#Kinderchat, glue, glitter, gogurt, bringing daily joy to twitter. Find us Mondays, 9 pm EST and 8:30PM London time when we talk all things Early Years!
Hello everyone!!! Brett, Lamar, Mo., Aspiring T. #Kinderchat On another note .... I'm really sore from playing dodgeball yesterday before and after a youth ministry meeting at my church last night with the kids 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Hi I'm Erin and I am a sophomore at Chapman University! I am studying integrated educational studies and am looking forward to working with the little ones post graduation! Can't wait for this chat #kinderchat
BRETT!!! How are you my friend! Good to see you tonight! #kinderchat And talk to me about sore- I’m back to running unholy miles getting ready for my half marathon!
Oh! Hey! You’ve all introduced yourselves, so should introduce myself. I’m Carrie, I live on Prince Edward Island and I teach kindergarten. I am in my final course for my Masters, and just had a collaborate session for that. Isn’t technology awesome? #kinderchat
I’ll be moderating the "Curriculum Files”- like the X Files only more fun, lol!- this year in the chat. I thought we could spend some time unpacking what, exactly we think curriculum is. So, Q1: What do you think of when you hear the word “curriculum” #kinderchat
A1: When I hear the word "curriculum" I think of the topics that will be taught over the school year, and the lesson plans that the teachers will use #kinderchat
A1: I think of curriculum as a guideline from which you can base your teaching. Important points and topics that are necessary for a student to be proficient for the next level of learning. #kinderchat
A1: When I hear the word "curriculum," I think of the structure or plan for how a class is going to go, or the intended path for the course of study. I visualize a syllabus or a "plan of action" of sorts. #Kinderchat
A1: I’m a kinder curriculum writer, so it makes me think of TEKS, suggested resources, and a document designed to equip new teachers to plan how to get their student to expected end of year goals... definitely not glamorous, but necessary. #kinderchat
A1: When I hear the word curriculum, I think of the different subjects taught/planned learning experiences within a classroom! I believe that it is the heart of any learning institution. #Kinderchat
A1: I think of it almost like a guide for instruction. This keeps everyone accountable and makes sure that each kid is getting similar instruction. #kinderchat
A1: I think of the "guide" or "road map" for the school year. I could also see curriculum being in "blocks" consisting of numerous things as well #KinderChat
A1: When I hear he word"curriculum" I think of a route that a course will take. It's a set plan that educators follow to teach children what it is expected for them to learn. #Kinderchat
This is so interesting - I have heard so many US teachers use "curriculum" to describe pre-packaged teaching resources, but that has not been anyone's answer tonight. #Kinderchat
I agree with your response. The word syllabus is a great summary of curriculum, and allows a broad range for interpretation amongst different teachers! #Kinderchat
Great questions!! Sorry for the local lingo! TEKS stands for our Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills... basically state required expectations for all students! #kinderchat
The main consensus I’m seeing is that curriculum is what we teach throughout the school year. What or who, do you think, sets the parameters for this? #kinderchat
A2: I think the parameters for this are set in part by us as teachers, but also in part by our administrators and our state standards that we are required to fulfill every school year. #Kinderchat
I think that depending on the type of school, public/private/charter etc., it is either the state or the administration of the specific school that sets the parameters for the curriculum #kinderchat
I think ultimately the administration sets the parameters. However, in my district, we have curriculum councils so that teachers have a lot of input in how curriculum moves and changes throughout the years. #kinderchat
#kinderchat The state probably provides the public schools with certain standards in what they want all students in that grade to know. But hopefully a collaboration of teachers helps create curriculum as well
A2: I believe that teachers have majority of the say as to how the students are taught, but the lesson plans are primarily over seen and decided by the administration. #kinderchat
I think it’s a combination of being both standards driven (what) and student driven (who). Personalizing it to a student’s needs will gain the highest level of success for each individual child. #kinderchat
The main consensus I’m seeing is that curriculum is what we teach throughout the school year. What or who, do you think, sets the parameters for this? #kinderchat
Those in charge of setting the standards for kindergartners including principals and the state give teachers parameters, but ultimately, we have the creative license to teach the material in whatever way they seem best. #kinderchat
I want to go back to something Amy said. Many times, people describe curriculum as pre-packaged teaching resources. Is this a part of curriculum? Or are we here finding that curriculum is different? #kinderchat
