Rigorous Curriculum Design
Newport Mesa Unified School District

Greetings and
Introductions
1. What is your name, position,
and school?
2. Why is it important that the
teachers from NMUSD develop
a new K-12 curriculum?
3. How will students and teachers
benefit from a clearly articulated
curriculum?
Learning Intentions
By the end of the day you will
 Understand the context for the development of
the NMUSD Rigorous Curriculum Design (RCD)
Model.
 Examine the connection between the
components of RCD.
 Analyze the learning experiences included in
Unit 2, and plan for implementation.
 Examine the structure of the RCD Wiki.
Put Your Best
Thinking Together
Clock Partners
 What does the word rigor mean to
you? What components should
be included in a rigorous
curriculum design?
 How are standards, assessment,
and instruction connected within a
strong curriculum?
 In order for teachers to deeply
implement the components of a
rigorous curriculum so that students
benefit, what processes and
supporting structures need to be in
place?
 What changes have occurred in the
21st century that set the stage for
the CCSS and Rigorous Curriculum
Design?
In the 21st century, the question is
not what do you know, but rather
what can you do with what you
know and how do you update your
knowledge continuously?
—Tony Wagner, 2009
8
SelfMotivating
SelfMonitoring
Learning,
for the
Future
SelfModifying
View a Video
Read About The
Formative Process
Students as
leaders of
their own
learning
The Formative
Process is an
approach to
learning that
combines many
components
12:00
Partners
What would your students say about you?
Common Core State Standards
A Portrait of
Students Who are
College & Career
Ready
3:00
Partners
Stepping Up to the Challenge
We are Here!
2012- 2013
2011- 2012
2010- 2011
Pilot 20132014
Final
2014 -2015
Smarter
Balanced
Assessments
Pilot and Final
SBAC Sample Selected Response
SBAC Sample Performance
Assessment
Where have
we been? Where do we
want to be?
6:00
Partners
Based on the information about learning for the future,
the formative process, the CCSS (ELA) and Smarter
Balanced assessments, what next steps need to be
taken in planning for students’ learning experiences?
Learning Intentions
By the end of the day you will
 Understand the context for the development of
the NMUSD Rigorous Curriculum Design (RCD)
Model.
 Examine the connection between the
components of RCD.
 Analyze the learning experiences included in
Unit 2, and plan for implementation.
 Examine the structure of the RCD Wiki.
Rigorous Curriculum Defined
A rigorous curriculum is an inclusive set of the
following intentionally aligned components
organized into sequenced units of study
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Page 3
Clear learning outcomes (CCSS)
Aligned formative assessments
Engaging learning experiences
Effective instructional strategies
Rigorous Curriculum Defined
Rigor refers to a level of difficulty and the
ways in which students apply their knowledge
through higher-order thinking skills. Rigor
also means reaching for a higher level of
quality in both effort and outcome.
Four Parts of
Rigorous Curriculum Design Model
1. Context and
Big Picture
Connections
2. Building the
Foundation
3. Designing
the Units
of Study
4. Implementing
the Units
Building the
Foundation
5. Construct the Unit Planning Organizer
4. Prepare a Pacing Calendar
3. Guidelines for Assigning Standards
2. Name the Units of Study
1. Prioritize the CCCS
Priority Standards
Priority
Standards
(Essential)
Connecting
Standards
Step 1: Prioritize the ELA Standards
Steps 2, 3, 4: Name and Pace
Units, Connect Standards
Limit the number of
priority standards per
unit in order to ensure
that students reach the
desired level of mastery.
Steps 2, 3, 4: Name and Pace
Units, Connect Standards
Build in a buffer period
for remediation and
enrichment between
units of study.
Steps 2, 3, 4: Name and Pace
Units, Connect Standards
Correlation Chart: Check to
see that every prioritized
standard is addressed in at
least one unit of instruction.
Units of Study with
Authentic Performance Tasks
Engaging
Scenario
Common
Formative PreAssessment
Common
Formative PostAssessment
View a Video
Science, 6th Grade
View the engaging
scenario for a 6th
grade unit of study
on cellular structure.
Rob Olazagasti from The School
of the Future in New York City
Construct an explanation for the
functions of specific parts of cells
including: nucleus, chloroplasts, and
mitochondria, and the structure of the
cell membrane and the cell wall for
maintaining a stable internal
environment.
Literacy Standards
 Produce clear and coherent writing in
which the development, organization,
and style are appropriate to task,
purpose and audience
 Draw evidence from informational
texts to support analysis, reflection,
and research
Science,
6th
Grade
9:00
Partners
 Describe the effective
practices included in
the learning
experiences depicted
in this video clip?
 What are your
thoughts and
questions about the
engaging scenario?
Task 1 (4 days)
Create and present
an annotated
diagram of a cell
• Observe cells in a
microscope and record
observations in science
journal
• Detail knowledge with
notes from taken from
four sources (text,
articles, on-line)
Task 2 (3 days)
Build models
comparing structures
in NYC to the parts/
functions of a cell
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Task 3 ( 7 days)
Write a report on
one part of a cell.
Include the function
...
Task 4 (3 days)
Create a lesson
plan that outlines
your presentation
including . . .
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Building the
Foundation
5. Construct the Unit Planning Organizer
4. Prepare a Pacing Calendar
3. Guidelines for Assigning Standards
2. Name the Units of Study
1. Prioritize the CCCS
NMUSD Unit Planning
Organizer
Examine the Unit Planning Organizer
Examine the Unit Planning Organizer
Examine the Unit Planning Organizer
Examine the Unit Planning Organizer
Examine the Unit Planning Organizer
Examine the Unit Planning Organizer
Examine the Unit Planning Organizer
Learning Intentions
By the end of the day you will
 Understand the context for the development of
the NMUSD Rigorous Curriculum Design (RCD)
Model.
 Examine the connection between the
components of RCD.
 Analyze the learning experiences included in
Unit 2, and plan for implementation.
 Examine the structure of the RCD Wiki.

Analyzing Unit 2
Rotate Into
Each Section
Each Section
is 60 minutes
Session A
• Engage in
an Expert
Jigsaw Re.
One Task
• Create
Graphic for
Unit 2
Session B
• Examine
Unit 2 in
the Wiki
• Complete a
Wiki Walk