Perfect Curriculum

Presented by Molly McMillan, Myrna Guthrie,

Lisa Ego, Ken Wayman

Dogwood Dawn Elementary

“After the dog days of summer,

come the DOG days of school!”

Philosophy

Pedagogy

Learning TheoryProponents: Lev Vygotsky,

Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, Seymour Papert,

Key Aspects: Social Development Theory, Constructivism, Discovery Learning

Behavior TheoryProponents: Alfred Adler, Rudolf DreikursAdlerian Psychology (Individual Psychology), Basic Premise: “The central motivation of all humans is to

belong and accepted by others.”All behavior of individuals is understood in the

social context.

Behavior Theory (Continued)

• Four Mistaken Goals of the Discouraged Child–Attention–Power–Revenge–Inadequacy

Instructional Theory• Proponents: John Dewey, Franklin Bobbit, Ralph Tyler

Ralph Tyler:What educational purposes should the school seek to attain?What educational experiences can be provided that are likely to attain these purposes?How can these educational experiences be effectively organized?How can we determine whether these purposes are being attained?

Beliefs About the Learning Process

• Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy

Vertical and Horizontal Alignment

• Areas to align: Content areas: Reading, Language Arts, Literature, Math, Science, Social Studies, Arts [Art, Music, Dance, Theater, Foreign Languages], Technology, Physical Education/Health), Process areas: Procedures, Reflection, Public Speaking, Looking for Relevance, meeting protocols Citizenship areas: Listening, Communicating, Tolerance, Responsibility, Service

Vertical and Horizontal Alignment

Vertical: Continual, progressive minimum benchmarks for each grade

level, within each content, process, and citizenship area

Ongoing review of pre-requisite benchmarks from previous grade

levels.

Vertical and Horizontal Alignment

Horizontal: Alignment across each grade level for each area (content , process, citizenship).

Provide adequate time for ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders (preparation time together for horizontal alignment, days off for vertical alignment).

Actively seek input from all stakeholders, at all levels. Actively seek to inform all stakeholders from all

levels.

Textbook Adoption• [Spaulding], [Saxon], Harry Wong

Standards

Role of the Stakeholders

• Student Learning• Children learn in the social context of school. They

learn in and out of the classroom. They learn by what they see, hear and do. Student learning is based on the fact that students know that their teachers have high expectations for their academic accomplishment and their conduct. Our goal is to help each student develop their capacity to develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions that equip them to become work and college ready.

Student Role

• Students are deeply engaged/connected in their work.

• Students are able to articulate their understanding for expectations.

• Students demonstrate exemplary work habits• Students communicate a sense of Pride for their

school and their ability to succeed as a learner.• Demonstrate respect for authority.

Teacher Role

• Student Learning is at the Center of all decisions.• Communicate High Expectations• Develop Confident Learners• Actively monitor student learning• Problem solve with the principal• Teachers are adaptive to the needs of the students.• Set all students up for success• Prepare students of state wide testing.• Teachers come with solutions to problems.

Adminstration Role

• Help create a school culture that is centered on student learning

• Monitors student learning• Helps to defend, protect and insure instructional time• Helps facilitate the development of a useful reporting

process.• Handles discipline problems so as not to interrupt the

instructional teaching time.• Create opportunity for parents to understand what is

happening in our school.

Parent Role“Our school is dependent on the support and encouragement of parents.”

• Help develop a strong partnership between the school and home.

• Help students to develop good work ethic and study habits• Help your child to be prepared for school each day by seeing

that they receive adequate nutrition and sleep.• Attend conferences to make sure that you are aware of child’s

progress• Actively communicate with your child’s teacher and the

school.• Have a positive attitude about school and the learning

process and communicate that to your child.

Community RoleIn our perfect curriculum, the community would be

one of the major stakeholders.

They are a vital part of the

educational process.

Our Community…Will be supportive of our children

and choices that are made with their best interests in mind.

Will be informed of decisions regarding our school and

students and have input in those decisions.

Our Community…Will be encouraged to participate

and take an active role in our student’s education.

Will be open-minded about decisions to better assist our

student’s education and improve their educational setting.

Our Community…Will regularly take part in our

partnership meetings in order to bring in outside ideas to the table.

Will be invested in our school and students. They are our future!

AssessmentAssessment is a crucial part in

determining whether a curriculum is effective.

At Dogwood Dawn, we created assessments that would be most beneficial to our students needs.

Our Assessments…• Will be measureable• Will be effective• Will be grade level and content appropriate• Will be done in a variety of ways:

– Portfolios– Oral reports– Presentations on the computer– Writing an essay– Performing a play– Writing a song

• We will also have an end of course test which all students will take to show progress and performance learned throughout the year.

Our Assessments…• Will be done in a variety of ways:– Portfolios– Oral reports– Presentations on the computer– Writing an essay– Performing a play– Writing a song

Assessment(Continued)

• We will also have an end of course test

which all students will take to show progress

and performance learned throughout the year.