Abstract
The individualism teacher culture obstructs the communication and interaction of teachers and knowledge innovation. The discussions of communities of practice applying to schools have increased noticeably in recent years. This paper investigates curriculum development and teacher professional development by the point of view of communities of practice. In curriculum development, communities of practice can facilitate teachers in developing a new curriculum, aid teachers being aware of curriculum theory, help teachers with accumulating curriculum practice knowledge, and assist teachers in solving curriculum problems. In teacher professional development, communities of practice can advance teachers learning, afford teachers with learning opportunities, encourage professional passion of teachers, excite learning motivation of teachers, improve professional competences of teachers, help school with recruiting and remaining teachers, guide novice teachers, shape the positive cultural in school, and construct multiple communication paths. The school should give teachers enough time and space for developing communities of practice, thus communities of practice can contribute to curriculum practices and teacher professional development, furthermore they can promote the quality of the school.