Curriculum: If I Was In Charge

[Annie]

Which I'm not, not a bit.
Kindergarten: All students upon certificate of completion will know the sounds of long, short vowels, all consonants, etc. Will be able to identify numbers 0-100.

1-3 Able to read at grade level. Perform math functions at grade level.

4-5 Will be able to do math through all functions of fractions/decimals. Reading abili†y will include characterization, theme, and setting. The student will be able to expound on why. Science: Will be able to cite and explain scientific method.

6-8th

Reading should be a 'no brainer'.

Math: Everything prior to
Algebra/geometry. Science should include evolution, in†ro to physics/chemistry, biology, environmental.

Social studies: Should include River Civilizations, Greece , Rome. Imperialism of Europe. Mission of Catholics. Reformation.Rennaissance. Mission of Protestants. Post-Medieval...American history from Conquistadors-colonial.

Colonial-Pre-Revolution

Revolution-Constitution

Constitution-Nation Building.

WWII-Gulf WarI

9/11-Iran and others

High School, another post..

 

[Shattered]

Kindergarten: All students upon certificate of completion will know the sounds of long, short vowels, all consonants, etc. Will be able to identify numbers 0-100.

Wouldn't that cut in to nap time, and milk and snack time?

 

[Annie]

Wouldn't that cut in to nap time, and milk and snack time?

Not in 'all day kindergarten'

 

[Shattered]

Not in 'all day kindergarten'

Good. I'd hate to have to part with my red and blue mat, and I really like graham crackers...

 

[Hobbit]

Which I'm not, not a bit.
Kindergarten: All students upon certificate of completion will know the sounds of long, short vowels, all consonants, etc. Will be able to identify numbers 0-100.

1-3 Able to read at grade level. Perform math functions at grade level.

4-5 Will be able to do math through all functions of fractions/decimals. Reading abili†y will include characterization, theme, and setting. The student will be able to expound on why. Science: Will be able to cite and explain scientific method.

6-8th

Reading should be a 'no brainer'.

Math: Everything prior to
Algebra/geometry. Science should include evolution, in†ro to physics/chemistry, biology, environmental.

Social studies: Should include River Civilizations, Greece , Rome. Imperialism of Europe. Mission of Catholics. Reformation.Rennaissance. Mission of Protestants. Post-Medieval...American history from Conquistadors-colonial.

Colonial-Pre-Revolution

Revolution-Constitution

Constitution-Nation Building.

WWII-Gulf WarI

9/11-Iran and others

High School, another post..

I actually went a bit faster than that, which is why I believe in seperation by ability level, rather than the number of years spent in school.

 

[Mr.Conley]

I actually went a bit faster than that, which is why I believe in seperation by ability level, rather than the number of years spent in school.

I'm with Hobbit on this one. Sitting in 5th grade while the rest of the class reviewed multiplying fractions again got old. I guess some of the lower level kids might feel stupid for not being in the 'advanced' class, but they had there chance and now the teacher can focus of the specific needs of the individual groups.

By the way, don't forget to include an indepth review of the names of all 50 states as well as their capitals and abbreviations from the 3rd through 5th grade, knowing the capital of Montana always comes in handy.

 

[Mr.Conley]

Also, I would move Algebra 1 to the 6th grade instead of waiting to high school.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

Constitution-Nation Building.

Could you go into a little more detail on this topic?

 

[rtwngAvngr]

I'm wondering if people should be taught world history from the get go. Any thoughts? I like western civ., but we need to understand OTHER Histories more intimately, so we're not susceptible to misrepresenations about how our IMPERIALISM really ranks in the worlds complete history of domination and atrocity.

 

[rtwngAvngr]

"The WOnders Of Egypts" - AKA tens of thousands of slaves devoted to the personal glorification of the latest descendant to head a nepotistic theocratic cult.

 

[Nienna]

I actually went a bit faster than that, which is why I believe in seperation by ability level, rather than the number of years spent in school.

Most definitely.

 

[Kagom]

I'd go with that, but I'd also implement a language course for kids that the kids could choose (with some guidance for parents). I think that might help them become stronger in language skills.

 

[liberalogic]

Which I'm not, not a bit.
Kindergarten: All students upon certificate of completion will know the sounds of long, short vowels, all consonants, etc. Will be able to identify numbers 0-100.

1-3 Able to read at grade level. Perform math functions at grade level.

4-5 Will be able to do math through all functions of fractions/decimals. Reading abili†y will include characterization, theme, and setting. The student will be able to expound on why. Science: Will be able to cite and explain scientific method.

6-8th

Reading should be a 'no brainer'.

