Abstract:
An important feature of an instructional program is the alignment of curricular objectives with
instructional practices, materials, assessment practices, professional development opportunities,
and the role of good leadership. This alignment has been referred to as instructional program
coherence.A qualitative study was designed to examine coherence of aspects of the science
instructional program at the fourth and fifth elementary grade levels of a Lebanese school.The
results of the analysis show that the degree of alignment between the curricular objectives and
the various aspects varied.There was good alignment between the curricular objectives and
instructional practices, good alignment between curricular objectives and assessment practices,
good alignment between curricular objectives and professional development activities, but partial
alignment between curricular objectives and instructional materials.In closing, recommendations
are discussed for school leaders and educators to follow and build a coherentscience instructional
program.
