the ssis elementary curriculum helping your child succeed · helping your child succeed: the ssis...

Helping your child succeed: The SSIS elementary curriculum

A workshop for parents

Thursday, September 1st, 2016, 8:15 - 9:30, B-310, Elementary Flex Room

Presenter: Daniel J. Keller, PhD, Elementary School Principal

DescriptionAs we implement our world-class elementary education curriculum, it is

necessary for parents to learn how to support their children. In this

workshop for parents, we will look at ways to support your child at

home. The workshop will focus on topics such as the SSIS Mission, Core

Values, Key Concepts, SuperUnit themes, Approaches to Thinking,

project-based learning, and inquiry-based learning. Parents will leave

this workshop with an understanding of these topics, how they form the

foundation of your child’s elementary education, and how you can help

support your children at home.

Agenda1. Content: “World-class elementary education curriculum”

2. Context: “Parents as partners in the learning process”

3. Strategies: Understand topics, how they form curriculum, support at

home.

a. SSIS Mission

b. Core Values & Key Concepts

c. SuperUnit themes

d. Approaches to Thinking

e. Project-based and inquiry-based learning

“Curriculum”Anything and everything that teaches a lesson, planned or otherwise. Humans are born learning, thus the learned curriculum actually encompasses a combination of all of the following — the hidden, null, written, political and societal etc.. Since students learn all the time through exposure and modeled behaviors, this means that they learn important social and emotional lessons from everyone who inhabits a school — from the janitorial staff, the secretary, the cafeteria workers, their peers, as well as from the deportment, conduct and attitudes expressed and modeled by their teachers. (Wilson, 1990)

What is one word you might use to describe…

“World-class elementary education curriculum”?

A world class education system...

1. Gives students the “right and opportunity” to participate in school governance, and in constructing the physical, social, and cognitive school environment. In a world-class education system students have a say in their own learning.

2. Capitalizes on student engagement by giving students a curriculum that is broad and flexible.

3. Provides personal support for each of students.4. Engages students in authentic learning experiences that ask them to create

authentic products of learning.5. Engages students in a sustained and disciplined process of learning. 6. Capitalizes on the local strengths of its students, teachers.7. Moves students and their learning beyond the walls of their classrooms and even

the borders of their country.8. Provides opportunities for students to experience other countries and cultures in

engaging and relevant ways.

Ultimately, a world-class education system focuses on student engagement, student choice, personalization, authentic learning, global perspective, and global competence. Unfortunately, these are things that often make education messy.

“Elementary education”

Elementary education usually encompasses grades 1-8 and students learn basic skills in areas such as reading, writing and math.

-Adapted from yourdictionary.com

How is our definition of “elementary education” similar/different from our

definition about “World-class elementary education curriculum”?

Why should schools support…

“Parents as partners in the learning process”?

Parents as partners in the learning process...

"the most accurate predictor of a student's achievement in school is... the extent to which that student's family is able to: a) Create a home environment that encourages learning, b) Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children's achievement and future careers, and c) Become involved in their children's education at school and in the community”

Benefits for the Children: Children...● tend to achieve more, regardless of parent background.● generally achieve better grades, test scores, and attendance.● consistently complete their homework.● have better self-esteem, are more self-disciplined, and show higher aspirations and

motivation toward school.● Have improved behavior

Benefits for the Parents● Improved interactions with their children, responsive and sensitive to social, emotional,

and intellectual developmental needs, more confident in parenting...

Strategies...

Strategies, in 3 easy steps...

1. Understand the topic

2. Understand how the topic forms the curriculum

3. Practical strategy to support your child at home

1. Understand the topicSSIS is a

college preparatory school committed to the

intellectual and personal development of each student in preparation for a

purposeful life as a

global citizen.

SSIS

Mission

Statement


Part of Mission Statement

Curriculum implications

College preparatory school

● Strong academic focus and course progression

Intellectual development

● Cognitive development evolves into active imagination and problem-solving skills that help them plan and execute long-term goals.

● Language development is a highly unique skill that allows children to communicate with others.

Personal development

● A lifelong process for people to assess their skills and qualities, consider their aims in life and set goals in order to realise and maximise their potential.

Purposeful life ● To live a fulfilling life by embracing your passion

Global citizen ● A person who places their identity with a "global community" above their identity as a citizen of a particular nation or place.

