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meaning of curriculum in education
principles of the christian religion
Concept of curriculum
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One of the primary aspects of education is curriculum. Webster’s dictionary defines curriculum as “all of the courses, collectively, offered in a school, college, etc., or in a particular subject”. The concept behind the word is a teacher’s structured plan for instructing students. In the context of the church, curriculum is highly profitable but often neglected. The church typically reads the text of a book without any explanation. There is no structure involved, and many times the teacher himself probably needs more education than members. This creates educational ministries that churn out ignorance rather than knowledge. When there is no direction, the destination can never be reached. This problem is similar to what the Hebrews had (Heb. …show more content…
We must lay a common foundation before we can build anything on it. Teaching basics, such as the names of the books in the Bible and the order they appear in, are examples of foundational principles. We may also teach the names of some Bible characters that can be expanded upon later. For more advanced students, we want them to understand the most fundamental idea of all: love (Matt. 22:36-40; 1 Cor. 13:1-13). Love is the briefest summary of what the Bible teaches. It is therefore necessary that our curriculums include this topic because of its …show more content…
Before I did anything else, I would identify the age-group I am teaching. If I am teaching kindergarteners, I will be careful to not complicate things for them. My goal is to ingrain the basics in their minds. Curriculum for this age-group would be totally focused upon the names of the books, the order, and names of Bible characters. I would create a simple chart that would present these for them to visualize. Another thing that I would employ is the Bible book song. These things are easy to acquire and remember so that later in life they do not need to be
Schultz also stressed the importance of a biblical worldview in the teacher. As the leader in each classroom the students will adapt their teacher’s beliefs, values and finally actions. If they are taught by a teacher who holds a dualistic view of dividing the sacred and the secular, or a postmodern or modern worldview, it will adversely affect the ability of that child to develop Christ centered wisdom based upon the Word of God. Schultz, in referring to the education of children, stated “anything that hinders their moral and spiritual development is the epitome of child abuse.” (2006, p. 163). As such, our curriculum, teaching methods, and moral example, must all reflect a biblical worldview that will evangelize and discipline each student to know and love Jesus Christ.
“In the light of our present day educational systems the idea of Church controlled education may appear to some as inefficient. However, the pioneering done in Virginia under the direction of the Established Church serve4 as a good example for the American educational ideal” (Duffy, 1946).
Just as it was then, the spiritual education of the children is primarily the responsibility of the parent. As the children of Israel trekked from Egypt to the Promised Land their teaching was not an activity limited to an isolated part of the day. Rather it was instruction interwoven with the activities of life. Dt 6:7 The teaching was to be while they were sitting, walking, lying down, and rising up. Just as it did then, this teaching was to be a demonstration of a lifestyle woven into the tapestry of everyday life.
Humanity is made in the image of God. Therefore, all people have unique and valuable gifts to contribute to society. Every individual is also a sinner in need of redemption through Christ’s death and resurrection. Developing a relationship with Christ is the foundational purpose of my Christian educational practice. Instruction must be differentiated because each student is a unique creation. Effective differentiation is impossible without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the use of research-based instructional methods and formative evaluation. Powerful teaching constantly modifies instruction to best address the needs of the each student and provides a foundation of love that recognizes each child as a gift from God.
Webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk, (2014). [ARCHIVED CONTENT] Key stage 2 | Religious education | Subjects | Key stages 1 & 2 | National Curriculum. [online] Available at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100202100434/http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-1-and-2/subjects/religious-education/keystage2/index.aspx [Accessed 22 Apr. 2014].
—. How to read the Bible for all its worth. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003.
It wasn’t till later that education developed into religious training in the universities in the Ivy League. These universities were strictly there to train ministers. According to the THSC (Texas Home School Coalition), the entrance requirements often included being able to read and translate Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. Eventually, communities and states began to establish schools funded by the government however, these schools still had a strong religious up bringing.
It was necessary for the Church to play a role in this education of the people,
Our education system has changed drastically over the years. Students are becoming more intelligent at younger ages and the students’ performance in school is surpassing those of over thirty years ago. But what about the students that don’t learn as fast? They are left behind. According to David Brooks, a New York Times article states, “many of the people who don’t fit in are boys” (43). Some kids just can’t pay attention, or the information doesn’t click; boys particularly. Many studies have shown that boys are learning at slower paces compared to girls and I think that our education system needs to be aware of this rising issue and make changes. Educators need to adapt to this by teaching students, especially boys, at an individual level. One way to achieve this is by transitioning to single gender classrooms.
This question seems best answered by the essay “Curriculum as Window and Mirror” by Emily Styles. People with privilege often have a mirror held up to them in the classroom. These students read and write about people just like them all through history, across every subject. People without privilege find themselves constantly looking trough windows, into a world they don’t necessarily know or connect with. A mirror is rarely held up to people who are not heterosexual, White, Christian males especially in the US. This really isn’t fair, obviously women and people of color have made important contributions throughout history, but this isn’t what we learn or what we talk about throughout our education. It’s important for teachers to be aware of the past and present tensions. They should seek to teach in a culturally sensitive way. In math and science teachers can provide examples that are inclusive, and not just
Each week we are entrusted with not only the care but also the instruction of children. Our goal is to build a foundation of Biblical truth within their
Let’s begin with two of the most changeable areas that every politician wants to reform for the better or so they believe. Paulo Freire stated “If knowledge is power then education is political” (Good Reads n.d., online). In fact, they have been at the top of the government agenda since the beginning of the summer (Cambridge Assessment 2013, online). The reforms will depend on several factors, which “in theory” need to be considered before implementing any changes, such as culture, economics, politics and diversity. These areas are education and curriculum.
Worsley, Howard. "How Children Aged 9-10 Understand Bible Stories: A Study Of Children At A Church-Aided And A State Primary School In The Midlands." International Journal of Children's Spirituality 9.2 (2004): 203-217. Academic Search Complete. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
According to Marsh (2010) curriculum is “An interrelated set of plans and experiences which students complete under the guidance of the school or early childhood settings.”(p. 93). The curriculum is many things, it is a document containing a set of expected performance outcomes and content to guide teachers. Curriculum can also be the delivery of objectives and personal experiences to accelerate student learning (A. Smith, personal communication, April 10, 2014).
In the context of Christian education, the teacher performs his role by using lessons culled from the Bible and communicating them through lectures, seminars, or discussions. However, in order to be an effective teacher, I should expand on these lessons by providing real-life examples and hypothetical illustrations in order for the student to find relevance in the lessons taught. I should provide good models for the student to imitate, and in fact, I should also make sure that I am a good model myself by knowing and taking to heart all the lessons I teach. In other words, the instruction must be thorough. To ensure that I am fulfilling my role as teacher, I must provide an opportunity for the students to respond to the lesson. According to the Richards and Bredfeldt, when a student discovers a relationship between himself and the lesson, the “pathway to personal response stands open.” By making the lessons individually applied, decentralized and student-centered, but teacher-oriente...