"This book is a potent reminder of what it means when teachers teach whole human beings—their minds, hearts, and souls. Erickson helps us recall what all great teachers know: quality teaching is about building young lives."
—Carol Ann Tomlinson, Professor, University of Virginia
Author, The Parallel Curriculum

"Erickson sets the standard for concept-based curriculum. Her work offers a theoretically rich and eminently practical approach for constructing curriculum around rich, transferable concepts. The third edition extends this seminal work for the benefit of educators and their students."
—Jay McTighe, Educational Consultant, McTighe and Associates
Author, Understanding by Design

Help students analyze and synthesize information for a deeper understanding of big ideas!

This updated edition of the classic bestseller on curriculum design for quality instruction provides practical structures, planning tools, and specific classroom examples of effective teaching strategies. The author focuses on the need for curriculum and instruction that allows students to move beyond factual learning to a level of understanding where knowledge transfers readily to new situations and thinking becomes integrated. The book′s wide-ranging topics include:




Aligning local curriculum with state and national content standards
Using brain-based teaching methods
Developing higher-order thinking skills
Assessing and reporting student progress
Creating a lifelong love of learning in students

This invaluable resource encourages teachers to create an educational environment that challenges students′ personal intellect, engages their spirits, and fosters a greater understanding of the world around them.