Veteran classroom English/ELA teachers
 Literacy specialists for Durham Public
Schools
 Professional development providers
 Understanding by Design practitioners
 PLC process supporters
 Geeks

It is…
 an approach to
curriculum unit
planning
 focused on teaching
for understanding
 committed to
backward
design/mapping
 based on transparent
learning outcomes &
expectations
It is NOT…
 a prescriptive program
for instructional
planning
 an exclusionary
educational
philosophy
 a “cure all” for
instructional woes
 a lesson planning
requirement weapon
Identify desired results
 Determine acceptable evidence
 Plan learning experiences and instruction

It is…
 a collaborative
group for
instructional
planning
 used to organize
teachers into
working groups
 a way to build a
sense of community
It is NOT…
 just another thing
teachers have to do
 an excuse to make
teachers complete
more paperwork
 a substitute for
individual teaching
planning time
What do we want students to learn?
 How will we know they are learning it/
have learned it?
 What do we do if they do not learn it?
 What do we do if they already know it?

UbD
PLC
Identify desired results
What do we want
students to learn?
Determine acceptable
evidence
How will we know they
are learning it/ have
learned it?
Plan learning
experiences and
instruction
What do we do if they
do not learn it?
What do we do if they
already know it?