This is my Blog post for Task two: enacting curriculum-
What is the purpose of curriculum and what role as teachers do we have in this purpose? I think that curriculum has many purposes. Overall, we know that it is to provide students with content and purpose within their educational environment. The purpose of curriculum would be the aim that you are focusing on: intellectually, socially, personally. To gain a sense of basic skills, creativity, and a positive work ethic! As a teacher we wear many hats and have many roles in making curriculum purposeful. I want to ensure that my students are given the chance to encompass what curriculum is and the purpose behind it. My role as their teacher is to ensure that they are being taught the skills to gain a sense of who they are, as a student, a person, and someone who relates to the real world. How, what they learn in the educational setting is purposeful for who they are as members of society.
How much control do we have over curriculum? How much should we have? This varies from district to district. Some align the curriculum for you and you have to follow it, some give you the opportunity to look at the curriculum as a whole and align to the state standards in which you are responsible for teaching, some may even allow you to design the curriculum yourself. I think that there are probably more ways in which teachers have control over curriculum. The school that I work in, we are given the opportunity to meet as teams and take a look at the grade level curriculum that has been designed. We are given the opportunity to align it to the necessary standards and we are also given a lot of opportunities to come up with our own lessons that encompass the curriculum. Anything that we can add to enhance the curriculum for are students is encouraged. I think that the situation that I am in now the amount of control over curriculum is ideal. We are the ones who are teaching and we want to make sure that it is what actually engages our students to learn. Obviously, you need to make sure it is approved. But, I feel like it is a give and take and a team effort that includes teachers as the key parts in planning out what a curriculum should look like.
What does the curriculum that I have in my classroom look like on a day to day environment? The backward design approach is a good way to describe what the curriculum looks like in my classroom. Being a special education teacher, I really am focusing on differential learning and like the readings say just because a student can memorize facts does not mean they actually understanding the meaning behind or how to relate it to real world problems and experiences. The first thing that I do is get to know my students and their individual learning styles, I familiarize myself with their individual goals and needs, and I then align them to the standards expected at their level. Through this I am teaching, re-teaching, developing assessments and hands on activities that will engage my students to apply meaning to what they are learning and why it is so important to encourage the relation to real world experiences!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Module 2- TASK ONE: Curriculum Design
Hello! I hope everyone is doing well and making good progress with their blogs! I wanted to blog as I went through the articles and "food for thought" questions.
After I read Beyond the Lesson by Applebee I first thought about: Why do we need to consider curriculum? I really like in the article how Applebee breaks down though processes. So, think about writing. We all love to write and read others writings, but when we are teaching writing there needs to be some type of framework in which is followed. Which applies when thinking about any area: reading, math, social studies, science... That's when you start to answer the question, why do we need to consider curriculum? As educators there needs to be a purpose behind what we are doing and why we are doing it. We need a framework to follow (standards and indicators) and guidelines need to be established so that we are accountable at our individual levels. Accountable because we want our students to be prepared for the next step. So as we consider curriculum we start to analyze lists, documents, studies, and so forth to ensure that we are teaching our students what they need to establish the frame work, repetition, teach, reteach, so that they are give the tools they need to be successful as they journey from one level to the next.
In developing curriculum we then establish a guideline that should be followed from one year to the next. We can then build on the curriculum, borrow from others, add and delete what works and does not work. As most teacher, I need a framework or plan and the curriculum is the plan that we follow to ensure that we are meeting the necessity of every area in which we teach- "Effective Conversations" in our everyday speech!
Next I thought about: What model of curriculum best fits my current role? What model I am most attracted to? and What would be my preference? I really had to think about this question and what it was asking- I am still a little hesitant in the way that I answer. When it asks what model, I kept going back to the open vs. closed conversation model. This clearly addresses how my classroom is structured. I strongly prefer the open discussion model. I am one that wants that cooperative learning to take place (being a special educator) - In saying that, I know that an open conversation setting is what I see as ideal and the most optimal learning environment. In reality, I know that is not always the case. There are times when I have to lead my classroom as a closed setting (me being the higher) and the students (being the lower). It has to be that way when we are working on key skills, that they need practice and repetition to learn and be successful in that skill. But, being a special education teacher I have the luxury of co-teaching. So I can be a part of the closed conversation in the general education classroom and then provide an open conversation in my classroom to help students relate to one another, to me as a resource, almost in terms of an open forum and relating to real work experiences.
As I stated earlier I hesitated in answering this question when talking about what model because as I mentioned I prefer the open conversation but I don't think that answers the entire question about what model I prefer. I also feel that the Episodic curriculum and from the next article by Wraga the intagrative core curriculum is a part of what I prefer and the second answer to that question or series of questions. In the episodic curriculum, I really teach according to elements being ordered and still related to the central idea and focus. Which also applies to the intagrative approach- related one subject area to another and then in turn making it meaningful for students by relating to real life experiences. So bringing that all together I love the idea and would prefer to teach in an open conversation with a episodic/intagrative core curriculum!
