Core Curriculum Components
Areas of Study
The required areas of study are those subjects that are compulsory from grade one to twelve. They are language arts , arts education , science , social studies , health/wellness and physical education . Career Guidance is compulsory at the middle level as well. At the secondary level 15 credits are mandatory with the other 9 chosen by the student. Other areas of study include practical and applied arts and locally determined options.
The adaptive dimension refers to " the effective teaching practice of making adjustments in approved educational programs to accommodate diversity in student learning needs. It provides the teacher with the scope and flexibility to make curriculum materials and topics, instruction, assessment, and the learning environment meaningful and appropriate for each student.
The adaptive dimension includes all students K-12 in all programs of study. Adaptations are made, based on knowledge of the learner, in curriculum, instruction and learning environment.
Common Essential Learnings
The CELs are a set of 6 interrelated areas containing understandings, values, skills and processes which are considered important as foundations for learning in all school subjects. The CELs are incorporated into instruct in the areas of study as appropriate for the subject area and level of instruction.
- Communication
- Numeracy
- Critical and Creative Thinking
- Technological Literacy
- Personal and Social Value and Skills
- Independent Learning
Locally-Determined Options
The Core Curriculum makes provision in the K-12 school program for locally-determined options to gain time for local or community program priorities. At the elementary and middle level a maximum of 20% time (1500 minutes) can be reduced in one or more of the areas of study to allow time for locally determined options such as Core French, Religion and Technology.
Core Curriculum Initiatives
- Instructional Approaches
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Resource-Based Learning
- Aboriginal Content and Perspective
- Gender Equity
- Multicultural Education
- Special Education
- Identity, Language and Culture
Effective instruction is interactive and designed to accommodate student learning needs and style through a variety of instructional strategies. A variety of instructional strategies require the teacher's role to shift from dispensing information to facilitating learning viewing students as autonomous learners.
Assessment and Evaluation
Evaluation is an integral part of the teaching-learning process. It is a planned continuous activity reflecting the intended outcomes of curriculum and instruction. Evaluation assists teachers in meeting individual needs and providing appropriate programs for students.
Resource-Based Learning
Resource-based Learning involves the use of a wide variety of print, non-print, new media and human resources to assist student sin learning. It offers students opportunities to choose, to explore and to discover from a variety of resources both within and outside of their community. It accommodates all learning styles and diversity in student learning needs. It teaches students to find, analyze, organize and apply information. RBL is a means by which teachers can greatly assist the development of attitudes and abilities for independent; life-long learning.
Aboriginal Content and Perspectives
This initiative promotes the development of positive attitudes in all students towards Aboriginal people. It increases awareness of one's own culture and the cultures of others. It promotes an appreciation of Canada's cultural mosaic and supports universal rights.
Gender Equity
Gender equity promotes the development of the learner's full potential. It promotes equal opportunities for boys and girls to explore a wide variety of options based on aptitudes, abilities, and interests, rather than gender. It creates an educational environment free of gender bias.
Multicultural education is an interdisciplinary educational process that fosters understanding, acceptance. Empathy and constructive and harmonious relations among people of various cultures. It encourages learners of all ages to view different cultures as a source of learning and enrichment. Diversity is celebrated and honored.
Special Education
Teachers and students value and respect the individuality of persons with disabilities. Ability rather than disability is stressed.
Identity, Language and Culture (fransaskois schools)
Students and families of the French culture are honored and valued in society.
SMART Goals
SMART is an acronym for goals that are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based.
Setting goals that connect to the classroom and focus on student learning helps educators see, learn from, and communicate their results.
Please visit the web sites below for more information on setting SMART Goals.