2. Perfect Curriculum Presented by Molly McMillan, Ken Wayman, Myrna Guthrie, Lisa Ego

3. Dogwood Dawn Elementary “After the dog days of summer, come the DOG days of school!”

4. Philosophy

5. Learning Theory Proponents: Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget, Jerome Bruner, Seymour Papert, Key Aspects: Social Development Theory, Constructivism, Discovery Learning

6. Behavior Theory Proponents: Alfred Adler, Rudolf Dreikurs Adlerian Psychology (Individual Psychology), Basic Premise: “The central motivation of all humans is to belong and accepted by others.” All behavior of individuals is understood in the social context.

7. Behavior Theory ( Continued) Four Mistaken Goals of the Discouraged Child – Attention – Power – Revenge – Inadequacy

8. Instructional Theory Proponents: John Dewey, Franklin Bobbit, Ralph Tyler: What educational purposes should the school seek to attain? What educational experiences can be provided that are likely to attain these purposes? How can these educational experiences be effectively organized? How can we determine whether these purposes are being attained?

9. Beliefs About the Learning Process Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy

11. Vertical and Horizontal Alignment Areas to align: Content areas: Reading, Literature, Grammar, Spelling, Math, Science, History, Geography, Sociology, Art, Music, Dance, Theater, Foreign Languages, Technology, Physical Education, Health

12. Vertical and Horizontal Alignment (ctd.) Areas to align (ctd.): Process (Systems) Areas: Procedures, Reflection, Public Speaking, Research, Writing, Typing Citizenship areas: Listening, Communicating, Tolerance, Responsibility, Service

13. Vertical Alignment Continual, progressive, minimum benchmarks for each grade level; within each content, process, and citizenship area. Ongoing review of pre-requisite benchmarks from previous grade levels.

14. Horizontal Alignment Alignment across same grade levels for all areas (content, process, citizenship).

15. How are we going to do this? Provide adequate time for ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders (preparation time together for horizontal alignment, days off for vertical alignment).

16. How else? Actively seek to inform all stakeholders from all levels. Actively seek input from all stakeholders, at all levels.

17. Textbook Adoption Suggestions (so far) : Spaulding (Reading and Writing), Saxon (Math), Spotlight On Music, or Share the Music (Music)

18. Teacher In-service Suggestions: Training Course for Spaulding, The First Days of School by Harry Wong, Instructional Design by Robert Marzano

19. Standards (vaguely similar to vertical alignment concept) National Standards State Standards Associations and Organizations District

20. Role of the Stakeholders Overall Philosophy

21. Role of the Stakeholders Student Learning Children learn in the social context of school. They learn in and out of the classroom. They learn by what they see, hear and do.

22. Role of the Stakeholders (ctd.) Student Learning (ctd.) Student learning is based on the fact that students know that their teachers have high expectations for their academic accomplishment and their conduct.

23. Role of the Stakeholders (ctd.) Student Learning (ctd.) Our goal is to help each student develop their capacity to develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions that equip them to become work and college ready.

24. Student Role Students are deeply engaged/connected in their work. Students are able to articulate their understanding for expectations.

25. Student Role Students demonstrate exemplary work habits Students communicate a sense of Pride for their school and their ability to succeed as a learner. Demonstrate respect for authority.

26. Teacher Role Student Learning is at the Center of all decisions. Communicate High Expectations

27. Teacher Role Develop Confident Learners Actively monitor student learning Problem solve with the principal

28. Teacher Role Teachers are adaptive to the needs of the students. Set all students up for success

29. Teacher Role Prepare students for state wide testing. Teachers come with solutions to problems.

30. Administration Role Help create a school culture that is centered on student learning Monitors student learning

31. Administration Role Helps to defend, protect and insure instructional time Helps facilitate the development of a useful reporting process.

32. Administration Role Handles discipline problems so as not to interrupt the instructional teaching time. Create opportunity for parents to understand what is happening in our school.

33. Parent Role “Our school is dependent on the support and encouragement of parents.” Help develop a strong partnership between the school and home. Help students to develop good work ethic and study habits

34. Parent Role “Our school is dependent on the support and encouragement of parents.” Help your child to be prepared for school each day by seeing that they receive adequate nutrition and sleep. Attend conferences to make sure that you are aware of child’s progress

35. Parent Role “Our school is dependent on the support and encouragement of parents.” Actively communicate with your child’s teacher and the school. Have a positive attitude about school and the learning process and communicate that to your child.

36. Community Role In our perfect curriculum, the community would be one of the major stakeholders. They are a vital part of the educational process.

37. Our Community… will be supportive of our children and choices that are made with their best interests in mind. Will be informed of decisions regarding our school and students and have input in those decisions.

38. Our Community… Will be encouraged to participate and take an active role in our students’ education. Will be open-minded about decisions to better assist our student’s education and improve their educational setting.

39. Our Community… Will regularly take part in our partnership meetings in order to bring in outside ideas to the table. Will be invested in our school and students. They are our future!

40. Assessment Assessment is a crucial part in determining whether a curriculum is effective. At Dogwood Dawn, we created assessments that would be most beneficial to our students needs.

41. Our Assessments… Will be measureable Will be effective Will be grade level and content appropriate

42. Our Assessments… Will be done in a variety of ways: – Portfolios – Oral reports – Presentations on the computer – Writing an essay – Performing a play – Writing a song

43. Assessments (ctd.) We will also have an end of course test which all students will take to show progress and performance learned throughout the year.

44. End of Official Presentation What are your questions?