What Does a Curriculum Developer Do? A Day in the Life of a Curriculum Developer
If you’re interested in working in curriculum design, you’ve probably looked into how to get started. But you may still be wondering, “What does a curriculum developer do every day?” Follow along with a day in the life of a curriculum developer to discover if this flexible education career is right for you!
As a curriculum developer, every day is a mix of creativity, collaboration, and organization. Whether you're developing learning materials, aligning them to standards, or collaborating with a team, a curriculum developer’s day is exciting – no two days are ever quite the same!
What Is Curriculum Development?
Curriculum developers or designers create materials to improve student learning and support teachers. This includes everything from designing textbooks or worksheets to creating lesson plans or even full learning units.
As a curriculum designer, you can work remotely, whether working with textbook companies, EdTech product developers, nonprofit organizations, school districts, museums, cultural institutions, children’s media outlets, or even statewide educational agencies.
Freelance curriculum developers may also advise organizations on developing learning plans that support their product, mission, or service.
Curriculum development is an exciting world, and a wide variety of curriculum development careers are available within this field because so many types of organizations need this kind of support. When it comes to curriculum developer jobs, the opportunities are endless!
So, what does a curriculum developer do on a typical day?
A Day in the Life of a Curriculum Developer
Curriculum development may seem like a behind-the-scenes role, but it has a direct impact on students, educators, and the future of education. There’s a reason why having teachers as curriculum developers is so effective. Teachers know best how to support student learning!
Curriculum development is a great flexible alternative job for teachers, and each day is an exciting balance of creativity, research, writing, and collaboration.
Starting your day right
As a curriculum developer, having a consistent, intentional routine you love can help you feel focused and prepare you physically, mentally, and emotionally for what the day brings.
Tip: Whether it’s a morning walk, a meditation, and/or your favorite healthy breakfast, start your day in a way that gets you in the right headspace. It’s a small, yet powerful way to set you up for success.
Creating a plan that works and scheduling your day
Curriculum developers often work on several projects at a time, so setting priorities and organizing your day is key.
A day in the life of a curriculum developer involves a balance of creative problem-solving and detail-oriented tasks like aligning lessons to standards or editing. Each task involves a different mindset or “brain space,” so curriculum developers benefit from scheduling their day based on their energy levels.
Tip: Identify when you are most creative, focused, and in the flow. For instance, for highly creative tasks, it’s important that you complete them when you feel like your brain is spacious enough to come up with ideas. For tasks that are more related to alignment, or assessment, it might be important for you to complete these first thing in the morning when your mind is sharp and ready to go. Tuning into your needs and finding what works for you is key.
Balancing different curriculum design projects
When starting out as a curriculum developer, you may take on freelance or contract jobs, juggling multiple projects simultaneously. Even seasoned curriculum developers, whether working part-time or full-time, often work on more than one project at a time.
Tip: Given the multiple projects involved, many curriculum developers use time-blocking, dividing their day into chunks dedicated to specific tasks. This strategy allows them to stay focused on each project without getting overwhelmed or sidetracked by the various tasks on their plate. It also ensures each project gets adequate attention. For instance, you might be creating a lesson plan for a specific grade level in the morning, and then shifting gears to design assessments for another curriculum in the afternoon.
Larger-scale projects, such as developing year-long curriculum or interdisciplinary units, require careful planning and coordination.
Tip: Breaking down a large-scale project into smaller goals with shorter deadlines helps curriculum developers keep pace. Having regular communication or meetings with the stakeholders involved can also ensure the project stays aligned with the overall goals and timeline.
Designing with intention
The simplest answer to, “What does a curriculum developer do?” is clear: they design curriculum! As seasoned educators know though, the actual process requires intention and planning.
Once you have a plan for your day in place, it’s time to focus on content creation. At the heart of curriculum development is creating learning experiences that are not only aligned with standards but also ensuring they’re engaging and accessible to all students.
Before diving right into writing lessons, curriculum developers brainstorm and outline key components. This groundwork ensures that the design will be on track and inclusive. To get started, make sure you:
Understand the task of the curriculum project and expectations
Brainstorm standards, learning objectives, and guiding questions (if they haven’t been given)
Think of how the learning outcome will affect the flow of the lesson, and incorporate culturally responsive practices and Universal Design for Learning principles to ensure content is accessible to all learners
Tip: It can be helpful to take a break after laying the foundation/framework for a lesson. By going for a walk, for instance, you can switch gears and tap into your creative mindset more easily when you’re ready to write.
Getting feedback and continuously learning
While curriculum development involves a lot of independent writing time, a curriculum project is rarely a solo endeavor. Curriculum developers regularly get feedback on their work and also work alongside editors, graphic designers, project managers, etc. Feedback is invaluable for curriculum developers and essential for continually improving and growing. Having a growth mindset is key.
A big part of what curriculum developers do is also focused on staying up-to-date with educational trends and innovations (e.g. technology, pedagogy, etc.) and the ever-evolving landscape of education. Dedicating time to learning something new each week – or even each day – provides fresh inspiration and gives momentum for growth.
Tip: Spend some time catching up on the latest in education. Whether it’s reading an educational article or attending a workshop, giving your brain these opportunities helps you approach your work with a fresh perspective. (You can also build your network and form connections with others in the field!)
Taking breaks and prioritizing self-care
When working remotely as a curriculum developer, whether during the day or after a busy day of teaching, it’s important to take care of yourself. Even if you have a long to-do list, your energy and focus depend on a healthy body and mind.
Tips: Don’t underestimate the power of hydration and movement throughout the day. Drink plenty of water, and move every 1-2 hours when working from your computer. Take a walk outside, do laps around your house, or put on some of your favorite music and dance! You can also check out our blog post on daily activities to boost your creativity.
How to Become a Curriculum Developer
If you’re looking for rewarding, flexible jobs in education, curriculum development is a great career path!
Whether you’d like to pursue part-time or full-time opportunities, Educator Forever can help you.
Our Curriculum Development Foundations Program is a 5-week flexible and empowering program designed to give you everything you need to develop engaging curriculum, stand out in the job market, and take your curriculum development career to the next level.
You'll also be assigned a curriculum coach, an experienced curriculum developer, who will give you support and personalized feedback on your work. You'll walk away from the program with a polished portfolio of curriculum samples and with an amazing community supporting you as you step into working as a curriculum developer.
At Educator Forever, we don't only teach about curriculum development, but we're actively working in the field through our Educator Forever Agency. If you choose to become a certified curriculum developer during Curriculum Development Foundations, you'll get even more access to job opportunities from our agency, as well as from other educational organizations looking for experienced curriculum developers.
Stop wondering, “What does a curriculum developer do?,” and start living the life of a freelance curriculum designer. Sign up now to start your journey as a successful curriculum developer.