Math: Everything prior to
Algebra/geometry. Science should include evolution, in†ro to physics/chemistry, biology, environmental.

Social studies: Should include River Civilizations, Greece , Rome. Imperialism of Europe. Mission of Catholics. Reformation.Rennaissance. Mission of Protestants. Post-Medieval...American history from Conquistadors-colonial.

Colonial-Pre-Revolution

Revolution-Constitution

Constitution-Nation Building.

WWII-Gulf WarI

9/11-Iran and others

High School, another post..

I like most of it, but I have just a few comments...

1) Algebra 1 should definitely be taught in JR HS without question. Those skills are so important and must be mastered before HS.

2) I say this one from experience because I worked with Kindergarten kids at a learning center for over 2 years. Kindergarteners are being thrust into reading much earlier than when I was that age. I've seen kids struggle with this and I've discussed it with parents as well, but in the end, I think it serves them best. Kindergarteners should be reading AT LEAST 3 letter words and should be putting together consonant sounds. Instilling phonetic awareness at this stage is beneficial because it allows them to take on more challenging work at younger ages.

3) I think learning the english language grammatically needs to be emphasized. This is not fully obtained through reading and should be taught separately.

Just a few suggestions...

 

[KarlMarx]

For the Hight School level ... we should bring back education in the classics, you know "dead white guy" stuff

e.g. The Iliad, The Odyssey, Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, the histories of Rome and Greece, the philosophers Plato and Aristotle, the great thinkers of the Renaissance, Adam Smith, The Federalist Papers....

and definitely NOT Marx, Engels or any leftists... you might as well teach "Mein Kampf" if you do... we have too much of that crap being forced on kids today....

yeah, I know... that's a pipe dream, but it's better than having kids read "Death of a Salesman" or "Catcher in the Rye"... which I find to be socialist and nihilistic..

If we're going to expose kids to anything, let's expose them to positive things first. The negative, nihilistic literature that gets taught in schools just gives kids a negative view of the world... no wonder they're all depressed and acting out....

oh, and Eastern Philosophy and all that is fine, but it should be confined to the periphery of education. After all, the Chinese teach their kids Chinese thought and history, so we should teach our kids Western thought and history.

 

[Annie]

For the Hight School level ... we should bring back education in the classics, you know "dead white guy" stuff

e.g. The Iliad, The Odyssey, Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, the histories of Rome and Greece, the philosophers Plato and Aristotle, the great thinkers of the Renaissance, Adam Smith, The Federalist Papers....

and definitely NOT Marx, Engels or any leftists... you might as well teach "Mein Kampf" if you do... we have too much of that crap being forced on kids today....

yeah, I know... that's a pipe dream, but it's better than having kids read "Death of a Salesman" or "Catcher in the Rye"... which I find to be socialist and nihilistic..

If we're going to expose kids to anything, let's expose them to positive things first. The negative, nihilistic literature that gets taught in schools just gives kids a negative view of the world... no wonder they're all depressed and acting out....

oh, and Eastern Philosophy and all that is fine, but it should be confined to the periphery of education. After all, the Chinese teach their kids Chinese thought and history, so we should teach our kids Western thought and history.

I agree with the classics, including 'Democracy In America'...'The Federalist Papers'...

 

[liberalogic]

For the Hight School level ... we should bring back education in the classics, you know "dead white guy" stuff

e.g. The Iliad, The Odyssey, Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, the histories of Rome and Greece, the philosophers Plato and Aristotle, the great thinkers of the Renaissance, Adam Smith, The Federalist Papers....

and definitely NOT Marx, Engels or any leftists... you might as well teach "Mein Kampf" if you do... we have too much of that crap being forced on kids today....

yeah, I know... that's a pipe dream, but it's better than having kids read "Death of a Salesman" or "Catcher in the Rye"... which I find to be socialist and nihilistic..

If we're going to expose kids to anything, let's expose them to positive things first. The negative, nihilistic literature that gets taught in schools just gives kids a negative view of the world... no wonder they're all depressed and acting out....

oh, and Eastern Philosophy and all that is fine, but it should be confined to the periphery of education. After all, the Chinese teach their kids Chinese thought and history, so we should teach our kids Western thought and history.

Take away "Catcher in the Rye???????" I agree with teaching some of the classics, but fairly contemporary literature is just as important. While "The Catcher in the Rye" and "Death of a Salesman" may be fairly depressing, they are still venues through which students learn to understand the complexity of life itself in today's world. Trust me, the books in school aren't what's making today's youth sad. Relying only on classical literature alienates our current perspective of the world. And also, most of that stuff is read in the first few years of college en route to satisfying the liberal arts requirement. We don't need to read them all twice.

