A Creative Approach to the Common Core Standards

The Da Vinci Curriculum

By (author) Harry Chaucer

Not available to order

Publication date:

12 April 2012

Length of book:

222 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

ISBN-13: 9781610486743

A Creative Approach to the Common Core Standards: The Da Vinci Curriculum challenges educators to design programs that boldly embrace the Common Core State Standards by imaginatively drawing from the genius of great men and women such as Leonardo da Vinci. A central figure in the High Renaissance, Leonardo made extraordinary contributions as a painter, architect, sculptor, scientist, engineer, and futurist. A Creative Approach demonstrates that schools can cultivate genius such as Leonardo’s while insuring that all students realize the core skills that are crucial to all citizens.

Chaucer’s Da Vinci Curriculum is relevant to public and independent educators who are creating schools-within-schools, charter schools, renewing schools, or rethinking their own classrooms. A Creative Approach serves as a model of biographical curricula that embraces the standards that Americans share as citizens in a democracy. The text is rich in theory that has been tested in real classrooms. By example, Chaucer demonstrates that high schools can be more demanding, imaginative, engaging, and joyous that most high schools tend to be today. By adapting the Da Vinci Curriculum, all educators can participate in this educational renaissance!

Table of Contents
List of Tables and Figures
PrefaceHow to Read This Book
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1The Common Core as Unprecedented Opportunity—Renaissance or Reform?
Chapter 2The Da Vinci Core Curriculum in Light of Contemporary Educational Theory
Chapter 3The Da Vinci Core Curriculum—Student, Teacher, and the Common Core
Chapter 4Using the Mind Well— Inductive and Socratic Instructional Practices: Becoming Disciples of Experience
Chapter 5The Da Vinci Teacher—Engaging Teachers, Engaged Students
Chapter 6Recipes from the Da Vinci Curriculum—Chef Leonardo
Chapter 7Details of the Da Vinci Curriculum and Alignment with the Common Core State Standards
Chapter 8Selected Examples of Rich Inductive Content from the 7-9^th Grade Da Vinci Curriculum
Chapter 9Selected Examples of Rich Inductive Content from the 10-12^th Grade Da Vinci Curriculum
Chapter 10Leonardo da Vinci—His Life and His Relevance to Life Today
Chapter 11Rounding out the Program—Satellite Programs and Common Questions
Chapter 12Putting Theory into Practice—New Schools, Schools Within Schools, and Curriculum Renewal. (DuFour and Evans 101.)
References
About the Author

Chaucer suggests the marriage of two very unlikely curriculum aspects, namely the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and a meaningful, biographical context for the standards to evolve. Aimed at middle and secondary educators, the Da Vinci curriculum provides an inductive curriculum that focuses on higher-order thinking skills in math and written and verbal communication highlighting the CCSS. The author suggests this framework but also advocates for a local curriculum that is rooted in a history of ideas. Chaucer does not stop there, however. Chaucer provides a rationale, models, suggestions, and opportunities for educators, through the Da Vinci curriculum, to reexamine their current curriculum practice and elevate the learning of both teachers and students to a natural, authentic, and engaging process. Rather than allowing the CCSS to come and go in their classrooms, educators now have a choice to upgrade their thinking about what meaningful teaching and learning can be in the middle and high school years for their students or simply go through the motions of implementing the CCSS. Summing Up: Recommended.