Episode 265: A Textbook Isn’t a Curriculum with Emily Makelky
About this episode
Darrin Peppard and Emily Makelky discuss the distinction between textbooks and true curriculum, emphasizing the importance of teacher leadership in curriculum development.
One of the most common mistakes schools make is confusing a resource with a curriculum. A textbook gets adopted. A program is purchased. A shiny new initiative is rolled out. And suddenly everyone says, “Great… we have a curriculum.” But that’s not curriculum. In this episode, Darrin sits down with Emily Makelky from the Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI) to unpack what curriculum actually means and why empowering teachers to lead curriculum development can transform how schools serve students. Drawing on years of classroom experience and consulting with districts across the country, Emily shares how leaders can move beyond resource adoption and build sustainable curriculum systems that reflect their community, their teachers, and their students. The conversation also explores how leadership teams can prioritize curriculum work, avoid overwhelming teachers, and create structures that support long-term improvement. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like “What should we really be teaching?” or “How do we align instruction across classrooms?” this episode offers practical insight for school and district leaders. In This Episode Why a textbook is not a curriculum The…
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- Episode 272: 10 Leadership Moves You Can Make This Week
- Episode 271: Planning Isn’t Enough—Here’s What to Do Before August
- Episode 270: If Your Plan Starts in August, You May Already Be Behind
- Episode 269: The Cost of Misalignment—and How to Get Your Team Back on Track
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