To Laminate or Cut/Keep/Create Curriculum

This morning at ASCD's Fall Conference on Teaching and Learning, author Heidi Hayes Jacobs spoke about upgrading curriculum for 21st century learners, or what she calls "Curriculum 21." Her forthcoming ASCD book of essays on the topic is due out in January 2010.

In her presentation, Jacobs questioned a lot of the stagnation and resistance to change in education. But don't call her a reformer: "I don't like being called a reformer; I'm into new forms," she told the crowd. Particularly, this involves new forms for school curriculum that are shaped by looking at what schools are doing and asking what we should we cut, keep, and create. "You can choose to "laminate" or cover the curriculum, or you can look at what needs to be cut, kept, and created so that students are learning today what they need for the future."

In your school, is curriculum "laminated," or are you in the ongoing process of deciding what to cut, keep, and create?

Read more about this presentation on the Conference Daily site.