Curriculum change is one of the most difficult educational initiatives to implement. Teachers are already stretched thin and often feel overwhelmed by new mandates, district policies, and even building-level procedures that affect their instructional practice. Curriculum changes are especially challenging when they require teachers to shift from previous, effective teaching strategies. This is especially true when a new curriculum is implemented in a school where teachers have been teaching for years and know their students well.
The following are some key factors to consider when implementing a new curriculum.
1. Provide sufficient time for teacher learning with the new materials.
Educators need opportunities to study and work with the curriculum prior to implementation, as well as during the first year of the new curriculum. This should include grade level and department meetings, PLC times, and school-wide professional learning opportunities. Ideally, these learning opportunities also provide an opportunity for teachers to discuss and plan for pacing of lessons, units, and course-long instructional sequences with the new materials.
2. Provide opportunities for teachers to review assessment data from the new curriculum.
Providing teachers with time to review assessment data from the new curriculum is an important step in reducing resistance to the change. This data can be shared in staff meetings and can help identify trends and successes in student learning that will bolster the value of the curriculum. Educators can also use this data to support their belief that their students are capable of meeting the higher expectations of the new curriculum.