Why?

=Why Use Curriculum Mapping?:=

**Communication & reflection:**

 * They also get teachers talking about what curriculum they actually teach—or, in some cases, don't teach.
 * Teachers are able to get a more concrete notion of what the teachers in the grade or course levels below them cover and assess (in previous years), and what is expected in the grade or course levels above what they currently teach.
 * Helps communicate to parents/caretakers what is being covered in the classroom.
 * Give information on what goes on in other classrooms or subject areas.
 * As teachers stand back and analyze a curriculum map, teaching strategies become clearer. The teacher is better able to create a balance between teacher-directed concepts and student-generated investigations.
 * It's going to help in coordinating the curriculum between the elementary and the high school.

Locate gaps, repetitions, areas for integration, assessment:

 * Curriculum maps help school districts know if students are learning the same skills and concepts year after year.
 * Making the maps and evaluating the maps together at the start, middle and end of each school year helps teachers to realize gaps in teaching, areas that need re-teaching.
 * Avoids repetition of material ( How many times were you taught the Solar System or the Greenhouse Effect?).
 * Helps collaboration or create interdisciplinary units of study.
 * Cross-curricular connections (interdisciplinary units of study) become more evident and can be intentionally promoted. This enables students to develop real world application for concepts.
 * Teachers can benefit from sharing resources, correlating field trips, and building grade level libraries/resources.
 * Curriculum mapping can also facilitate assessment planning.
 * Mapping can be used to ensure that literacy components to be incorporated in all learning areas.

Authentic Alignment to Standards:

 * Curriculum mapping will provide a school/district with an authentic view of the operational curriculum. It provides the framework for building teaching units.
 * Identify essential elements in the curriculum and helps in planning, aligning and refining the curriculum.
 * Mapping curriculum enables teachers to assure that they allocate sufficient time to cover each standard and objective.
 * The maps are used in combination with teacher made assessments, or state test scores, the teachers can rebuild their maps to fortify areas of weakness.
 * To make sure the classroom lessons are aligned with the state's education standards.

Accountability:

 * Improve the learning process for students.
 * School administrators engaged in curriculum planning and fine tuning.

New Teachers:

 * New teachers will be able to tap t=into the CM with ease.