By Dr. Yuvraj Verma
With another school year having just started, K–12 teachers everywhere are reviewing and reflecting on what to do differently. Most primary teachers work with one grade, while secondary teachers usually teach multiple grades. Regardless, it is imperative that all teachers are aware of how their subject or subjects are vertically aligned from other grade levels, both below and above.
The collaborative nature of education is amplified in vertical alignment as educators can utilize an often-underused resource in curriculum implementation: their colleagues. Nonetheless, with student scores scattered (a lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic), teachers must remain vigilant of how academic content progresses so that they are able to bridge content gaps among their students.
Dr. Yuvraj Verma is a TEAMS math teacher at Bessemer City Middle School in Alabama and an Adjunct Professor of Graduate Education at William Howard Taft University in Colorado. He holds a BA in Sociology from Iona University, an MAT in Elementary and Special Education from the Relay Graduate School of Education, and an MBA in Healthcare Administration, EdS in Education Administration, and EdD in Technology and Leadership from William Howard Taft University.
