Educating the Whole Child

GUIDING MISSION “The guiding mission of the North Carolina State Board of Education is that every public school student will graduate from high school, globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st Century.”

Goal: NC public schools will produce globally competitive students. Every student excels in rigorous and relevant core curriculum that reflects what students need to know and demonstrate in a global 21st Century environment, including a mastery of languages, an appreciation of the arts, and competencies in the use of technology. Every student’s achievement is measured with an assessment system that informs instruction and evaluates knowledge, skills, performance, and dispositions needed in the 21st Century. Every student will be enrolled in a course of study designed to prepare them to stay ahead of international competition.

Policy and Legislation Basic Education Program (§ 115C-81) The NC Standard Course of Study

Research Connections (Jensen) Whole Brain (Zull) –Gathering –Analyzing –Creating –Acting Enriched Environments (Diamond and Hobson)

Initiatives The Balanced Curriculum (NCDPI) Framework for 21 st Century Learning (P21) Whole Child Approach (ASCD) Life Skills (CCSSO) 7 Survival Skills from The Global Achievement Gap (Wagner) Career and College: Ready, Set, Go ! (GETC)

Why teach the Whole Child? Teaching the whole child provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to transfer and connect ideas and concepts across disciplines. These students will be successful as measured by standardized tests and other indicators of student success (i.e. preparedness for work and life).

Educating the Whole Child Discussion: 1.How does this content area prepare students to be future ready? 2.How does this area connect to other content areas? Sharing: A spokesperson should be prepared to report out a synthesis of the group’s discussion with no more than a 2-3 sentence answer for each question.

The Realities National: Most districts that increased time for ELA or math also reported substantial cuts in time for other subjects or periods, including social studies, science, art and music, physical education, recess, or lunch. State: NC Teachers and Administrators reported heavy emphasis on tested areas and under-emphasizing or not teaching those areas which were not tested (including the arts, physical education, health, science, social studies, and world languages).

The Realities large and overwhelming class and student loads for special area teachers; underutilization of instructional time prevention of attendance in special area classes in order to receive tutoring or special services; skills taught in isolation (e.g. “EOG prep”); inadequate collaborative planning time, (especially across and between grade levels, special services and special areas).

Teaching to the Test vs. Teaching to the Whole Child Teaching solely to the test will leave children behind; particularly those who: do not speak the English language, have disabilities, are at risk and unmotivated, and are able to demonstrate their understandings in a multitude of ways, but not necessarily on standardized tests.

What Needs to Happen? How schools allocate time will in part determine schools’ ability to implement a balanced curriculum. Time will not change the practices that are occurring within classrooms. How time is utilized will determine whether or not every student is afforded the opportunity to receive a balanced curriculum and to have his or her individual instructional needs met to the fullest extent possible.

What Needs to Happen? Schools must genuinely look at research-based practices that clearly provide benefits to students. Examples: A+ Schools Program IB Programs Language Immersion Programs Others

The Whole Child Addressing the whole child prepares future-ready students who are competitive for work and post-secondary education and prepared for life in the 21 st century.

Points to Ponder NC projected % change for enrollment between and is 5-20%. Today’s Kindergartner will be retiring in The Condition of Education, 2011

Contact Helga Fasciano Section Chief, K-12 Programs Ph: Christie Lynch Ebert Arts Education Consultant and Liaison to the A+ Schools Program Ph:

Resources Basic Education Program: – Framework for 21 st Century Learning: – ASCD Whole Child Website: – The Condition of Education (2011): –

Resources NCDPI: The Balanced Curriculum: – (scroll to links for the Elementary and Middle Grades documents) Career and College: Ready, Set, Go! – Center on Education Policy – The Global Achievement Gap –