Practicum-Curriculum

Catalog description

Teachers are constantly adapting and creating materials to encourage students’ interests, stay current with the field of education, and support learning goals set by the teacher, students, families, and by the district or state. Curriculum may be planned in advance, or emerge in response to opportunities that arise. In addition, the teacher may be striving to enact a particular philosophy, set of values, or approach (e.g. Reggio, Nature-Based). The Curriculum practicum provides an intensive semester in which students engage in a cycle of inquiry around the changes that they make as they teach. Working with their advisor, students develop a question or set of questions about their curriculum. Then using student work, observations of student learning, and whatever assessments are part of normal teaching, students evaluate the impact of their efforts on the students they teach. Students engage in a regular cycle of inquiry that enables them to reflect upon teaching and learning experiences to consider how the curriculum is meeting the students’ needs. Practicum students are encouraged to do this work in the context of whatever natural professional learning communities already exist in their school. Advisors will assist with the development of a cycle of inquiry and help connect students with resources specific to the challenges they face.