Overcoming Difficulties Associated With Curriculum Integration

One of the biggest problems in the American public education system is the lack of a common standard for what students should be learning, and when they should learn it. In other words, the inequality of curriculums across the nation is affecting the preparedness of students when they venture out beyond the public school system, for the worst. The way to fix this problem, according to many teachers, administrators, and politicians, is by implementing a common curriculum across the nation that will ensure that the quality of a student’s education is not determined by where they happen to live.

Controversy over the education curriculum has always been present. There has been a countless number of students questioning the reasoning for going over specific topics in all classes. The iconic “when are we going to use this in the real world?” question has sparked within the majority of mathematics classes. Stanley Fish’s editorial does not regard the importance of subjects taught in math courses, but rather, the material college professors should be teaching within their English courses.

Today’s education system is challenged with creating and incorporating the most effective and meaningful methodological and conceptual curriculum designs to date. One of the key challenges is to design curriculums that facilitate understanding, retention, and generalization (Bulgren, Deshler, & Lenz, 2007, p. 121-122). However, there is no single way to overcome these challenges due to the variances and complexities within each content area. These, along with the demands of meeting high stakes testing, and the endless revolving door of performance standards, places teachers in a constant state of turmoil as they seek to create coexistence between student achievement and rigorous and challenging standards. One strategy being implemented

Curriculums are the roadmaps for schools which provide purpose and direction for administrators, educators, parents, and students. Curriculum typically refers to, “the knowledge and skills students are expected to learn, which includes the learning standards or learning objectives they are expected to meet; the units and lessons that teachers teach; the assignments and projects given to students; the books, materials, videos, presentations, and readings used in a course; and the tests, assessments, and other methods used to evaluate student learning.” (Curriculum, 2015, para. 1) Curriculums may come in many shapes and forms, whether they’re purchased as a package at the school or district level or they’re created or refined by educators and

The purpose of the Comprehensive Curriculum Project (CCP) is to analyze the myriad of issues that have arisen over the last few years revolving around curricula and its use in the classroom, school, and district. With the 2010 state adoption of the Common Core, educators experienced many different transitional issues and developmental issues revolving around the curricula. In order to develop a deeper understanding of these issues it is important to conduct interviews, look at the Teacher Working Conditions survey, and to analyze local organizational models that might affect the transition to the new standards.

In today’s standardized public education, pacing guides are becoming the backbone of teachers’ professional lives. According to Bauml (2015), “the notion that schools should provide teachers with curriculum materials to inform instruction has been around for centuries”. In this curriculum leadership platform I will discuss how these circumstances limit teachers’ autonomy and how do I, as a curriculum leader, “enable faculty and staff to work as a system focused on student learning”.

In theory, this is the same idea that Howard County has for their Social Studies curriculum, but unfortunately the continuity in subject matter mastered is not evident and I fear we could go down the same road with Common Core (CCSS). Therefore, curriculum should support continuity within a school system, but often that does not occur.

At the beginning of the school year, administration will present the plan to teachers and staff and explain the importance of the academic integration and the positive outcomes that are possible. A “Leadership Team” will formed consisting of experienced literacy, math, and CTE teachers, an administration member, and the curriculum director. The Leadership Team will be responsible for evaluating academic standards and CTE standards and forming a literacy and math plan that can be implemented in CTE courses. The Leadership Team will also be responsible for developing ongoing teacher training to include literacy and math in CTE courses and correspondence with literacy and math teachers.

Schools must decide how to teach the standardized curriculum. Schools must figure out how to mesh a standardized and non-standardized curriculum. Can students guide their own curriculum and perform well on tests?

Integrating content from areas such as social studies and the arts can often be useful in stimulating student motivation and maintaining student interest. What are some of the ways you have observed teachers integrating content areas in work with students in grades 7-12?

Furthermore, I feel confident in asserting that Park Middle School represents many, if not all, of the aspects expected from a collaborative culture. Overall, when reviewing the School Culture Typology Activity and protocol described by Steve Gruenert and Todd Whitaker, statements with the survey that reflects a “collaborative culture” certainly resonated with me. There were two components of the survey that caught my attention. First, there is certainly an openness amongst staff as well as administration. We are committed to openly discussing our practices and working together to make decisions that improves our practice. Secondly, our school promotes and provides opportunities for professional development, not only outside of school but every

Dawn Essig attended Mount Saint Mary College where she earned her BS in Political Science, Education, and Special Education. Dr. Essig also attended Marist College where she obtained a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology and then pursued her Doctorate in Teacher Leadership from Walden University. As an educator, Dr. Essig taught elementary through high school general and special education while serving as an adjunct professor at Marist College in the Education department. Dr. Essig’s extensive experience and knowledge in technology integration in school districts, certification as a Wilson Reading Specialist and use of MAP assessments and data to make instructional decisions led to being a well-qualified Professional Development Consultant for

During my second preclinical experience at Westview Hills Middle School, I learned the importance of cooperation and collaboration among teachers at a school. I was able to observe team and department meetings during this experience. It became clear that it is important for teachers to work together in order to provide a positive atmosphere at a school and in a specific department. Although it became obvious that personalities and teaching styles were different throughout the school, the teachers still acted professionally and used each other as resources in

1. Children explore and play with materials,They will gain the knowledge and skill necessary to eventually use these materials creatively. One important goal for the early childhood teacher is to provide an adequate base of knowledge and skills for children. Children will develop their social skills. The children interact with others. They will start conversation with other friends. They will learn how to share the material. And you know? they will teach each other. Children will move and more active, not just sit down on the desk.

The contemporary classroom is a rich blend of children from varied backgrounds, all with individual needs, interests and abilities. These students must be able learn in a context that is relevant to their lives and every day experiences as 21st century learners (Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority, 2013). Integration or integrated curriculum at its core, is solely about making connections (Murdoch & Hornsby, 1997). Connections between core learning areas such as literacy, numeracy or science, create deeper connected understandings when delivered through an integrated curriculum rather than taught in isolation. Making meaningful connections with an integrated curriculum is reflected in current policy documents such as the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authorities’ [ACARA] (2014) Cross Curricular Priorities and General Capabilities. Integrated curriculum and hands on experiential based or inquiry learning is also promoted by the National Quality Schools Framework (NQFS) document for primary aged children, My time, our place framework for school aged care in Australia (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2011). Integrated programming can be greatly supported by inquiry-based models which provide students’ opportunities to follow their interests and passions through practical and relevant learning experiences (Murdoch, 2010). Inquiry-based