Basic Education Curriculum - Assignment Example

Running Head: BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM Basic Education Curriculum Figure Elementary Education Curriculum Areas K1 2 3 4 5 Language Arts 400 min/wk 400 min/wk 400 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk Listen Listen Listen Listen Listen Listen Speak Speak Speak Speak Speak Speak Read Read Read Read Read Read Write Write Write Write Compostion Composition Mathematics 400 min/wk 400 min/wk 400 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers Addition/ Subtraction Addition/ Subtraction Addition/ Subtraction Addition/ Subtraction Addition/ Subtraction Addition/ Subtraction Multiplication/ Division Multiplication/ Division Multiplication/ Division Multiplication/ Division Science Integrated w/ above Integrated w/ above 200 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk World Around Us World Around Us General Science Plants Animals Human Body History & Social Studies 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 500 min/wk 600 min/wk 600 min/wk Civics & Culture Civics & Culture Civics & Culture Geography History Government & Civics Arts 100 min/wk 200 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk Drawing Drawing Drawing Drawing Drawing Drawing Music Music Music Music Music Performing Arts Performing Arts Performing Arts Performing Arts Technology 100 min/wk 200 min/wk 200 min/wk 200 min/wk 300 min/wk 400 min/wk Computers Word Processing Word Processing Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Presentation Internet - Accessing, Email, Web Design Physical Education 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 100 min/wk Child's Play Sports Sports Sports Sports Sports - Badminton Values Figure 2. Middle School Education Curriculum Subject Areas 6 7 8 Language 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk Advanced Grammar, Essay, Speech, Creative Writing Advanced Grammar, Essay, Speech, Creative Writing Advanced Grammar, Essay, Speech, Creative Writing Literature 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk Country Literature Country & Regional Literature Western Literature Mathematics 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 500 min/wk Algebra Advanced Algebra Geometry Trigonometry Science 300 min/wk 300 min/wk 300 min/wk General Science Biology Chemistry History & Social Studies 750 min/wk 750 min/wk 750 min/wk History Eastern History Western History Arts 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 200 min/wk Music Traditional Music Regional Music Humanities Livelihood 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 100 min/wk Home Economics Work Education Entrepreneurship Technology Integrated w/ above 100 min/wk 100 min/wk Computers Internet & Website Design, Computer Game Development Animation Health & Physical Education 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 100 min/wk Sports - Swimming Sports - Volleyball Sports - Basketball, Soccer Values 100 min/wk 100 min/wk 100 min/wk Values Values Values Explanation of Curriculum According to the U.S. Department of Education (2008), the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is an act to "close the achievement gap with accountability, flexibility, and choice, so that no child is left behind" It includes important provisions which specifically address mathematics, reading and language arts, and science, at the very least. As such different states have formulated their own academic standards to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act. In the Pennsylvania Code (2008), planned instruction for every year for K-2nd grade should include language arts, integrating reading, writing, phonics, spelling, listening, speaking, literature and grammar, and information management, including library skills; mathematics, including problem-solving and computation skills; science and technology education, involving active learning experiences for students; environment and ecology education, involving active learning experiences for students; social studies with civics and government, economics, geography and history; health, safety and physical education, including instruction in concepts and skills which affect personal, family and community health and safety, nutrition, the prevention of alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse, knowledge and practice of lifetime physical activities, personal fitness, basic movement skills and concepts, motor skill development, principles and strategies of movement, and safety practices in physical activity settings; the arts, including active learning experiences in art, music, dance and theatre. Planned instruction for 3rd to 5th grade shall include all the previously stated learning areas for K to 2nd grade, with the addition of instruction about agriculture and agricultural science within the science and technology and environment and ecology learning areas; and the understanding and use of library and other information sources. Moreover, planned instruction should be provided to every student at least once by the end of elementary school, in the areas of US history and PA Commonwealth history. The Elementary Education Curriculum in Figure 1 provides basic education to students from K-5th grade. It consists of six years of study. The overall mission of this curriculum is to enable students to acquire a basic preparation that will make them enlightened, disciplined, self-reliant, creative, versatile and productive citizens in a national community. The main objectives are to provide knowledge and develop the skills, attitudes and values essential to the children's personal development and necessary for living in and contributing to a developing and changing social milieu; to provide learning experiences aimed at increasing the children's awareness of and responsiveness to the demands of society, and to prepare them for constructive and effective involvement; to promote and intensify the children's knowledge of, identification with, and love for the nation and the people to which they belong; to promote work experiences aimed at developing and enhancing the children's orientation to the world of work and creativity, and to prepare them for honest and gainful work. In Figure 1, in K - 1st grade, science is integrated into Language Arts and Social Studies. In 2nd - 5th grades, science includes basic health concepts. History and Social Studies is a learning area that serves as a practice environment for developing a healthy personal and national self-identity. Ideally, this subject area should adopt modes of integrative teaching which will enable the learner to personally process and synthesize a wide range of skills and values such as cultural, aesthetic, athletic, vocational, politico-economic, and ethical. In K-2nd grade, Social Studies competencies and topics are developed through civics and culture. Children engage in character-building activities, develop good behavior, and are taught values like love for the country, good citizenship, and respect for one's cultural heritage. Children are also introduced to basic health knowledge, healthy practices, and simple scientific skills. Civics and culture also nurtures creative expressions through music, arts, physical exercises and games. In 2nd grade, civics and culture focuses on the development of a work ethic, while 3rd grade focuses on geography, 4th grade on history, and 5th grade on government and civics. Middle School is a continuation of the basic education provided at elementary level. It is expanded to include general education and training in basic employable skills such as in vocational and technical education. Middle School covers a period of three years of formal schooling, from 6th - 8th grade. In Figure 2, general science in the 6th grade covers basic concepts in earth science, biology, chemistry and physics; then follows biology in the 7th grade and chemistry in the 8th grade. In middle school, History and Social Studies is a learning area designed to develop the personal, social and work or special skills of learners, in particular interpersonal skills, empathy with other cultures, vocational efficiency, problem-solving, and decision-making in daily life. History studies cover national history, eastern and western history to cover the entire world history. The Values subject area, although defined with specific timing is also integrated in the other subject areas. According to John Dewey (UCFSD, 2008), an educator, psychologist and philosopher who did extensive work in reforming methods of education, "Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is not a preparation for life; education is life itself." As such any curriculum should be challenging, incorporating the best practices and current philosophies of each discipline with goals that solidify basic skills, cultivate creativity and examine understandings. Students should enjoy art, music, physical education, and technology classes while studying literacy, mathematics, science and social studies. Instructional methods should be designed to acknowledge and appreciate the diverse interests, abilities and learning styles of students (UCFSD, 2008). Reference List Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (2008). The Pennsylvania Code. Retrieved August 23, 2008, from http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.21.html U.S. Department of Education. (2008). No child left behind act of 2001. Retrieved August 23, 2008, from http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/index.html USFSD. (2008). Elementary Curriculum. Retrieved August 23, 2008, from http://www.ucfsd.org/elemcurr/ Read More