Find+create home1or5 assignments that align to the standards and acti#ities in the $nit8
Step @: Teach the $nitA
Step &!: Re)lect on the $nit, and record any changes that sho$ld 0e made )or )$t$re years8