Top Curriculum Development Skills You Need to Succeed Outside the Classroom

Do you enjoy creating learning experiences for your students? Are you excited to come up with new ideas to engage and motivate your learners? If you answered “yes,” a career in curriculum development could be a great fit for you. The good news? As a teacher, you already have some of the top curriculum development skills you need to succeed outside the classroom.

Curriculum developers create learning experiences for students (and educators) for use within the classroom and other learning environments.. 

As a teacher, you have many transferable skills that will serve you well in curriculum development. You’ve written lesson plans, adapted instruction on the fly, differentiated for diverse learners, and turned standards into memorable learning experiences. 

When thinking about making the transition from teacher to curriculum developer, you might wonder what else will help you thrive in this field. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top skills you need to succeed as a curriculum developer (and land some of the best alternative jobs for teachers!).

What is Curriculum Development?

Before diving into essential skills, let’s unpack exactly what a career in curriculum development entails. 

Curriculum developers or designers create materials to improve student learning and support teachers. This can include anything from designing textbooks and worksheets to creating lesson plans and comprehensive learning units.

As a curriculum developer, 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. 

These curriculum development opportunities can be freelance/contract, part-time, or full-time.

So what skills do you need to succeed in this field?

Top 6 Skills Needed to Succeed as a Curriculum Developer

As an educator-turned-founder of a curriculum agency (Educator Forever Agency), I have firsthand experience hiring curriculum developers. And I’ve seen that the best candidates have a core set of curriculum development skills. 

Here are the top ones that matter most:

1. Classroom Knowledge and Content Expertise

As a teacher, you know what actually works in the classroom. You have a sense of what will excite students, how long an activity will take, and what strategies will likely help struggling learners or students who need a challenge. 

You also have content expertise in certain subjects and grade levels. This blend of both classroom insight and content expertise will help you design high-quality curriculum.

2. Creativity

Curriculum development is about sparking curiosity and creating engaging learning experiences. When designing curriculum, you get to develop the learning experiences you want to see in classrooms. As one of the top curriculum development skills, creativity can transform learning standards into lessons and activities that make learning come alive. 

As a curriculum developer, you’ll thrive if you enjoy finding creative ways to make learning both joyful and effective. 

3. Writing 

Curriculum developers are writers. Successful curriculum developers write with clarity, use their imagination, and are detail-oriented. Directions, teacher notes, and student materials – These all have to be clear, concise, and easy to follow. Think of the words you write as the bridge between what’s in your head and what teachers and students will actually do. Your writing is only effective if it’s easy to understand and ready to use.

4. Pedagogy

Pedagogical knowledge (your understanding of learning and teaching) will guide your decisions as a curriculum developer. Strong curriculum developers know their “why” and have a vision for the kind of impact they want to have on students. They also draw from research and established curriculum frameworks, such as Project-Based Learning, Understanding by Design, Teaching for Understanding, and Universal Design for Learning. 

When applying for curriculum development jobs, you’ll want to be able to clearly explain your education philosophy and why it works.

5. Adaptability

Feedback is an important part of the process. Embracing feedback and being open-minded is one of the essential curriculum development skills. When you’re working on a curriculum project, you’ll likely get feedback and suggestions from different stakeholders. Embracing feedback and revising your work accordingly will sharpen your skills and make you a better curriculum developer. Remember that being adaptable and having a growth mindset will make you valuable on any project.

6. Scaffolding

A fundamental part of curriculum development is sequencing and scaffolding. You need to be able to take a large concept and figure out how to break it into manageable, specific steps. Curriculum developers ask themselves: What’s the very first step students (and teachers) need to take? And the next? This scaffolding skill makes learning manageable and helps students build a deeper understanding.

Tips to Get Started in Curriculum Development

If you’re excited about this career outside the classroom, the best way to grow your curriculum development skills is to start practicing. Here are a few tips:

• Write often. To develop your writing skills, set aside time to practice creating lessons or units. Try to make it fun and design classroom experiences you always wish you had more freedom or time to create. (And share your work with others, too! Getting feedback and making revisions will set you up for success in a curriculum development career.)

• Build your portfolio. Save your strongest lessons or units. You can use these curriculum samples as part of a portfolio to highlight your skills and expertise when applying for curriculum development opportunities. A polished portfolio highlights your expertise and approach. 

• Clarify your “why.” Reflect on the kind of learning experiences you want students to have. Reflecting on your teaching philosophy will both help you design intentional, engaging curriculum and articulate your approach when talking with potential employers and collaborators. 

Taking these steps will sharpen your skills and prepare you to confidently apply for opportunities.

Ready to Become a Curriculum Developer?

If you want to go from teacher to curriculum developer, you don’t have to figure it out alone. 

At Educator Forever, our curriculum agency specializes in training PreK-12 educators to become successful curriculum developers through the Curriculum Development Foundations Program.

During this 5-week program, you’ll create exciting curriculum projects you’re passionate about, build a portfolio that shines, and get one-on-one support from a curriculum coach who gives you expert, personalized feedback. 

Along the way, you’ll deepen your understanding of curriculum frameworks, strengthen your writing skills, and boost your confidence as a curriculum developer. Plus, you’ll earn certification and learn exactly where to find remote curriculum jobs that align with your interests.

In just 5 weeks, you’ll:

✅ Master the curriculum development skills you need to excel in PreK-12 curriculum development

✅ Craft a portfolio that impresses employers (and enjoy a curriculum expert personally reviewing your curriculum samples!)

✅ Gain real-world experience in a supportive environment

✅ Benefit from personalized coaching and feedback

✅ Learn how to find curriculum development opportunities as well as strategies to position yourself as the ideal candidate for your dream opportunities

✅ Earn certification… and join a supportive community and network of educators and coaches cheering you on as you step into your new career
Sign up now to step confidently into this exciting, flexible, and rewarding career path.