This is so interesting - I have heard so many US teachers use "curriculum" to describe pre-packaged teaching resources, but that has not been anyone's answer tonight. #Kinderchat
At my private school, curriculum is built around the prog of studies created by our provincial dept of Ed, and enriched based on our school's approach & values. #Kinderchat
It would make senses that a school or district dictate the standards, but that the teacher creates the curriculum based on student needs and interest. Often it is a compromise with district mandates. #Kinderchat
A3: I think curriculum is a mix of a pre-packaged set of resources as well as how the specific teacher decides is the best way to teach the topic.#kinderchat
Your summary of this topic is very clear and concise, and I view it very similarly. I believe that when it comes down to it, teachers are the ones to decide how the material is taught! #Kinderchat
to loop back to this - to me, curriculum should be the WHAT we teach, not the HOW we teach it. Canned packages are HOW - therefore not curriculum #Kinderchat
Oh Brett! You bring up some important things here! We will delve into them at a later date, so i don’t want you to think I didn’t see this. But parental say is definitely a “hot topic” #kinderchat
YES! The HOW will be dependent on our students, their needs, their strengths, etc. The WHAT doesn't change, but the HOW changes with every new class each year. #Kinderchat
Good point here! I also agree with you here! We need to give our students these resources, but we also need to give them more to help them truly understand to reach the next level! For every teacher, this may look different! #Kinderchat
I also agree with your point on how us as teachers play a huge role. At the end we are the ones that are teaching the students! Great point! #kinderchat#EDW200
A3: I believe that curriculum and the way things are taught is forever changing and progressing. With the advancement of technology and the progression of knowledge it's almost impossible to have a one set pre-packaged curriculum! #Kinderchat
I agree! I think teachers can teach the same subject in different ways. I've even taught the same subject in different ways depending on what the students can handle that year. #kinderchat
Thus, it is a HUGE problem for districts to purchase a program & say "this is our math curriculum" and require teachers to teach "with fidelity" and no room to meet students' indiv needs. #kinderchat
A3: I think that curriculum is different, the way a teacher teaches something should be up to them as long as they are getting the point across. #Kinderchat
Your point on the difference of WHAT and HOW is very interesting! I agree that each new class requires a new form of curriculum, seeing that no two classes are alike! #Kinderchat
In reply to
@amynicolebettis, @happycampergirl, @CarrieMarshall1
Amy! Great point! It will depend mostly on every student’s needs and their strengths. The material we are teaching shouldn’t change but how we teach should like you said to fit the needs of the students! #kinderchat#edw200
In reply to
@amynicolebettis, @happycampergirl, @CarrieMarshall1
No, I believe that curriculum is different, and more than just "pre-packaged teaching resources." With our curriculum, we are responsible for ensuring student learning and preparing them for the next grade level. Deeper planning and explanation is needed for student success here.
A3: Cirriculum should serve as an outline rather than a script. It should be flexible because every classroom is different, so each teacher's approach to a subject should be different. It should be seen as tool not a crutch. #kinderchat
To be clear: am not saying teachers should teach "however they want." There is solid rsrch about methods that support more engagement & learning. But tchrs DO need professional autonomy to implement curric in alignment w/students' needs. #Kinderchat
A4: Teaching "with fidelity" to me means teaching according to students' needs with fidelity to your students and your classroom and your school because they are the first priority. It can be ensured by following a curriculum geared towards meeting all students' needs #Kinderchat
A4: I think fidelity at its core is loyalty. To be loyal and passionate about your profession as a teacher, having your students education and wellbeing be your priority... THAT is what I consider fidelity within education! #Kinderchat
I have always separated “curriculum” from “outcomes” in my mind. To me, the outcomes are what we teach to, & the curriculum is how we get to the outcomes. I’ve always viewed curriculum as growing & changing. Would you agree that curriculum changes? #kinderchat
I completely agree with and love your point about fidelity meaning loyalty! That is a great idea and one that I believe we should hold as a core value as teachers to our students, colleagues, and workplace. #Kinderchat
In reply to
@educatehannah, @CarrieMarshall1, @happycampergirl
A4: teaching with fidelity to me means that a teacher while teaching a specific topic to their class should be patient with their students and their learning of the topic #kinderchat
A4 I think that teaching "with fidelity" means that there needs to be loyalty to the material but also to the student . adhering to what the students need in the classroom is the first priority #Kinderchat
