Backward Designing

I have been reading Understanding by Design published by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe. It affirms what I do as a teacher and administrator at my local school. We are currently using achievement data and curriculum standards to develop classroom assessments prior to planning lessons. Beginning with the end in mind is what it is all about! Effective teaching is starting with the outcomes one expects from students. Those outcomes are then developed into essential questions to create an inquiry based learning environment for the learner. I can't wait to read more! It truly is about the LEARNING not the TEACHING!