Curriculum Leadership: Readings for Developing Quality Educational Programs

by Forrest W. Parkay, Glen J. Hass, Eric J. Anctil

The ninth edition of Curriculum Planning is a selection of readings that presents the knowledge, skills, and alternative strategies needed by curriculum planners and teachers at all levels of education, from early childhood through adulthood. The book offers a variety of learning experiences for students with wide-ranging interests, learning styles, and backgrounds. Part I, “Bases for Curriculum Planning,” emphasizes the development of knowledge and skills in the three bases of the curriculum — social forces, human development, and learning and learning styles. Part II, “Developing and Implementing the Curriculum,” includes two new Chapter 5, “Developing the Curriculum,” examines curriculum designs that can be used to develop (i.e., write) curricula. And, Chapter 6, “Curriculum and Instruction,” focuses on the interrelationships between curriculum and instruction. Part III, “The Curriculum in Action,” emphasizes the application of curriculum planning skills for educational programs for children; early, middle, and late adolescents; and adult learners. At each level, current trends, innovations, and issues are examined from both theoretical and practical viewpoints.

600 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2009

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curriculum isn't the most interesting thing to read about, but I did like how this book was filled with articles by so many different authors, researchers, and "gurus" to get a variety of experiences and perspectives.

[Leanna Aker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is designed in an interesting way, each chapter with a short editor blurb about various curriculum topics, followed by a handful of short articles from different authors about the topic. In this way, this book allowed me to read many diverse viewpoints about a certain topic. I would argue that the book isn't so much a book about curriculum, or leadership, and that is why I'm not giving it 5 stars. There are chapters about human development and middle level education, for example. While these are certainly related to curricula, I found that the articles included in each chapter didn't strictly relate to curriculum.

Nevertheless, a good read with diverse viewpoints about important education topics.

[Busky3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a far better book than Curriculum 21. It compiles a very expansive collection of essays and papers written/published about the constructing of curriculum that span a wide array of viewpoints. This makes one appreciate more the complexity and subjectivity inherent in the process unlike Curriculum 21's more rigidly didactic approach.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the chapter introductions can be a bit dense, there is a solid compilation of journal articles about education and leadership in this textbook. It is a collection that I'm actually looking forward to continuing to explore even though my course is officially over.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a grad class.

[Vanna]

Graduate school book #1