When many administrators say "with fidelity" they do not mean fidelity to students or to our profession. They mean fidelity to the pre-packaged program exactly as it is written & paced. #Kinderchat
Definitely! The needs of our kids are ever growing/changing - and the research on best practices is ever growing/changing... so a good curriculum is also going to need to be growing/changing! #Kinderchat
Huh. I've always see the outcomes as the curriculum but maybe that's because of how it was presented. I look at what the MoE curriculum outcomes and figure out the best way to explore, inquire, play with it in my classroom. Interesting... #kinderchat
A4: i think of fidelity as being loyal or faithful to someone or something. One can insure everyone is teaching with fidelity is through pre-made tests to see if teachers are grasping the important points their supposed to be teaching. #kinderchat
I agree! I have never heard the term “with fidelity” used to support students or teachers. Only to support whatever pre-packaged curriculum we are given. #kinderchat
A5: Curriculum definitely changes with the times. We have to prepare the kids with a foundation for the future. I recently heard that many of the jobs our students will have don't even exist yet! #kinderchat
A5: I think curriculum definitely changes, not throughout one school year, but i think as society changes, the values of a school must change as well. There could also be new topics discovered which should then be included in the curriculum in the years to come #kinderchat
A5: Yes! As our society and technology continues to progress it is our duty as teachers to give students the best education possible. This means continually updating and revising curriculum standards so that we can stay up to date! #Kinderchat
I completely agree and love this point about the ever-growing and ever-changing world that we are teaching in! I think that this is very important to remember to change and adapt our curriculum to fit and serve this idea! #Kinderchat
In my mind, outcomes come after teaching the curriculum. They can guide further instruction. I like what you said, "curriculum is how we get to the outcomes." Curriculum has to change because society/the world changes. #kinderchat
Pre-made tests don't measure real learning. They measure memory skills & test-taking ability. They are also completely inappropriate for young children. #kinderchat
A4:#kinderchat Cirriculum in some respects is changing. I think technology has the biggest role in this changing, because resources to information and accessibility to assignments and connectivity is becoming more efficient everyday. But many topics and standards stay the same
A5: The curriculum should change based on the way society is changing. With all the technology now, we are able to add new things we couldn't do before. #Kinderchat
A4: #kinderchat Cirriculum in some respects is changing. I think technology has the biggest role in this changing, because resources to information and accessibility to assignments and connectivity is becoming more efficient everyday. But many topics and standards stay the same
I agree! A good teacher knows how to change the curriculum based on the classroom; seeing that no two are alike... then curriculum shouldn't be either! #Kinderchat
I agree!!! We need to be more aware that every student learns in different ways and so we need to be meeting their needs! I’m in college and till this day I have professors and teachers that teach only one way....🤯😭 #kinderchat#EDW200
In reply to
@educshensen, @amynicolebettis, @CarrieMarshall1
Take time to get to know your learners deeply, continually make notes about the progress of your learners (where are they now, where do they need to be, what strategies are working for them) to make a plan, and CELEBRATE hard-earned learning successes with your Ss! #kinderchat
A5: Definitely. The curriculum changes as our world changes and advances in technology. For an example, when I asked my mother for help on my 10th grade algebra homework, she explained to me that she was never taught algebra until she graduated from high school. #kinderchat
Build relationships with your Ss so you know what those needs are exactly... Sometimes all it takes is building a relationship and everything else comes naturally #KinderChat
Curriculum vs Outcomes…. Maybe that’s a whole different chat, lol! But I do think we need to define what we mean because, obviously, we all have differing ideas, right? #kinderchat
Speaking of building community, those of us in the classroom have now all been back to school for at least a few days. What is one thing you’ve noticed about your students that sets them apart from other groups? #kinderchat
A1 The term #curriculum is used in many ways. My take: It is an agreed upon progression of skills & understanding that create pathways for all students to achieve college & career readiness. Steps need to be clear & organized & include prerequisites & extensions. #kinderchat
#Kinderchat is awesome!! I'm an aspiring teacher myself. I haven't started college yet but on Wednesday I am visiting the college I'll be attending next year! #KinderChat offers a lot of insight and you'll learn a lot!
