With teacher and leader workloads and burnout at an all-time high, it's time for de-implementation: de-prioritizing and deleting the less effective, higher-cost initiatives we implement in schools. De-implementation allows us to focus on practices that have more supporting evidence and a higher probability of positive impact on students, and at…

In the ongoing effort to improve instructional standards in our nation's urban public schools, the Council of the Great City Schools has released resources to help districts determine the quality and alignment of instructional materials at each grade level; to ensure that materials for English language learners are rigorous and aligned to district…

Students' access to smartphones continues to grow. Use of tablets and e-readers continues to grow in the classroom. Whenever a large purchase of mobile devices is made for education, the very next question asked is, "Now what?" It is the planning for and using of the devices as part of an overall approach to the curriculum, locally, that…

The article presents practical guidelines to help in devising curriculum extension activities for gifted students. Three levels of planning curriculum extension materials are considered: (1) preliminary factors; (2) analysis of objectives, skills, and techniques; and (3) research on available resources. (CL)

A practical strategy to help school administrators improve curricula is presented. (MJL)

Examines questions, answers, levels, stages, roles, climate, and support as aspects of school-level decision making involved in introducing development education in the school. (RH)

Aspects of curriculum affecting the success of mainstreaming handicapped students are considered. The concepts of explicity, hidden, and absent curricula are discussed relative to curricular adaptations. A "Curriculum Adaptation Guide" is presented to assist in the selection and adaptation of curricular elements. (Author/DB)

Describes a middle school program in Wisconsin that has a curriculum based on basic skills and provides exposure to special areas such as art, business, education, foreign language, music, home economics, physical education, and industrial education. (MD)

Word processing can be integrated into business courses, even if the school system doesn't have funds for word processing equipment. The basics of word processing have always been taught by business education teachers; however, it is now time to integrate more specifics regarding word processing skills, terminology, and concepts. (CT)

Argues for a "zero-base" revision of school curricula in order to weed out poorly functioning components. Outlines procedures for carrying out such a revision at both the district and building levels. (WD)

Discusses the use of educational impact statements and presents a functional process model for change facilitation. A specific example of the adaptation of this process is provided, going through the steps of: preplanning, strategy selection, implementation, and adoption, evaluation, research, and modification, monitoring, and follow-up. (RAO)

Intended for teachers of severely emotionally disturbed children, the article reviews the various components of case histories and clinical observations, focusing on how to read the material and ferret out the important issues that will help in planning classroom strategies. A case history of an autistic boy is presented to illustrate the process.…

A patchwork approach to curriculum planning can cause inconsistencies. To avoid this a five-step approach is presented. (MD)

Three papers focus on adapting typical college preparatory curricula for dyslexic secondary students. The rationale and necessity for such adaptation are examined in the first, while the second addresses three major problems (too much information, lack of prepackaged curricula, lack of basic skills). The final paper considers classroom application…

Explores several approaches to infant/toddler education and offers suggestions for developing an effective program that reflects the best of what is known about how infants and toddlers grow and learn. (RH)