How to Stay Caught Up with the Curriculum was a great blog because it is so true. I can attest to it because in our district we just got a new superintendent. Before school started one of the things she told us was...."We are getting rid of those pacing guides." Many of us cheered, others frowned. If pacing guides are going to be used, they should be done so only under the consideration of the classroom. Should you halt lessons for 5-8 students? No! However if 50% of your students don't understand a concept teachers continue on because they are afraid to fall behind. Is this what is best for our children? This article hits the head on the nail because we are forgetting that children learn more when they do! Teachers are so strapped that they don't feel like there is time for this type of learning to take place. I firmly believe that if a teacher sat down with their objectives and met with other teachers in the same level, they would be able to come up with activities that could hit many objectives at the same time. What is needed is a scope and sequence more so than a pacing guide.

EDU 653