Essential+Questions

I. The Essential Questions
Remember that good essential questions have some basic criteria in common: ∑ ∑ They center on major issues, problems, concerns, interests, or themes. ∑ ∑ They are open-ended and resist a simple or single right answer. ∑ ∑ They are deliberately thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, and are usually higher order type questions. ∑ ∑ They require students to draw upon content knowledge and personal experience. ∑ ∑ They can be revisited throughout a unit, or beyond, to engage students in evolving dialogue or debate. ∑ ∑ They lead to other essential questions ∑ ∑ They are NOT just a rewrite of a teaching objective. ∑ ∑ While content often repeats, essential questions show the difference in the approach.

1. Do the questions highlight key concepts? 2. Do the questions relate to the skills? 3. Do the questions have a logical sequence? 4. Are the questions framed to engage the learners? 5. Are the questions open-ended? 6. Are the questions realistic for the time frame and level? 7. Are there an appropriate number of questions (not too few/too many)? 8. Are the questions non-repetitious?
 * Discuss the essential questions in terms of the following:**

Look over the Skills portion of the maps in respect to these points:**
 * II. Skills

1. Are the skills written as action verbs 2. Do the skills link to the essential questions? 3. Does the level of the skill match the level of study? 4. Are cross-curricular skills, or skills relating to the ESLRs also mentioned at some point?

Evaluate the Assessment portion of the map according to the following:**
 * III. Assessment

1. Have enough details been given about the type of assessment? 2. Do the assessments show evidence of precise skills? 3. Do the assessments reflect the essential questions? 4. Are the assessments appropriate to the level? 5. Do the assessments (overall) provide evidence of growth or regression over time?

Questions to which your answers were “No” show areas that need revision ?? Information adapted from Mapping the Big Picture training materials by Heide Hayes-Jacobs _________________________

[|Curriculum Map Review Guidelines] http://www.tnellen.com/alt/curr_maps.html December 2003