On Thursday this week I enjoyed presenting to an undergraduate class. The topic was curriculum and instruction weaved with the role of the vice principal. I spoke with the students about the Continuous Improvement Framework and how it played out in school districts, schools and for me as an individual. I linked this to curriculum and instruction.
I suggested the following tips for new teachers regarding curriculum and instruction.
- Be familiar with grade level curriculum. Read the curriculum guide(s).
Assessment should be based on mastery of curriculum objectives. There are also many useful instructional strategies in the guides. - Be progressive. Take risks with new instructional strategies and try them more than once. Brain research indicates we have to try something 21 times to become proficient at it.
- Teach language arts and math differently than we learned it. You and I pretty much learned math mainly by rote. For example we memorized a rule or procedure for subtracting integers and forgot it as soon as we wrote the test. When I learned to subtract using integer tiles (in the last ten years), I understand why that rule worked. I can show others what it means.
Much of the research on effective reading comprehension instruction has been around since the early 80’s. We need to be able to implement instructional strategies linked to increased reading comprehension into classroom practice across the curriculum. Every teacher should be able to teach their students how to read content meaningfully. - Integrate technology in meaningful ways. This is 2008 and you need to be able to do more than word process. Teaching students to use the Internet responsibly and using the world wide web in developmentally appropriate ways to motivate students and improve learning outcomes should be a requirement for all teachers.
- Be willing to learn for the rest of your life. I decided to return to school to get a masters degree at the age of 46. It has been one of the best professional learning experiences in my career. I wish I would have done it sooner.
I want to thank the students for their attention and wish them luck as they pursue a degree in education.
Those are some really great tips you offered to the undergraduate students. Did any of them make any comments in regards to the tips?
I agree with taking risks with instructional strategies. We all learn differently and teaching should reflect that.
By: leahdewhurst on March 2, 2008
at 12:13 am
Good summary Laurie. If OK with you I may copy paste and use your bullets for future reference.
Your point about it being 2008 is valid. I can’t imagine saying to a superintendent, “I don’t use email or technology.” I would not have a job for long.
Meaningful places to incorporate technology is key. The more places we can do this, with teachers across grade levels, will help immensely.
By: Dave Bircher on March 2, 2008
at 6:49 pm
Laurie, great advice for the undergraduates. I think the key to being a good or great teacher is the willingness to learn throughout one’s life. Formal learning, such as a Masters, is but one way to acquire knowledge. An open mind and open spirit are essential in teaching and learning.
By: Rosanne on March 2, 2008
at 9:50 pm
Hey Laurie, thanks for sharing notes from your presentation, as a undergrad I appreciate it and agree with the points made. I often wonder about the current curriculum. Is it too massive and disjointed? How can we take pieces of each subject to build an interdisciplinary model for 21st Century students?
Your advice to be progressive and to take risks is comforting. I know as a new teacher I will have lessons flop, part of being a good teacher is the reflection and response to the experience. Hope it doesn’t always take 21 attempts to get proficient at everything I try because that is too close to retirement.
By: Kyle Lichtenwald on March 3, 2008
at 2:13 am
Kyle,
Each subject area of curriculum is huge. I never feel like I have enough time to cover all of the content. They key is as you say to build interdisciplinary curriculum. Is this an easy task? Absolutely not, but it is possible. The key is in my planning.
By: lgatzke on March 3, 2008
at 5:25 pm
Hey Laurie,
those are some great ideas…I also may “borrow” them at a later point if you’re cool with that!! I’ll acknowledge you of course!!
I particularly appreciated your first point about curriculum – it IS important, and the whole purpose IS assessing the objectives…not just arbitrarily creating assignments to cover content. Granted, I think some of our documents are not super user-friendly, there is some good stuff in them – like the instructional strategies you mentioned.
I’ve always been naive in thinking everyone used their curriculums as religiously as I did…I’ve gotten a bit wiser. Any useful tips on curriculum renewal and roll-out? Still an area I’m struggling with!!
By: Tammy Sillers on March 4, 2008
at 5:04 am