NOTES:
Building Aligned Curriculum
Implementing a New Curriculum Unit
Step 2:
Adapt the Unit and Customize Learning Plan and/or Lessons
Video: Building Aligned Curriculum Toolkit
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUDbR50fEeM&feature=youtu.be]
Introduction:
This toolkit is designed to help a district or a team of teachers customize and
implement new curriculum units in ways that address their learning goals for
students. We suggest that you watch the video in its entirety first. Then, as
you focus on each step, use the related handout and review the specific
video segment.
Step 2 Video Segment: Begin at 2:20.
Rationale:
The second step in the process is to customize the unit to address your
instructional goals. You will use the initial ideas you prepared in Step 1 about
how you will strengthen, enhance, or adjust the information in the
Understanding by Design template at the beginning of the unit and begin to
adapt the unit and customize your lesson plans.
This step should be a collaborative process for you and your colleagues.
Although you will be adapting the unit to meet your own students’ needs,
working in teams encourages rich discussions that are key to supporting each
teacher’s efforts to prepare a unit that helps students meet the desired
outcomes.
Time: 4–6 hours spread over 3 sessions
Directions:
 Make a plan for implementing the unit:
o Decide the date you will start and end the pilot of the unit.
 Review the learning plan (Stage 3) for the lessons:
o Based on the student data, decide what part of the learning
plan you will customize.
o Divide up the work with your colleagues.
 Keep in mind the difference between customizing and rewriting a unit.
You want to make changes that address your goals while keeping the
integrity of the unit intact.
 If you need to review or refresh your team’s knowledge of
Understanding by Design, plan that time into your schedule.
Suggested Questions for Discussion:
 Look at the unit’s Learning Plan in Stage 3. Does it prepare your
students for the Performance Assessment?
 Will your students need any additional instruction beyond what is in
the unit to be ready to complete the Performance Assessment
NOTES:

independently?
Review the lessons.
o Will each lesson prepare your students for the Performance
Assessment?
o How many days will the average lesson take your students?
Suggested Materials and Resources:
 Your selected curriculum unit
 Curriculum maps, if available
 Understanding by Design resources
Products at the End of These Sessions:
 A plan outlining the work to customize the unit, including
responsibilities and dates
 Agreed-upon start and finish dates for implementing the unit
Connections to the Massachusetts 5-Step Educator Evaluation Cycle:
 Discussion Questions:
o What are examples of evidence you might use to show how
you adapted the MCU to meet district needs? How can you
connect this evidence to the Model Performance Rubric and
your Professional Practice Goal? For example, if your
Professional Practice Goal is related to collaboration, you
might collect evidence such as meeting minutes from team
meetings where you worked through the MCU adaptations.
o What supports (e.g., professional development) will you need
to lead the adaptation of the MCU? Can they be included in
your Educator Plan?