To be honest, I am probably better at designing lessons based on state standards. When working on new curriculum, I do google searches with the state standard and use AI to see what ideas are available to start. This helps to form the base of the lesson. Then, I look for activities related to student engagement and real world connections.

As the lesson is progressing, which is often multiple days, I adjust my plans based on the formative assessments during the lesson.

I always teach the standards. To me, the curriculum is a resource. Many times the curriculum is massed produce and do not always meet the benchmarks. I have been in many workshops where we looked at the curriculum and had to build lessons to meet tested benchmarks that are not covered in the curriculum. It is also mindful to remember to check every year what happens with the state and local government decisions. We adopt curriculum every 5 years. We also have had changes from the department of education that needed to be addressed. So going by the state standards is best.

In my district we have to include the state standards on our lesson plans. To help ensure that I am meeting the needs of my students, I am monitoring their progress daily to ensure that they are staying on track. If I see that they need more help, I will pull them individually or in a group to make sure that they are meeting the standards.

I ensure my lesson plans align with state standards by regularly reviewing them and incorporating the key objectives. To address student needs, I use ongoing assessments to adjust my plans. I have many standards memorized at this point, which helps me integrate them seamlessly into my lessons while staying responsive to my students' needs.

In our district, we focus on the essential standards that are deemed so by the state (South Carolina). Not to say that we don't teach all of the standards that are required, but we assess and focus on these. For me, while I have used the curriculum that is given to me, I will first look at the standard and determine what pieces of curriculum I will use to teach that standard. If a student is missing an essential component of what came before, I will often collaborate with other grade levels and their materials to help students in a small group.