Curriculum and Knowledge

Curriculum is everything that goes on in a school, both academically and pastorally. It also encompasses extra activities that happen as part of the school day.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." Henry B. Adams

A teacher needs to be aware of a variety of ways of developing curriculum to ensure that it is relevant to the students and to the community. It is related to a teacher's philosophy, values and skills. Stevenson (1998) illustrated some of the possible emphases using the following metaphors:
Curriculum as opportunity
Curriculum as exploration
Curriculum as empowerment

When developing curriculum a major influence is that of the school culture. Each school culture is different with its:
“Unique mixing of ethnicity, values, experiences, skills and aspirations
Special rituals and ceremonies
A unique history of achievements and traditions
Unique socioeconomic and geographic location
Breadth, content and emphasis of school subjects
Expressive and artistic skills of personnel
Cultural support with communities”
(Marsh, pp. 319, 2004)

Within a curriculum the 6 Key Learning Area (KLA) syllabus documents, provided by the state department of education, must be incorporated. The 6 KLA's are:
English
Mathematics
Science and Technology
Human Society in its Environment
Creative Arts
Personal Development / Heath and Physical Education
These K - 6 syllabus documents can be viewed at the following web site: http://www.bosnsw-k6.nsw.edu.au/

EVIDENCE 1: Mathematics Investigation Power point
Mathematics is part of every school curriculum, and there is now a big push for children to understand the process involved in mathematics rather than getting an answer. This open investigation about staircase number allowed me to experience the process involved in problem solving and has made me develop an appreciation for not always searching for and finding an exact answer. So therefore the values and understanding that I have developed from completing this task will be able to be implemented within my curriculum as I develop it.

"The aim of education is the knowledge not of fact, but of values." Dean William R. Inge

"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own." Ben Sweetland

Without our own knowledge as teacher's we cannot successfully pass on knowledge and understanding to children. So far through my studies I have been able to develop applicable knowledge that I could use within the primary school context.

EVIDENCE 2: Language as a Social Practice – Text Types
As part of the English syllabus children are require to develop a knowledge and understanding of 6 different text types. Through the subject of Language as a Social Practice I have become familiar with these six different text types, as before I did not have a deep enough understanding or knowledge to be able to teach children about them. I now feel confident that I would be able to guide students in constructing and analysing each of these 6 different text types. Through the teaching of my lecturer in this subject I have also developed a passion for this subject area, that I did not previously possess, and i feel as though I am capable of passing on that same passion for learning and language.

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." William Butler Yeats