According to Teacher Today, curriculum mapping attempts to answer the questions "What do my students know and what should I teach?" Curriculum mapping attempts show what a student, or students, have learned over a period of time, and also what assignments they have been given. This information is organized into an easy to read visual presentation. Curriculum maps may represent one classroom, one school or even an entire district.
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) programs strive to accommodate students with cognitive problems, physical conditions, autism, mental illness, intellectual problems or talented/gifted students. ESE classrooms include technology and tools used to teach both special needs children. Tech and Learning states the goals of ESE education are to provide opportunities for the students to interact with their peers, learn from various models of print and presented materials, have choices provided to them and to be given the opportunity to communicate.
ESE students have special needs ranging from needing extra assistance during instructional time to needing adaptive equipment in the classroom. Talented/gifted students may need advanced curriculum, academic extracurricular projects and individualized plans. Curriculum mapping for ESE students is categorically separated by the needs of the student and assists educators in planning their student's day and activities. Students with mild impairment may enter integrated classrooms in which they only require a little extra monitoring or supervision. Students with moderate disabilities may enter an ESE classroom and require extra help, directed study and one-to-one assistance. Severe disabilities could require a student to need an instructional assistance throughout the day and even require an ESE school.
An example of a curriculum map for ESE classroom in the Black River Falls School District shows what curriculum is taught by ESE teachers. Students learn basic math skills through demonstration and application of math, while learning writing by repetitive writing practices and activities. Reading skills are taught using games, activities and lists presented by the teacher. ESE curriculum mapping also involves daily living skills, which mainstream classrooms may not offer. Daily living skills learned include: hygiene, cooking, traffic safety and dressing.