The subject middle school in Stuart, Florida best matches the Systematic Curriculum because it is standards based, data driven, and demonstrates universality with sameness of textbooks and curricular frameworks set by the school district. The state of Florida has instituted a set of standards for grades K-12 which follow the Common Core philosophy to standardize what students are expected to know and be able to do as a result of their Florida education. The subject middle school is charged with implementing those standards. The school goes through a series of systematic steps in order to align itself with a systematic district. It could be asserted that this is a successful approach as the school is in its 17th consecutive year of being …show more content…
While there is some room for teacher flexibility in choosing class novels, the core lessons follow the frameworks, so that any student within a grade level could change classes, or even schools, at any time without missing the instruction of the core standards. In essence, teachers have to follow a set guideline to accommodate schedule changes. The system is driving the way instruction is designed. This does benefit students because it ensures they do not miss an important part of the year, since all teachers are teaching the same standards at the same time. This approach is not perfect because of the variations that exist due to individual teacher pacing based on class performance, but it does create a guideline for what standards are being taught during what quarter, so the chance of a student missing focus standards is greatly …show more content…
The ultimate goal of a deliberative approach is for students to be well-rounded in knowledge, but, more importantly, to be well-rounded in how to use that knowledge to adapt to society. Since no commonplace is viewed as an expert, all stakeholders have an equal voice in molding the curriculum. Because the subject school currently identifies with most of the characteristics of a Systematic Curriculum, neither teachers nor students feel as though they have a voice in the curriculum because it is mainly driven by the system. A deliberative approach would allay that feeling of disempowerment because teachers and learners would be part of the curriculum conversation. The subject school would benefit from a deliberative approach in the commonplaces of teachers and learners. While the premise of the deliberative approach is that no one commonplace is more important than another, these two particular commonplaces are of importance because curriculum cannot be implemented without either. Additionally, if the school were to realistically transition out of the systematic approach to a deliberative approach, these two commonplaces are keys to that
One part of the HSTW framework is a set of 10 Key Practices that each participating site implements by developing and carrying out a customized action plan for school improvement (SREB 1999). Kaufman et al. (2000) used existing HSTW data to analyze the impact of 6 clusters representing HSTW's 10 Key Practices. They concluded that achievement gains in science, reading, and math were correlated with the proportion of students meeting HSTW curriculum standards and with the amount of time students spent talking to their guidance counselors and teachers about their school program. They also concluded that the proportion of students perceiving their academic and CTE teachers working together to improve students' math, reading, and writing skills was correlated with achievement gains in those three areas. This Brief provides practical examples of approaches HSTW sites have used to move toward HSTW curriculum standards, provide students with guidance, and allow academic and CTE teachers to work together.
This integrative and alternative curriculum “would include cross-curricular objectives and be grounded on powerful learning environments” ones that include problem- and project- based tasks and promote student autonomy and control of the learning process (Alahiotis & Stavlioti, 2006, p.122). Inter- and intra- disciplinary knowledge is important to be included in curricular materials. Furthermore, it is noted that this approach is both content and process oriented and that is why is so deman...
Forty-two states have adopted Common Core State Standards. These standards were created to focus only on English and Mathematics. In effect of states adopting Common Core Standards, all other subjects taught in school seemed less important. History and Science standards are no longer stressed. Students are limited to being proficient in only two subjects. The Common Core deprives students’ ability to be skilled in multiple areas. These standards do not provide a slight “break” from the challenging fast past teaching of English and Mathematics. In addition to limiting education to English and Mathematics, Jill Bowden explains that the Common Core is affecting kindergarteners by taking “away from materials that encourage playful learning.” (36).
With the common core standards students now will be able to transfer schools and understand what is going on because the Common Core Standard provides a clear understanding to all students of what they are expected to learn. It will provide all of the students with an equal opportunity to learn same curriculum no matter which school they are going to. These standards will not limit the students with different level of achievement among students; instead they will ensure a more consistent exposure to materials and learning experience though instructions and teacher preparation. However, two c...
Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the American educational system has undergone much transition in response to our changing society. Though there have been many problems raised throughout the years in regard to what our school systems should be teaching our children, there have also been many developments.