Hello everyone! I’m a sophomore in college studying Elementary Education..... I aspire to become a kindergarten teacher! First time in #kinderchat I would love tips from anyone on anything related with kindergarten! I look forward to chatting with you y’all! #EDW200
A6: I have yet to be in the classroom, but in my past experience, I have noticed that kids tend to respond better when you do establish great, healthy relationships with them! This past summer, I was a camp counselor and I had so many great times with those kids! #Kinderchat
I’ll go first. This years group really enjoys play in a deeper way than I have seen in the past, and they also love creating. I think this will be a very creative group. #kinderchat
Speaking of building community, those of us in the classroom have now all been back to school for at least a few days. What is one thing you’ve noticed about your students that sets them apart from other groups? #kinderchat
A6: I'm so excited to be a future kindergarten teacher! From service-learning, the students are very connected when incorporate technology into activities. #kinderchat
I supervise our 1st graders at lunch, and this year's group is handling the transition to cafeteria & more independent recess like champions - like they have been doing it forever! #Kinderchat
A2 Curriculum begins with our state standards, but we need to focus on key standards that impact other learning when we plan the year. Standards are end of year goals, so teachers create #learningintentions & #successcriteria with many entry points for our students. #kinderchat
Exactly! And it is an amazing experience to be able to see them blossom and become a completely different kid by the end of summer just by opening up to you and their fellow campers! #Kinderchat
What a fun year you have ahead of your with a creative group like that! We've been back for almost 4 weeks and overall my students seem well academically prepared for Kinder - I have some nearly emerging readers already! #kinderchat
A6: I was also a camp counselor this summer and I felt that the 5 year olds I worked with a lot of times were more mature in situations I beforehand thought they would have had more difficulty in #kinderchat
This year I have noticed a lack of structure. Pre-k and kdg are not mandatory in PA, and it seems that a lot of my families did not choose to send their kids to any kind of school prior to this year. I'm teaching a lot of behaviors on top of regular subjects! #kinderchat
A5: Curriculum should always be changing since the way children learn is always changing. If the curriculum is how we get to the outcome then I have lived by the phrase there is many different ways to get the same outcome therefore Curriculum should change. #kinderchat
A6: I am not experienced in a classroom yet but I am glad to know that i need to pay attention to other groups and what makes my students different #kinderchat
Well Welcome! I am glad to hear you are aspiring to become a teacher! Yay! To more males joining this career! 👍🏼 well Good luck! Use Pinterest there are a lot of great ideas for lesson plans when you get stuck..... it helped me! #kinderchat#edw200
A6: I currently do not have a classroom, but I have student taught in the past! I have noticed that some classrooms are a bit crazier than others, and require a more engaging curriculum/lesson plan. #kinderchat
OMG THIS! I tell every student teacher, every aspiring teacher: WORK AT SUMMER CAMP. Make sure you LIKE being with large groups of children for many many hours at a time. #Kinderchat
In reply to
@hechternacht, @EducAllison, @CarrieMarshall1
#kinderchat A6: I also am not in the classroom yet, however have been a camp councilor. The one thing I've come to realize is that, you will have favorites as well as some challenging kiddos but the goal is the same for all of them. Give them all the resources for them to succeed
There's just not enough hours in the night to participate in all these chats, esp when they're on West coast time and/or all happening at the same time 😂 ...catching up on #KinderChat#SafeSpaceConvos
Last question of the night: How will you take what you’ve observed about your students and let it inform your curriculum? #kinderchat
I know some are still aspiring teachers, you people think about what you could do as well
Also, FYI: being a summer camp DIRECTOR is the best possible training for being a principal. 12 years at @coppercreekcamp taught me all my most important principal-ing skills. #kinderchat
OMG THIS! I tell every student teacher, every aspiring teacher: WORK AT SUMMER CAMP. Make sure you LIKE being with large groups of children for many many hours at a time. #Kinderchat
In reply to
@hechternacht, @EducAllison, @CarrieMarshall1
I do! I love it so much! Being at summer camp brought me some of the most fun days ever! And I will cherish it forever! It taught me so much about how to work with kids individually and in tremendously large groups, lol! #Kinderchat
In reply to
@happycampergirl, @hechternacht, @CarrieMarshall1
A7: I think in my future classroom I can take what I already know about kindergarten aged students to begin with, as well as what I learn about my specific students in the first few weeks of class to inform my curriculum and how I choose to teach it #kinderchat
A7: When you get to know your students, you learn how they start to learn and what the do/don't like. This is important because you want them to understand the information at they're own pace! This is a good way to teach the curriculum! #Kinderchat
I think it is really important to consider how we can springboard off kids' STRENGTHS to enhance/support curriculum, not just their weaknesses/needs. #Kinderchat
A7: I will take what I observe about my students and let that plan the entire curriculum so that I may base our class on appealing to and helping all of my learners succeed! Then, I can adapt and change according to them and their needs! #Kinderchat
Oh I am!! Like I said... We had a meeting last night and the kids played some dodgeball and Fortnite. (I don't understand Fortnite) but I'm gonna rock this!!! #KinderChat