 

[KarlMarx]

Take away "Catcher in the Rye???????" I agree with teaching some of the classics, but fairly contemporary literature is just as important. While "The Catcher in the Rye" and "Death of a Salesman" may be fairly depressing, they are still venues through which students learn to understand the complexity of life itself in today's world. Trust me, the books in school aren't what's making today's youth sad. Relying only on classical literature alienates our current perspective of the world. And also, most of that stuff is read in the first few years of college en route to satisfying the liberal arts requirement. We don't need to read them all twice.

Honestly, you ought to read the classics, you'll find that not much has changed under the sun since Homer's day....

King Agemmenon comes home from the Trojan Wars only to be murdered by his adulterous wife's lover....

Penelope resists the advances of her suitors while Odysseus is away....

Pericles misappropriates the funds of the Delian league to build the Parthenon...

The Pelloponisian wars started out as a dispute over trade territory

King Cyrus grandfather had a contract put on him while he was an infant....

Then, the man who resuced King Cyrus as an infant was tricked into eating his own son's body at a banquet as a punishment....

The Magi (yes, as in the Magi who visited Christ) attempted to overthrow the Persian empire by impersonating the dead king's brother and almost got away with it... until one of their girlfriends spilled the beans.....

Greed, lust, bravery, a sense of duty.... it's all in there... and still relevant to our times...

 

[liberalogic]

Honestly, you ought to read the classics, you'll find that not much has changed under the sun since Homer's day....

King Agemmenon comes home from the Trojan Wars only to be murdered by his adulterous wife's lover....

Penelope resists the advances of her suitors while Odysseus is away....

Pericles misappropriates the funds of the Delian league to build the Parthenon...

The Pelloponisian wars started out as a dispute over trade territory

King Cyrus grandfather had a contract put on him while he was an infant....

Then, the man who resuced King Cyrus as an infant was tricked into eating his own son's body at a banquet as a punishment....

The Magi (yes, as in the Magi who visited Christ) attempted to overthrow the Persian empire by impersonating the dead king's brother and almost got away with it... until one of their girlfriends spilled the beans.....

Greed, lust, bravery, a sense of duty.... it's all in there... and still relevant to our times...

I've read most of it...from the Odyssey to Aeshylus' trilogy, to the Aeneid, to Plato's Republic, Aristotle, Epicurus, Epictetus, etc. I've even studied their damn art and architecture (I hated the art so much that I would've rather read "Jane Eyre" again!).

You're right in that a lot of it is the same, but while we can make connections, it's just as important to see where we are today. What about To Kill a Mockingbird? That deals with racism, wouldn't you say that's a fairly important topic? Or Wiesel's "Night" which gives an incredible account of the Holocaust and produces questions about faith and the value of the individual? Or "Of Mice and Men" which deals with mental disabilities? My problem with the ancient texts is that we don't see a true struggle of the individual to the extent of a, shall we say, Holden Caulfield. Yes, the characters do face intrinsic and extrinsic challenges, but in the end we usually see honor and prowess prevail; limitations stemming from the moral fabric of these societies. Seeing the individual for who he is in relation to our current society forces us to question who we are; it forces us to grapple with the central idea of the author in the context of today and today alone.

Also, the prose in classical literature drastically differs from what is published today. To centralize a HS curriculum around that would undermine the richness of contemporary texts and not allow students to be aware of and therefore employ in their own writings the styles of today's authors. I've read so many pieces of literature that directly impact my style of writing; if we take this away, how am I supposed to write? In the terzarima style of Dante?

Look, don't get me wrong. I completely agree that the classics are crucial to our perception of literature as a whole. I encourage the infiltration of these texts in both HS and college; not because I like them (I really don't like most of them), but because I can appreciate their ability to broaden our view of the world and to show us the eloquence of prose that would be foreign to us. I just can't agree that we should base HS literature on this alone and get rid of the more contemporary texts that are so valuable to our education.

 

[deaddude]

Catholic School moved so much faster than that.

I read Dante in the fourth grade, did basic algebra in the 5th grade, did evolution in the fifth grade. Did stock market simulations in the 6th grade

After 6th grade I moved to a public Jr High. It was infuriating, I probably did not learn anything new (except in history courses) until about 9th grade.

 

[Mr.Conley]

When I went to boarding school, I knew a few 9th graders who took BC calculus and linear algebra. Now thats a fast track.

I also like the system the French and Chinese use. About mid-way through junior high, students decide whether to take a math/science oriented course, or languager/social studies based education. They still have courses in both areas, but get to focus more on what they enjoy.