I wrote the following reflection while completing the Learning to Talk by Talking : A Developmental Approach to maximizing Language and Literacy Skills course.
How can school provide opportunities to align curriculum?
One way to provide opportunities for curriculum alignment throughout early years and elementary school is to facilitate vertical articulation and moderation protocols for teachers. With writing, for example, this could look like some teachers (across two or more grade levels) volunteering 3-5 anonymous samples of students’ writing which represent a range of students’ abilities. Working in teams, teachers can collaboratively moderate and share observations about the samples. This moderation and alignment of teachers’ understanding can be applied to a range of student learning
Another way to provide curriculum alignment could be to provide opportunities for teachers to observe and facilitate learning in neighbouring classes and year groups.
How would teachers & parents in socio-economically disadvantages communities be challenged?
I imagine that teachers and parents in socio-economically disadvantaged communities would be challenged by a range of family dynamics. It’s likely that time for engaging attention would be more limited. Family money issues also produce high levels of stress and strain in home environments. Some issues might included limited adult interest and engagement in children’s learning, fewer opportunities to travel and explore the wider world and diets with limited nutritional value. My suggestion
One way to provide opportunities for curriculum alignment throughout early years and elementary school is to facilitate vertical articulation and moderation protocols for teachers. With writing, for example, this could look like some teachers (across two or more grade levels) volunteering 3-5 anonymous samples of students’ writing which represent a range of students’ abilities. Working in teams, teachers can collaboratively moderate and share observations about the samples. This moderation and alignment of teachers’ understanding can be applied to a range of student learning
Another way to provide curriculum alignment could be to provide opportunities for teachers to observe and facilitate learning in neighbouring classes and year groups.
How would teachers & parents in socio-economically disadvantages communities be challenged?
I imagine that teachers and parents in socio-economically disadvantaged communities would be challenged by a range of family dynamics. It’s likely that time for engaging attention would be more limited. Family money issues also produce high levels of stress and strain in home environments. Some issues might included limited adult interest and engagement in children’s learning, fewer opportunities to travel and explore the wider world and diets with limited nutritional value. My suggestion
