September 2006

Pilot Program Participants,

Thank you to those returning Oakcrest teachers who are willing to pilot the concept of curriculum mapping as lesson planning during the 2006-2007 school year. To those of you beginning your Oakcrest High School career, welcome to the school and welcome to the pilot program. The Administrative Team is committed to curriculum mapping as a tool that can enhance teaching and learning. We are also committed to supporting each of you through this endeavor knowing that any new project raises problems to be solved and questions that require reflection. Together we are confident that we can be successful in promoting good educational practice in the name of the students we serve.

We were fortunate to receive a Ralph Martin Grant last year that financed three videoconferences with Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs from Columbia University whose expertise is in interdisciplinary planning and curriculum mapping. In preparation for those videoconferences, four teachers (one who is now a supervisor) attended a one day workshop on curriculum mapping with Dr. Jacobs. Those individuals, along with me and one additional teacher, are members of the curriculum mapping pilot program support team. In addition, your department supervisor and each vice principal are available through the observation process to assist you in designing curriculum maps.

Following the videoconferences in February of 2006, the entire faculty participated in workshops in the month of March that utilized a simple curriculum map format proposed by Dr. Jacobs as a template for lesson planning for our Annual Three Day Interdisciplinary Curriculum Project. Each of those curriculum maps is available for viewing at oakcrest.net. by clicking on the icon on the right side of the page labeled Oakcrest 2006 Curricular Project.

Attached you will find the names and locations of the members of the Curriculum Mapping Support Team. There is also a copy of the Curriculum Mapping Template attached. This template will also be available on Oakcrest.net in September.

Twenty eight teachers will be participating initially in the pilot program. By way of introduction to the project, I would like to meet with small groups of teachers to provide a package of information relating to curriculum mapping. I have reviewed all of your schedules and have set up the following 10 possible meeting times to hopefully provide you with a level of convenience. They are as follows:

September 7 Period 1 Period 4/5 Period 12
September 8 Period 3 Period 11
September 11 Period 1 Period 4/5 Period 12
September 12 Period 3 Period 11

Please choose one of the sessions and RSVP to me via email to by September 1, 2006. In addition mark your calendar for the September 25th Video Conference with Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs which will be discussed at the intial meeting. Finally, see your supervisor for his or her lesson planning requirements, due dates, etc. as you begin the school year.

Our goal as a group is PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION. Thank you for your willingness to participate in the Curriculum Mapping as a Pilot Program in 2006-2007.

Sincerely,

Jeri-Lynn Gatto
Supervisor of Social Studies & Performing Arts


Curriculum Mapping Support Team

Sandy Allen, Math Teacher, Administrative Intern Room 102
Stacy Culleny, Math Teacher Room 111
Katie DeRichie, Social Studies Teacher, Administrative Intern, Room 316
(Maternity Leave until January 2007)
Lea Fitzpatrick, Supervisor of Science, Related Arts and Library Office D2
Jackie Fresne, English Teacher, Administrative Intern Room 319
Jeri-Lynn Gatto, Supervisor of Social Studies and Performing Arts Office 308

Video Conference with Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs
September 25, 2005 9:00-10:00 DLL