Hello. Hope everyone is enjoying the snowy weekend!
The purpose of curriculum from what I have read and from what I have learned in my career is that it is a tool that helps us to organize our ideas as teachers and to organize student learning. In any school, student learning is most important and curriculum is something that helps us to stay on track with student learning and make sure it is done at the correct time and place. I feel that in any classroom and any set of curriculum, I feel that we need to be aware of what our students know and where they are headed. If know have an idea of where the student is suppose to be and where we need to get them in the classroom, then we are able to work better with the student. Every year I use assessments that are based on the curriculum. My tests and quizzes focus on having the students comprehend the knowledge that is required of them. Although since I am a special education teacher I use many different strategies and ways of teaching the lesson to help them understand the material in the assessments. So all in all, I can always change how I teach the material and still help them to retain the information in the curriculum.
In most schools curriculum is something that is designed by the school or state and given to the teachers to use. It is something that most teachers do not have a say in, and we are expected to follow it for the school year. I am sure in many schools there is teacher input or a time when teachers are allowed to voice there concerns of the curriculum but usually it is designed and final decisions are made by the administration in the school. In the readings for this week it states that curriculum is usually designed to be engaging for all students. I think it is our job as teachers to follow the curriculum but to make the content interesting and engaging for all students. I feel that most teachers including myself would like some type of interaction or input into the design of the schools curriculum. If a teacher had this input I think they would feel that they would be able to present the information to their students that they feel strongly about. I agree in that the state; administrators and teachers should all have an input in the curriculum sot o provide the best for all students.
I teach special education, so in my classroom I am working the schools curriculum but for many different subjects and grade levels. I do not have any input in the curriculum in my school but this year I have joined in some meetings to voice my opinions. I feel that the content teachers at our school do have some input on the curriculum for their grade level and subject matter and I usually just follow that due to being a special education teacher and not certified in any particular in a certain subject area. It is a good feeling that I am beginning to be included in our the content meeting that review curriculum and I think as a school our teachers feel very strongly and positively about our content and what is being taught due to having their own input.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and Happy Blogging! :)
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I think you make a point about those who are closest to the curriculum should have the most input. That is a point well made and I agree--especially when it comes to secondary content (I certainly would not want /should not have input on secondary math content!). But now let's take it down a step to enacting that curriculum --which is something that you need to do (or assist with). I think that is where the collaboration must occur --especially at your level. Sometimes it takes those of us who are more invested in the students and less on the content to really help translate this content curriculum to learning. I think this is where collaboration can be most effective.
ReplyDeleteI like your comment about the curriculum being engaging. Yes they say it is designed to be engaging for all but is it? I am like you I think it is then up to us as teachers (even collaborating teachers) to make it engaging through our lessons or like the Backwards Design article stated learning activities. I also think it is great you are in on the meetings with content teachers. All special ed teachers should be included in planning in with content teachers. I know this may look different for you at the high school level than it does at the elementary level.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you are getting involved in the content meetings. Not only will you learn alot from that but you can be an advocate for our special education students. I have had the opportunity to sit in a meeting or two for our learning checks that are given a the end of each quarter to see how much of the content our students are learning. I was able to speak up and say that the pencil and paper task was not beneficial to our special education students because they just circle any option. The test means nothing to them. However i bet many of the students do the same. We spent some time discussing various ways to assess our students in a more appropriate and beneficial way.
ReplyDeleteIt is god that you are going to be able to be apart of those decisions.
It’s refreshing to know your school is excited about change to curriculum. My school has not always been receptive to change. I am collaborating with many teachers in different subjects also, so I consult with the teachers and make changes and additions as needed. Most of my team is receptive to the changes and willing to do what is best for the students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point that the teachers should be consulted regarding curriculum. Unfortunately it doesn’t happen in many states. It would be nice for students to be able to understand the lasting, real-life implications needed to learn from the curriculum.
I am excited you are a part of the curriculum change at your school. Keep fighting for your students.
Dr. Clarke- I really agree with your statement about enacting curriculum and being able to do so on the level that we do as Special Educators. I think that knowing our students as well as we do is a leg up and pairing that with the ability to know and teach the curriculum on that level is what makes our students successful in the end!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said about curriculum design. We, as teachers are handed this and not given much if any input into its development. After bring handed the curriculum in which we had not imput, we are then expected to desing lessons/activities, etc that will be engaging and enable our students to learn and retain the information. Wouldn't it make more sense if we were actually involved in curriculum development from the get-go?
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