Stuck Step Two

So you’re stuck on the benchmark review step. Maybe this troubleshooting chart will help.

REASON YOU ARE STUCK	ADVICE
The topic just isn’t working with one of the content areas.	Discard this topic. All content areas must have strong connections to the topic for the unit to be high quality.
There isn’t a lot of excitement about the topic.	If it feels like there are strong connections, this may not be a problem. Sometimes, the excitement doesn’t come until the focus question is formulated.
The topic covers too many benchmarks.	That’s okay at this point. In Step 3 you will consider a focus question, and it will narrow the scope of the unit and the applicable benchmarks.
The topic does not cover enough benchmarks.	This is okay, too. If a topic covers two benchmarks in each content area, this is probably enough. It is best to cover fewer benchmarks well.
The topic is a winner, but we are unclear about what to do with it.	Ask a curriculum consultant to come to the next meeting to help with suggestions. A community resource person may be able to meet with you and give information that will give the team some direction.
The meetings are not going well.	Rethink: team leadership, commitment to unit development at this time, need for additional support from administration, meeting time and place.