Carter Curricula Blog...
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Learn to Write Curricula
and
Teach with Eternal Fire
Classroom teacher, do you ever feel lost?
Do you ever feel like your teaching lacks energy? Is it lifeless?
Does the thought of escaping the classroom make you feel like things would be better?
Hi! I’m Carter.
I am a curriculum writer who has been in the classroom teaching young people English for nearly two decades. I’m a department chair. I’ve written curricula as a freelancer for a handful of clients (keep reading to see what they said about my curriculum writing skill). And I’m the sole proprietor of CarterCurricula.com.
But before all this I was lost when I began teaching.
Nearly two decades ago, fresh out of teacher training, I tried everything to spark learning in classroom.
I acted like a drill sergeant barking out orders to students…that didn’t work.
I filled up lessons with games…that didn’t work.
I piled on the activities…that didn’t work either.
Nothing worked.
I was lost and I had no map…
Even though I was lost, I still give it my all.
From the time I hopped out of bed until the time I crawled back in after a grueling day, I envisioned students soaring in the sky after sprouting wings (because of my teaching, of course).
After many days and nights of tears and hard work, it hit me. I understood what I needed to do next.
This is how it happened:
On a typical sunny day in Southern California while driving to work, I heard Grant Wiggins (Rest in Peace), an educator and author, on a podcast called “Talks with Teachers” talking about how to design curricula.
At that very moment, driving north on the I405, it felt like nobody else was around. It felt like I was all alone with the sun shining on me. Just me and Grant.
His words flew out of my speaker and sparked an eternal fire in me.
Right when I got to school, I ordered his book Understanding by Design (affiliate link) on “rush delivery” and I had the book in my hands the day after. When I started devouring it, I was like dog with his favorite chew toy, nobody could wrestle it out of my clutches. I poured over it, reading and rereading it, like a lost man who’d just found a map.
I HAD A MAP!
So I started to write my own curricula and got pretty damn good at it…it’s really challenging, and really fun, and makes a real difference on the learning.
Sure, it took time to for my curriculum writing skills to blossom but I kept learning (and keep learning).
Many years later I wrote curricula for my school and I started my own business writing curricula as a freelancer.
My curriculum writing journey continues as I explore other timeless teaching texts, similar to Understanding by Design.
I’ve got my eye on powerful works like Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Brown, Roediger, and McDaniel.
I’m also excited to dive into classics like The Art of Teaching by Gilbert Highet.
I’m looking forward to studying any book written by Paulo Freire like Pedagogy of the Oppressed or Pedagogy of Hope.
Oh! I can’t wait to explore What Works in Schools by Robert J. Marzano and Visible Learning by John Hattie!
Because of reading these books and book like them, I’ve developed a love for writing my own curricula.
As I mentioned earlier, a few people have said some really good things about my curriculum writing skills which I was so honored I felt I had to share some of what they said here:
- “Carter’s (curriculum writing) gift was truly remarkable…” – Pamela C. (teacher)
- “Carter’s curriculum shows exceptional quality and innovation.” – Jeff Q. (RPhD)
- “Carter’s designs transform learners.” – Alan A. (small business owner)
These are a only a few out of many wonderful things people have said about my curriculum writing over the years.
I give much of the credit to hard work and…
Reading Timeless Teaching Texts just like the one’s mentioned earlier.
Wow! It still gets to me. I’m sorry I’m not sorry but let me gush for a minute…They said this about me, a classroom teacher.
I get so giddy because, you see, people or machines who write curriculum in far away places and distant lands from the classroom, maybe in an ivory tower somewhere I don’t know, aren’t the best to write curricula for your students.
TEACHER, YOU ARE!
Let me repeat: YOU ARE THE BEST PERSON TO WRITE CURRICULA FOR YOUR STUDENTS. To hell with whatever anyone else says…
You, classroom teacher, are the best person for this most tremendous of tasks…
Because you know yourself. You know which strategies to use to spell bind your learners.
