Curriculum+Ideas+Cafe

=Introduction= We have divided this section of our WikiSpace into four different Curriculum sections so that you can more quickly find key documents.

Documents have been developed in the following categories - they should be considered as inter-related documents:
 * 1) Early Childhood Learning (0-8 Years of Age)
 * 2) P-10 Curriculum (Prep to Year 10: Approximately 5-16 Years of Age)
 * 3) Senior Secondary Education Yrs 11-12 (Approx 16-18 Years of Age).

You will notice that there is some overlap, and that some documents inform both Primary and Secondary education. Regardless of which age group you are interested in, there is one key document that every teacher needs to be familiar with. It outlines the aspirations and goals we have for every learner in Australia.

The Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians
It is important that all curriculum decisions are coherently aligned with striving to achieve these goals with our children and young people.

Follow the links above to investigate the following question in the categories that are relevant to you:

//How does a teacher know **What** should be taught in an Australian/Victorian School in order to achieve the Melbourne Declaration Goals?//
You will find curriculum frameworks (VELS,AusVELS & Australian Curriculum) and online resources that have been developed to guide school and teacher decision-making about what students should know, understand and be able to do. One of the frameworks that is currently being developed is the Australian Curriculum. The link below leads to descriptors, standards and work samples for the English domain also available in the ausVELS resources. [] The frameworks also describe the general capabilities and kind of learners we should aspire to develop, closely aligned to the goals of the Melbourne Declaration. See the links above to find the key documents.

=Learning Stories and Print Resources= If you are looking for practical resources that translate system documents into practice, Curriculum Corporation has developed the [|Curriculum Bytes] site - small, practical ideas for classrooms.

Another way of deepening your understanding of Curriculum Documents is to consider how they translate into real teaching contexts. The following links offer a range of video-based stories which could help you to explore different aspects of the curriculum in authentic settings.


 * NB: You could post a review of specific resources you find below that you think are helpful to Refresher Teachers.**


 * 1.[| SparkL] Learning Stories -** Teachers and students share their learning journeys as they try new ways to engage all learners and achieve high standards. All schools are located in low socio-economic communities and/or communities serving recent arrivals and indigenous students.

SparkL stories and resources are organised as:
 * [|Primary Learning Stories]
 * [|Secondary Learning Stories]
 * [|Additional Background Materials]


 * 2. [|Teachers TV Australia]** for resources, videos etc, organised by curriculum areas.


 * 3. [|Edutopia]** - This extensive site has several sections that are specific to curriculum design - Integrated Studies, Project Based Learning, Social Emotional Learning and Technology Integration. You can search the site to find resources relation to grade levels and these core curriculum design strategies in the [|Schools that Work]section:

4. **The[| Journey to Excellence]**website offers a rang of resources including video illustrations of 21st Century teaching and learning.

5.[| Designing Quality Units of Work using standards] - a USA webinar by Kathy Glass that links Curriculum Unit Design to State Standards. Kathy uses Backward Design that incorporates big ideas, essential understandings and guiding questions. She also links in assessment strategies and implications for individual lessons. Kathy has made a set of handouts available to support her webinar:

6. What does a quality Unit of Work Look like? EdP has developed some Unit Design materials to help teachers evaluate Units of Work and Learning Sequences.

//**Reflective Prompts for Everyone:**//
 * 1) After familiarising yourself with apects of the Victorian Curriculum that are significant for you, choose one or two pertinent films from the reseources offered above and consider what you are seeing and hearing in these short film in terms of implementing and enacting the curriculum in your classroom.
 * 2) How do these video stories align or contrast with your own experience?
 * 3) What significant insights or concepts have you gleaned from watching them?
 * 4) What are the implications of these insights for you in translating the Victorian Curriculum into your classroom? Which existing strengths can you build on? Which aspects of the curriculum do you need to learn more about?