Heidi Hayes Jacobs

3.3621 learners

Heidi Murkoff’s *Mapping the Big Picture* is a definitive guide for K-12 educators and leaders aiming to transform schools into data-driven learning communities. Centered on curriculum mapping, the book lays out a actionable framework to align instruction, assessments, and academic standards, replacing experience-based teaching with targeted, student-centered strategies. It breaks down four foundational pillars for building a data-informed culture—shared vision, resource support, SMART goals, and adaptive tech tools—while addressing common barriers like teacher resistance, time constraints, and siloed leadership. Through three in-depth case studies of real districts (West Seneca Central, Colonial Elementary, West Chester East High), Murkoff demonstrates how curriculum mapping closes gaps in curriculum coherence, fosters collaborative professional learning, and drives measurable student achievement gains. Readers will learn to leverage multiple data sources, sustain long-term reform, and build a culture where every decision prioritizes student growth.