Developing and measuring curriculum literacy in Texas teacher candidates
PERIOD:
TO
The purpose of this project is to develop, test, and measure the impact of a practice-based approach to developing teacher candidates’ curriculum literacy, or the ability to analyze and adapt K-12 instructional materials with attention to equity and to the academic and social needs of particular populations of children.
Using a randomized controlled trial, we will compare a special, three-session intervention delivered directly to teacher candidates focused on developing their curriculum literacy to business-as-usual coursework. Outcomes will initially be measured through a written assessment of teacher candidates’ curriculum literacy. In the second year of the project, we will follow all participating teacher candidates who become a teacher-of-record into their K-12 classrooms, where they will complete regular instructional logs and surveys about their practice. The overall aims of the project are to develop open-source curriculum materials for other teacher educators to use and to provide evidence that these materials are effective at supporting teacher candidates to use K-12 instructional materials competently.
