Introduction
While curriculum is an essential aspect of all structured schooling it can have immense differences based on a variety of factors. One of these factors being the beliefs of the teacher implementing such curriculum. In fact the mere definition and purpose of curriculum can be drastically different from the perspective of teachers whose classroom are less than 10 feet away from each other. How an educator defines curriculum and establishes its purpose in the classroom has direct effects on student learning. I believe that curriculum includes all experiences students have that affect their education and growth. Curriculum can therefore be academic, social, emotional, physical, concrete, abstract, hidden, …show more content…
The curriculum continuum refers to the degree to which curriculum is integrated. Within the continuum the following five categories emerge: Conventional, Multi-Displinary,integrated, Integrative, and Beyond. The following graphic depicts these categories of the continuum.
The x marked on the continuum represents my current position on the continuum and the o represents my desired location on the continuum. As a prospective teacher my experiences have limited me to implementing curriculum that is conventional. The majority of my experiences have given me the opportunity to focus on traditional subject while integrating a variety of interactive teaching and learning strategies. With gained experience I would like to increase the degree of integration in my curriculum and move towards a multidisciplinary model.
My future position on the curriculum continuum is based on several factors, some of which I do not have control over. While a fully integrative curriculum is ideal, I understand my future position will realistically transition between conventional, multidisciplinary, and integrated. Furthermore, many of the benefits of a fully integrative curriculum can be in any curriculum; however, not without the cost of one 's time or other aspects.
Middle Level …show more content…
While the educator should maintain control of the classroom students should be given the opportunity to voice concerns, make choices, and play a major role in their education. Student voice can be place on a continuum similar to that of The Curriculum Continuum; furthermore, I see a correlation between the amount of student voice and the degree to which a classroom is integrative. Naturally I believe that the more integrative the curriculum the more student voice is present in a classroom. This may be due to the fact that students play a larger role in their education when the curriculum has more integrative components. While this is true I also believe that student voice can be incorporated at high levels many curriculum models. In other words student voice naturally increases when curriculum becomes more integrative; however, this is not the only factor determining student voice. Teaching and education leaders can allow for high levels of student voice in any curriculum