Curriculum and Philosophy For Language and Literacy Based Curriculums in Private Elementary Schools in Ontario.

Essentialism

The Goal is to Educate the Complete Person

Teaching students that the importance of reading is the beginning of wisdom.

Significant effort is put on reading accuracy and fluency. Robust remediation is in effect

strategic reading program
Eg. Direct Instruction, Jolly Phonics, Ortan Gillingham

Promotes Intellectual Growth
Regarding the Individual

Teaches Essential and Academic Skills

Problem centered design: focuses on teaching students to be problem solvers.

Implementing reading, writing and spelling in the weekly schedule.

problem based: using reading skills to follow recipes/ directions

Teacher is the Authority

Teacher teaches phonics or spelling rules of complex words and definitions through "word study".

Focus on Three R's

"reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic"

Set schedule times for reading, writing, math, and other care academic areas

Perennialism

Promotes Intelligence

Students are regularly quizzed on novel studies material to ensure understanding of literary devices.

Fact Based

reading historical texts for reading comprehension

reading/learning about history through non-fiction books

Classic Subjects are Taught

Using Shakespeare to teach modern day novel studies

Explicitly Teachers Traditional Values

Subject centered design: describes what needs to be studied an how.

Progressivism

Supporting Democratic and Social Living

active child: students who initiates their own learning through communication based on their interests of the world.

In social studies, if the student is interested in the environment, they may make posters for their school about the importance of conservation

Knowledge Leads to Growth and Development

Active and Interesting Learning

Learner centered: students engaging in literacy centers to enhance independence and apply knowledge to work.

Teacher is Guide

Questions Such As:
1. What do you think would happen if...___?
2. Why do you think_____happened?
3. Do you think there is another way to get that answer?

Learning is Based on Student Interests

Students are encouraged to choose books based on individual interests at the library or quiet reading time.

Relevant Curriculum

Learner centered design: Focuses on student's own interests and goals.

Growth Model

Reconstructionism

Goal is to Improve and Reconnect Society

Students facilitate "Current Events" discussions as an opportunity to learn and educate their peers on what is happening in the world around them.

Teaches Skills Required For Change

Supports Skills for the Future

Using technology (laptops/iPads) for writing tasks such as journalling.

The initial focus will be on the information and idea generating. Second will be learning to write and convery ideas in written forms.

Learner centered: Aims to empower learners to shape their education with what they think is important and identify future goals.

Teacher Acts as an Agent of Change

Making inferences with text/finding the main idea

set goals to meet
rather than grades

Asking "what's the big idea?" and questions to build and improve vocabulary.