If you have made it through even one week in the classroom, you already know the important role that curriculum planning plays in the professional life of a teacher. And if you consider where you want your students to be at the end of the term or year, you will quickly see that without a roadmap, there is little chance that you and your students will arrive at that destination. Some of the topics that can really boost the effectiveness of the curriculum you teach are found in this section. Explore the topics on the left or click below on areas that most interest you. What to do right now to make your curriculum effective Infusing higher-order thinking skills into your lesson plans Becoming more knowledgeable about your subject matter Creating a year-long curriculum plan that works Evaluating your lesson plans Preparing for formal and informal evaluations of lesson plans Making sure your curriculum teaches State standards Websites for lesson plans Informally and formally assessing your students Additional tips for success with your curriculum