Curriculum Models
Differentiated instruction is undeniably essential in every classroom. All educators need to be able to teach to the various learning styles, giving every student the opportunity to reach learning objectives. Below you will find three different curriculum models that you can find in classrooms today! Parallel Curriculum Model, Integrated Curriculum Model and Multiple Menu Model.
Parallel Curriculum Model:
PCM is a model made up of four components: Core, Connections, Practice and Identity. Together these parallels help students "see the whole" of a learning experience. This model helps students make connections, or bridges, across multiple subjects. This approach is intended to guide students to see beyond subject areas (math, language arts sciences) to bigger concept ideas. Each parallel component has a distinct function to reveal the unique value of each child. Read on to learn more about each component.
Core: foundational curriculum that covers the essential content and skills expected for all students. This aligns with state standards.
Connections: here students make connections to different subject areas, integrating, and applying knowledge across disciplines.
Practice: Here students use their knowledge in authentic ways. They extend their learning through real-world experiences. Students engage in problem solving, creative thinking through hands-on tasks, projects, simulation and other activities.
Identity: Here students have the opportunity to dive deeper into their interests, passions, and talents.
Resource used: The Parallel Curriculum A Design to Develop Learner Potential and Challenge Advanced Learners, Book. Expert
Integrated Curriculum Model:
This model was created with the gifted in mind by gifted learners in mind. The model focuses on advanced content knowledge through three dimensions: concepts, advanced content, process-product. Here is a breakdown:
Concepts Dimensions: Here students develop a deep conceptual understanding through big ideas and essential understandings.
Advanced Content Dimensions: Here content is taught at a more advanced, accelerated pace. Advanced content is above grade level and beyond what is expected of that particular age group. It promotes higher-order thinking and processing skills. Critical thinking skills are also enhanced through advanced content.
Process-Product Dimensions: Here students take ownership of their learning through inquiry-based approaches that allow students to develop a product. Students work collaboratively with the teacher to explore topics of interest.
Multiple Menu Model:
The Multiple Menu Model provides the teacher with six practical planning guides that all K-12 teachers can use. This model gives teachers choices to pick from to create lessons, units, curriculum to fit the needs of their students. The six components include: the Knowledge Menu, the Instructional Objectives and Student Activities Menu, the Instructional Strategies Menu, the Instructional Sequences Menu, the Artistic Modification Menu, and the Instructional Products Menu, which is composed of two interrelated menus, Concrete Products and Abstract Products Menu.
Knowledge Component: The curriculum developer decides what knowledge needs to be tuaght. Students become acquainted with the content. Student move through entry level knowledge to building on that knowledge to interacting with that knowledge.
Instructional Techniques: This component consists of 4 techniques. The first is Instructional Objectives and Student Activities, where the curriculum developer sets forth the general learning statements/objectives and student behavior. The next technique is Instructional Strategies Menu, where the curriculum developer arranges different learning activities for the students. The third technique is the Instructional Sequence Menu, where the curriculum developer chooses how to organize activities and instruction for the learner. And the last technique is Artistic Modifications Menu, where the curriculum developer adds their own "artistic" or creative "fingerprint" to the material.
Instructional Products Menu: Here students should develop concrete and/or abstract products to represent their learning. Concrete products could include such items as reports, essays, stories/skits, plays/dramas, time lines, dances, musical compositions, projects, presentations, etc Abstract products include behaviors (such as leadership activities related to an issue), increased self-confidence, and the acquisition of new methodologies (such as interviewing skills).
Resource used: Renzulli, J. S. (1988). The Multiple Menu Model for Developing Differentiated Curriculum for the Gifted and Talented. Gifted Child Quarterly, 32(3), 298–309. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/10.1177/001698628803200302