America’s children have found increasing difficulty with school. The curriculum in schools is claiming to be harder in higher levels, but the lack of focus and direction in the younger grades has made for decreased grade levels and lower mastery in several basic areas such as math, writing, and reading skills. Standardized test scores are at an all time low, as increasing amounts of children progress through the educational system having not at...
...ualized plan due to time constraints, it is reasonable to treat each student as they do have an individualized education. Teachers should know their students well enough to individualize the classroom activities so all students have strengths in each lesson. Through collaborative efforts, teachers can gain knowledge about the students and new ways to teach according to different learning styles. Working together, each student can receive an individualized education where their full potential is used.
John Dewey dedicated his life to improving the education system through his philosophical beliefs. Some of these beliefs include freedom of the mind and strong bonds between students and teachers. He believed that high schools did not prepare students for the real world by simply teaching the fundamentals of learning: reading, writing, and arithmetic; instead, teachers must prepare students for real-life situations. Dewey suggested that in order for students to perform to the best of their ability they should be exposed to an environment that resembles the real world. These goals should be taught in a democratic environment in which the teachers and students should have equal voices. Also, the needs of the child should be placed above anything else. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, students could explore their environments through a curriculum that focuses on connecting multiple subjects and choosing their own paths. Unfortunately, high schools do not acknowledge Dewey’s ideals, which often results in students becoming useless members in society, receiving jobs that only have pecuniary benefit.
Education is an integral part of society, school helps children learn social norms as well as teach them how to be successful adults. The school systems in United States, however are failing their students. In the world as a whole, the United States is quickly falling behind other countries in important math and reading scores. The United States ranked thirtieth in math on a global scale and twentieth in literacy. This is even more true in more urban, lower socio-economic areas in the United States. These schools have lower test scores and high dropout rates. In Trenton Central High School West, there was an 83% proficiency in literacy and only 49% of the students were proficient in math. Many of these students come from minority backgrounds and are often from low income families. There are many issues surrounding these urban schools. There is a severe lack of proper funding in these districts, and much of the money they do receive is sanctioned for non-crucial things. Schools also need a certain level of individualization with their students, and in many urban classes, this simply does not happen. While there are many factors affecting the low performance of urban schools, the lack of proper funding and distribution of funds, the cultural divide between teachers and students in urban districts, along with the lack of individualization in urban classrooms are crucial reasons to explain the poor performance in these districts. Through a process of teacher lead budget committees and further teacher education, urban schools can be transformed and be better equipped to prepare their students for the global stage.
White, Fred D., and Simone J. Billings. The Well-crafted Argument: Across the Curriculum. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.
In the first chapter, Dewey draws attention to a conflict in educational theory, between traditional and progressive education. He conceives of traditional education as a system that has that encourages student attitudes of ‘docility, receptivity, and obedience’ (Dewey, p. 3). He considers the task given educators in traditional education to communicate knowledge and skills, and enforce rules of conduct for the next generation. He considers progressive education a system that critiques traditional education for imposing controls and limiting active participation by students in developing subject matter. Progressive education gives learners ‘growth’, freedom of expression and activity. Dewey sees the strengths of progressive education contributing helpfully to an experience of education (p. 20).
When it comes to implementing a curriculum everyone has an opinion. Whether it is the organization of the curriculum or the evaluation of the curriculum, everyone from administers, teachers, and parents will have their opinions on the new curriculum. The curriculum development group has many difficult decisions to make. They have to decide when and how to implement, who will be in charge, what data will be collected, and how will the curriculum be evaluated.
The aim of education is to prepare students as contributing members in a productive society. The essential core values of knowledge, skills, critical thinking capability, and citizenship help students grow into adults who contribute positively to the community. I believe that education’s focus on teaching content matter leads to the development of well-rounded knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking, computing, thinking, science, and the social world in which we live. Specific content knowledge in these disciplines contributes to equity in education. Such knowledge becomes an internal asset for an individual and is priceless. Studen...
Jacobs, H. H. (1997). Mapping the big picture: Integrating curriculum and assessment. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Jilek, J., Loadman, W., &Derby, L. 1998.ohio’s P-12 systematic educational reform: Implications for the preparation of teachers and administrator.