Finally- What is a modern curriculum and what could this look like? First let me mention that I really like the statement at the beginning of the article that reminds us that students cannot possibly learn everything that they need to before they enter into the real world. That really hits home for me- I want to teach my students so much and as we all know in such little time. But, I must remind myself that it's about quality and not quantity and I only have these students for one year ( I am one year of their educational success) and that I teach with wonderful colleagues that will instill that in them from my year to their next and so forth! So what do I think modern curriculum could look like? "Knowledge is power"- modern curriculum asks students who they are and who they want to be. Modern curriculum is hands on work of knowledge that can produce students who want to learn and form their own opinion and conversations. I think that modern curriculum could one day look like a "ideal classroom"- A classroom that invites open communication, past experiences, hands on activities that create optimal learning of new skills, in an episodic manner that allows purpose and meaning behind what is a students "Core curriculum"-
After I read Beyond the Lesson by Applebee I first thought about: Why do we need to consider curriculum? I really like in the article how Applebee breaks down though processes. So, think about writing. We all love to write and read others writings, but when we are teaching writing there needs to be some type of framework in which is followed. Which applies when thinking about any area: reading, math, social studies, science... That's when you start to answer the question, why do we need to consider curriculum? As educators there needs to be a purpose behind what we are doing and why we are doing it. We need a framework to follow (standards and indicators) and guidelines need to be established so that we are accountable at our individual levels. Accountable because we want our students to be prepared for the next step. So as we consider curriculum we start to analyze lists, documents, studies, and so forth to ensure that we are teaching our students what they need to establish the frame work, repetition, teach, reteach, so that they are give the tools they need to be successful as they journey from one level to the next.
In developing curriculum we then establish a guideline that should be followed from one year to the next. We can then build on the curriculum, borrow from others, add and delete what works and does not work. As most teacher, I need a framework or plan and the curriculum is the plan that we follow to ensure that we are meeting the necessity of every area in which we teach- "Effective Conversations" in our everyday speech!
Next I thought about: What model of curriculum best fits my current role? What model I am most attracted to? and What would be my preference? I really had to think about this question and what it was asking- I am still a little hesitant in the way that I answer. When it asks what model, I kept going back to the open vs. closed conversation model. This clearly addresses how my classroom is structured. I strongly prefer the open discussion model. I am one that wants that cooperative learning to take place (being a special educator) - In saying that, I know that an open conversation setting is what I see as ideal and the most optimal learning environment. In reality, I know that is not always the case. There are times when I have to lead my classroom as a closed setting (me being the higher) and the students (being the lower). It has to be that way when we are working on key skills, that they need practice and repetition to learn and be successful in that skill. But, being a special education teacher I have the luxury of co-teaching. So I can be a part of the closed conversation in the general education classroom and then provide an open conversation in my classroom to help students relate to one another, to me as a resource, almost in terms of an open forum and relating to real work experiences.
As I stated earlier I hesitated in answering this question when talking about what model because as I mentioned I prefer the open conversation but I don't think that answers the entire question about what model I prefer. I also feel that the Episodic curriculum and from the next article by Wraga the intagrative core curriculum is a part of what I prefer and the second answer to that question or series of questions. In the episodic curriculum, I really teach according to elements being ordered and still related to the central idea and focus. Which also applies to the intagrative approach- related one subject area to another and then in turn making it meaningful for students by relating to real life experiences. So bringing that all together I love the idea and would prefer to teach in an open conversation with a episodic/intagrative core curriculum!
Finally- What is a modern curriculum and what could this look like? First let me mention that I really like the statement at the beginning of the article that reminds us that students cannot possibly learn everything that they need to before they enter into the real world. That really hits home for me- I want to teach my students so much and as we all know in such little time. But, I must remind myself that it's about quality and not quantity and I only have these students for one year ( I am one year of their educational success) and that I teach with wonderful colleagues that will instill that in them from my year to their next and so forth! So what do I think modern curriculum could look like? "Knowledge is power"- modern curriculum asks students who they are and who they want to be. Modern curriculum is hands on work of knowledge that can produce students who want to learn and form their own opinion and conversations. I think that modern curriculum could one day look like a "ideal classroom"- A classroom that invites open communication, past experiences, hands on activities that create optimal learning of new skills, in an episodic manner that allows purpose and meaning behind what is a students "Core curriculum"-
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
This is my 1st blog post
Hello- My name is Leslie Zurmehly! I currently teach at Clermont Northeastern Elementary. I am an intervention specialist (special education) teacher. This year I am teaching 3rd and 4th grades. This is my first year teaching in Ohio and I love it. I previously taught in Kenton County for four year and made the the move to be closer to home. Outside of school, I am married to my wonderful husband Chris and we have two beautiful children, Carson (3) and Madison (almost 2). I am very busy like most of you juggling being employed full time, a student, a mother and a wife! So, life is very busy for me but I enjoy every minute! I look forward to meeting and working with each one of you!
Thanks!
Thanks!
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