CURRICULUM What are the key elements of optimal curricula that will help teacher candidates develop the dispositions, habits of mind; and confidence to enable students to develop 21st century knowledge and skills in a range of core academic subject areas? Effective P-12 schools today do not employ curriculum as a standardized, one-size-fits-all “plug-and-play” component. The changing demographics of the student population nationally, let alone the rapid advances of technologies, mean that teacher candidates can expect to play an active role in developing and organizing content and instruction for their students. A 21st century approach to curriculum is about more than just adding an extra course or extra class time in the program’s curriculum. Preservice teachers benefit from the ability to fully explore and understand how to develop and use curriculum for deep understanding and mastery of academic subject knowledge and 21st century skills.