Standard 4:  Curriculum and Instructional Planning

The ESOL teacher designs coherent, rigorous instructional units and lessons that include measurable learning outcomes, optimize student interaction, support the needs of all learners, are guided by SLA principles and aligned to the MA ELPS. 


Standard 4: Curriculum and Instructional Planning (document)

Follow the link below to access Standard 4: Curriculum and Instructional Planning- supporting explanation, summary, and sample applications on the ACLS MA Professional Standards interactive webpage. 

Using Backward Design to Develop Unit and Lesson Plans (video): 

This video provides a helpful introduction to the backward design approach to planning, and explains why and how this planning tool is so powerful and effective. 

Curriculum Planning Templates and Review Guides 

This collection of thoughtfully crafted templates provides structure to ensure that ESOL curriculum scope and sequence, unit, and lesson plans include all necessary elements. Review guides are provided as a tool to support program leadership for ongoing review of program curricula.    

Curriculum & Instructional Planning PD

Using the MA ELPS to Inform Instruction: In this multi-part workshop, you will expand your knowledge of the MA ELPS and learn how to apply the standards to your teaching practice. (Sept. 2024)

ESOL Curriculum and Instructional Planning Series: Select or attend all from this multi-workshop series that provides useful strategies to integrate the principles of the backward design approach,  refine a curriculum scope and sequence, and plan units and lessons.

Curriculum Review and Coaching available by request: Programs can request FREE customized support to help revise curriculum scope and sequence, unit and lesson plans. 

Teaching Skills That Matter

Teaching Skills That Matter Toolkit, Resources, and PD

Massachusetts promotes the Teaching Skills That Matter toolkit and offers additional supporting resources to promote integrating skills that matter to adult learners using approaches that work across critical topics. The Introduction to Teaching Skills That Matter Self-Directed Online PD course takes approximately 3 hours to complete. It provides participants with a detailed introduction to the elements of the TSTM framework. It explains how to access and use the information and materials in the TSTM Toolkit to foster the development of learner skills through effective approaches in meaningful focus areas. This course was developed in collaboration with the ELA and Math PD Centers and is offered bimonthly (Check SABES Calendar for dates).

These collections provide additional resources for two of the approaches featured in TSTM, project-based learning and problem-based learning. 

Curriculum & Instructional Planning Resource Collection

This collection of resources includes a variety of helpful tools and resources to support your design of coherent, rigorous instructional units and lessons guided by SLA principles and aligned to the MA ELPS. These resources will help you identify measurable learning outcomes,  optimize student interaction, and support the needs of all students.

SABES CALENDAR