Curriculum Evaluation Rubric for English Language Arts: Amherst Regional Middle School
Link to Curriculum Evaluation Elements:
  Backward Design         Student Centered          Intellectual Rigor                  Preparing Students for 21st Century

 

Unit Title:___________________________________________                            ARMS ELA Curriculum Evaluation Rubric                      Grade Level:_________                

 

Goal/Objective

Progress

Backward Design

     Standards based curriculum

  • Explicitly links to departmental standards.
  • Clearly states what students should know and be able to do at the end of the unit of study.

     Enduring understanding

  • Focuses on a concept that is important to humanity and can be explored across disciplines, eras and cultures.

Essential questions

  • Guide the unit of study.
  • Allow teacher and students to investigate from a number of perspectives.
  • Lead to other questions that will engage students and deepen their inquiry.

Assessment

  • Clearly evaluates what students should know and be able to do.
  • Informs all ensuing instruction.

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

Notes:     

 

 

 

 

Student Centered

     Identity and personal connection

  • Sparks student passion and curiosity
  • Connects with issues and interests of middle grade students and allows for choice

     Capacity vs. deficit lens

  • Affirms student capabilities
  • Builds on prior learning

     Cognitive development

  • Recognizes stages of cognitive growth in young adolescent learners

     Cultural affirmation

  • Promotes the value of students’ individual and cultural identities
  • Develops respect for the culture of others

     Differentiated instruction

  • Includes flexible and varied teaching strategies, materials, and assessment geared to a wide variety of learners.

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

Intellectual Rigor

     Thinking and learning

  • Move students forward along a continuum of cognitive skills including: comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis.
  • Employ Mosaics of Thought strategies to develop these cognitive skills.

Emphasis on creativity

  • Fosters imagination.
  • Encourages a unique perspective, playfulness, invention, and intuition.

     Integration

  • Provides possibilities for connection across disciplines.

     Reflection

  • Provides explicit opportunities for students to consider what they have learned and how they have learned it.

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preparing Students for the 21st Century

      Authentic curriculum

  • Focuses on skills and knowledge that are critical for success in a moving, changing, global society.

      Curriculum for lifelong learning

  • Promotes habits of mind such as listening with understanding and empathy, thinking flexibly and interdependently, using evidence to support ideas, striving for accuracy, and persisting.
  • Builds clear and effective communication skills in speaking and writing.
  • Encourages critical reading of all text, both in traditional print and electronic media.
  • Fosters intellectual curiosity

      Curriculum to create caring  and ethical citizens

  • Develops empathy and understanding through multiple perspectives in literature.
  • Creates a classroom community where individuals are empowered to be successful through student choice and cooperative learning,

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

 

 

 

Starting                    In progress                   Meets goals

 

 

Notes: