Miles"ism"..... continued

The role of the teacher

The teacher must wear many hats......
To me, one role of the teacher should be that of a player-coach, a co-learner. If we want students to be lifelong learners then we should model this behavior on a daily basis. The teacher is in charge of the room but should not be afriad of spontaneous learning that comes from stories and sharing experiences. The neo-scholastic in me reminds me that students need to learn their ABC's and 123's. I agree but learning best occurs in a safe and caring environment.
I feel like I'm arguing with myself here...??

The role of the student

Students don't get to pick their context..... they live it.....
If the teachers are the player-coaches then the students must be the players and players need guidance and leadership no matter what sport you are talking about. Players and students alike often have baggage and as player-coaches teachers need to address this and understand that attending school on time everyday may not be easily realized. We teach about empathy and respect but is it reciprocated to students?

In my opinion, the best leaders lead with the goal of replacing themselves with someone better...

Miles"ism"

Curriculum as "product" is based on reaching a goal through a "means" and to an "end" but the "end " product is the key.
Curriculum as "process" is rooted in the "means" aspect of learning with the "end" product as a lesser concern.
Curriculum as "praxis" is socially oriented and borrows aspects of the "product" and the "process" but there is a social justice slant, a serach for equality.

Curriculum as "product", as "process" and as "praxis" all have a place in my personal understanding and beliefs about curriculum.
In the classroom I have a definite plan of where I want to take students but I don't want to pigeon hole myself into the "product" realm of curriculum.
Knowing and understanding my students, their cultural, their community, and their home life dynamics are integral in addressing their needs. There are occasions I find myself more focussed on the journey than the destination making my teaching more "process" driven.
The statement, "fair is not equal" is something I hope all students I work with have a definite understanding of; I use it all the time. In my school there are definite "have" and "have not" students. When it comes to getting extra snack or treats it is not based on what is equal it is based on what is fair. It really frustrates me when a "have" kid continually asks for extra snack or tries to justify why they need more.

Supporting Principles of Education

www.sasked.gov.sk.ca

Principle(s)

To me, the common essential learnings (CELS) are a key component in supporting the principles of education. Knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities are developed through a variety of specific objectives, educational materials and varied teaching methods. Locally determined teaching options and the adaptive dimension further support current educational principles.

Primary Aims/Principles of Curriculum

www.learningvision.com



My initial thoughts regarding the aims or principles of curriculum are based on the following;

Effective curriculum promotes the development of virtuous citizens that are goal oriented and self motivated. An appreciation for lifelong learning is a key facet in promoting students to work to their optimal potential in literacy and numeracy capacities. The importance of delivering curriculum in a healthy and safe environment is paramount.

Curriculum

www.istockphoto.com

My current definition;

Curriculum is a dynamic map that illuminates a variety of contextual learning paths.