In the Greenville school district we have a vertical/horizontal plan for 7th grade math. On this map vertically, the course it outlined briefly. Horizontally, you have years 3-8th grade. I, personally, have found that having this map is very very useful. To be able to see what your students should know and what they will have to know for the next year has aided my vastly in my planning, saving me time. The only thing about it is I would change is I would accompany the map with a pacing guide which has dates and the estimated time you need/should spend on each objective/standard; the current map leaves too much freedom for interpretation.
I have a lot of plans for the Summer 2009. Having already taught this course in the 2008-2009 school year, I feel as if I have a good grasp of how long we should spend on a standard. One roadblock is time. Time, time, time, summer school is so condensed. How can I possibly teach all of the material in the 7th grade math frameworks? hmmm... well, how can I teach most of the material in the 7th grade math frameworks? Am I ready to make that call? Yes, I have taught the course and I know the standardize test, but isn't every objective in the framework equally as important? Don't I need to teach them all? I know this is impossible to do in one summer. It's barely possible to do it in one full academic year. This is a lot of pressure and responsibility for one person; boy, am I glad I have a partner. Even though I have serveral concerns I am ultimately excited to map the curriculum for 7th grade math this summer. I belief this well help me plan and map out the entire school year for 2009-2010. It will help me plan more efficiently.
Source(s): 2007 Mississippi Mathematics Framework Revised (www.mde.k12.ms.us)