But most importantly…
Because you know your students. You know HOW they tick, HOW they learn best.
You say, “I thought teacher’s teach curricula and other people like experts write it.”
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can write your own curriculum for your learners and have exceptional results.
What if you don’t know where to start to write you own curricula?
OR…
What what if you don’t know exactly how to write curricula?
OR…
What if a “higher up” in suit and tie tells you not to write your own curricula? If you don’t flat out ignore that edict, then you can customize any curricula given to you.
Don’t sweat it…Over time we’ll learn together.
If you:
- Don’t know how to write curricula
- Are new to curriculum writing
- Are a seasoned ol’ curriculum writing veteran…
…I started Carter Curricula to walk with you.
Join my newsletter to learn to write curricula and teach with an eternal fire. If you join, once a month you can expect to receive a new review of a timeless teaching text that’ll breath fresh fire into your teaching.
These timeless teaching texts possess an ageless flame.
By reading those texts we’ll catch that flame and use it to energize our curriculum writing and teaching life.
Each month I’ll review a classic teaching text you need to know about! First up – “Understanding By Design” – the book that started my curriculum writing journey.
I’ll share my insights and exactly how you can apply these principles to create curricula that helps learners to actually develop understanding!
Here’s a preview of some of the timeless teaching texts we’ll explore together in upcoming newsletters:
-
“Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning” by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel – Discover the surprising truth about how students actually learn and retain information, backed by cognitive science research.
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“The Art of Teaching” by Gilbert Highet – A philosophical yet practical exploration of what makes teaching truly transformative beyond just methodology.
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“Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Paulo Freire – Challenge traditional education models and discover how to create authentic learning experiences that empower students.
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“What Works in Schools: Translating Research into Action” by Robert J. Marzano – Evidence-based strategies that have been proven to improve student achievement across diverse classroom settings.
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“Visible Learning” by John Hattie – A groundbreaking synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses revealing which teaching strategies actually have the greatest impact.
But this newsletter isn’t just about book reviews. It’s about building your confidence and competence. It’s about rekindling that eternal fire that first led you to teaching.
Subscribe and You’ll Get This:
• In-depth monthly reviews of must-read books about curriculum design, learning science, and educational psychology… …that’ll help you improve your curriculum design and teaching skills in ways YOU think best. No more one-size-fits-all professional development!
• A variety of education topics which focus on stirring you up to take charge of your own knowledge, skill, and understanding about curriculum design and teaching…so you’ll stroll into the classroom with a sense of competence and confidence every single day.
• Thinking for teachers who think like curriculum designers – bouncing around ideas about unit planning, lesson creation, and ways to build an entire course from the ground up…you’ll have inspiration to serve fresh bread to your learners. You’ll develop your own lessons and discover your own teaching style and voice.
• Practical ideas classroom teachers can actually use to design learning experiences that work…your classroom will buzz with excitement as students realize new things can occur each learning session. Never will they enter and assume the same old same old. Dig yourself and your class out of learning ruts.
• Clickable links to purchase the books reviewed…you can have access to these transformative texts right away. You don’t have to find new topics or search for quality resources—I’ll flame throw those into your inbox.
• Book takeaways you can use on Monday morning…these ageless ideas from the past can enter and be used in your present situation to brighten the eyes of your learners and sharpen their minds for new learning.
The knowledge in these timeless texts isn’t just theoretical—it’s practical power. Power that transforms you from a teacher who feels lost to one who designs learning experiences with confidence and purpose.
From a teacher who feels like fleeing to one who can’t wait to get to class each morning.
From someone who feels controlled by curricula to someone who controls it.
This transformation isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable when you connect with the eternal wisdom in these texts.
Why settle for being just a teacher when you can be a curriculum designer who teaches with purpose and passion?
SUBSCRIBE to my newsletter below and get the eternal fire which come from timeless teaching texts flame thrown right to your inbox.
Your Curriculum Writing and Teaching Co-Laborer,
Carter Curricula