Texas Social Studies Framework - Department of Geography ...

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ESTABLISH A CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP
TEAM
Educators selected to serve on the curriculum leadership
team should reflect a wide range of expertise and roles
within the school district. Types of expertise that will
insure a successful curriculum development effort will
include:
• experience in curriculum development, revision,
and implementation;
• a well grounded knowledge of history and the
social sciences;
• knowledge and skills in instructional technology;
• familiarity with the TEKS for Social Studies and
other subject areas; and
• a knowledge of curriculum evaluation.
While not every member of the leadership team needs
each of these areas of expertise, the team as a whole
should incorporate these areas of expertise. Roles
represented on the leadership team might include central
office personnel, supervisors/specialists, department
heads and grade level coordinators, classroom teachers,
parents, and other interested members of the community.
A broad representation of roles will insure that the views
of various stakeholders are represented and considered as
the curriculum development process moves forward.
The curriculum leadership team charged with the
implementation of the TEKS for Social Studies has an
important responsibility. While the responsibilities of
this team may vary from district to district, they will be
likely to include most, if not all of the following
activities.
Determining the Curriculum Development Tasks That
Need to Be Completed
The leadership team must identify the curriculum
development tasks that need to be completed and
develop specifications for the processes and formats that
will be followed in the development of written curriculum
documents. At a minimum these tasks will include
determining the current status of the K-12 social studies
curriculum, formulating a philosophy statement for the
K-12 social studies program, identifying the changes
needed in the current social studies curriculum which are
necessitated by the TEKS for Social Studies and other
considerations (needs assessment), developing the
general scope and sequence document, developing the
Appendix A: How Should Districts Go about the Curriculum Development Task?
grade level and course documents, and developing the
instructional unit documents.
Establishing the Time Line for the Completion of the
Tasks
Curriculum work takes time. It cannot be accomplished
effectively in two days after students have left for
summer vacation. The documents that are produced are
the end result of discussion, reflection, and decision
making. A district might reasonably consider a three or
four year schedule for the completion of the tasks related
to the preparation and implementation of the social
studies curriculum.
• Year One: Activities for year one might include
planning the process for curriculum work in the
social studies, consideration of the current status
of the social studies curriculum, identification of
the changes necessitated by the TEKS for Social
Studies and other forces, developing the
statement of philosophy, and preparing the
general scope and sequence document.
• Year Two: During year two, activities might
center on the development of grade level and
course guides, determining staff development
needs, providing for the professional development
of classroom educators, and developing
model instructional units.
• Year Three: The third year, activities might
include the development, field testing, and
review of the instructional units; providing
additional professional development, preparing
for full implementation of the social studies
program during year four, and establishing an
evaluation procedure for the completed program.
• Year Four: Full implementation of a comprehensive
social studies curriculum occurs.
Identifying the Resources Necessary to the Completion
of the Tasks
Physical, human, and financial resources are necessary to
insure the development of good curriculum. Teams and
individuals charged with particular curricular development
tasks will accomplish little without provisions for
adequate time, resources, or rewards for the tasks which
they are asked to complete. Word processors, software
and templates, staff development, resource materials,
released time, and extended contracts probably will need
to be provided if the implementation of the TEKS for
Social Studies is to be fully realized. Curriculum
development should be a budgeted item for every school