Remember the research…

a) Create a home environment that encourages learning,

b) Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children's achievement and future careers, and

c) Become involved in their children's education at school and in the community

One strategy: Family time- no script- a way of being with your child(Dinner, walking, games, bicycling, etc.)


Part of Mission Statement

Practical strategy to support child at home

College preparatory school

● Share college/university experiences and stories of family● When travelling, visit university campuses, performances

Intellectual development

● Engage in imaginary play: drawing together, playing games, making music● Play strategy games, like chess, puzzles, brain teasers● Set your own personal goals, share them, support their setting goals● Develop your own language skills, and discuss “new word today”● Encourage development of English and Vietnamese in your child.

Personal development

● Assess your own skills and qualities, discuss with your child, ask them to assess theirs● Consider your own aims in life, discuss with your child, ask them to consider theirs● Set your own goals in life, discuss with your child, encourage them to set goals

Purposeful life ● Identify your passion in life, discuss with your child, ask them to identify theirs

Global citizen ● Consider your identity with the global community, discuss with your child, ask them to consider theirs


SSIS

Core Values


Core Value Description

Academic Excellence A challenging academic program, based on American standards, that teaches the student how to think, to learn, to problem solve, and to work individually and in teams while acquiring a foundational knowledge base of the world.

Sense of Self A community atmosphere in which each student can gain a sense of who he or she is in the world; to develop self-confidence, strong character, convictions, leadership abilities, grace, courage, the desire to be a life-long learner, and the commitment to achieve excellence in all he or she does.

Dedicated Service A view that looks beyond oneself to the assets and needs of the surrounding community and the world and finds fulfillment in unlocking potential in the service of mankind. The model SSIS graduate will demonstrate a caring attitude, be environmentally aware, and persevere for the good of the community.

Balance in Life An academic program that promotes an appreciation for all of life and seeks to balance the sciences with the humanities; academics with the arts; mental wholeness with physical, social, and spiritual wholeness; and future career with family relationships.

Respect for All A perspective that each individual is a person of worth.


Core Value Curriculum implications: Key Concepts

Academic Excellence

● Academic Standards● Challenging Academic Program● Critical Thinking● Self Management● Collaboration● Foundational Knowledge

Sense of Self ● Character, Grace, Tenacity, Self concept & Resilience● Life-Long Learning● Leadership● Sense of Community

Dedicated Service ● Community Service● Service Learning● Social and Environmental Responsibility

Balance in Life ● Holistic Education● Wellness● Balanced Obligations

Respect for All ● Respect● Diversity


Key Concepts Practical strategy to support child at home

● Academic Standards● Challenging Academic Program● Critical Thinking● Self Management● Collaboration● Foundational Knowledge

● “What do you think you are supposed to LEARN?” (Not… “Do”)● “What did you find challenging? How did you overcome that challenge?”● “How did you go about solving this challenge?”● “How are you going about your work to stay organized?”● “What is difficult about working with others?”● “What else do you want to know about this topic?”

● Character, Grace, Tenacity, Self concept & Resilience● Life-Long Learning● Leadership● Sense of Community

● Use the words, discuss what they mean to you and why important● Show and discuss how you are still learning● Discuss challenges of leadership and why it is important● “Why is sense of community important to us?”

● Community Service● Service Learning● Social and Environmental Responsibility

● Do community service with children- even micro (5 minutes)● “Who will benefit from this project you are doing in school?”● Discuss how you are trying to model social/environmental responsibility

● Holistic Education● Wellness● Balanced Obligations

● Discuss why education is more than just knowledge, but character● Model how you focus on your own wellness, involve your child● Discuss your various obligations and how you balance them

● Respect● Diversity

● Model and discuss showing respect to people (when you get no benefit)● Discuss diversity issues, areas you are working to develop


SuperUnit

themes


Understanding Ourselves:

Achieving my Goals in Life

Understanding Others:Serving the Needs of

Humanity

Understanding our Environment:

Sharing the Resources of our Planet

Understanding our World:

Managing the Complexity of Systems

A structured inquiry into helping the learner understand themselves. Learners will establish and achieve personal goals in their life. Learners will be empowered to independently give direction to their life.

A structured inquiry into helping the learner understand other people. Learners will identify a local need of others and plan action. Learners will be empowered to authentically provide service to others.

A structured inquiry into helping the learner understand our natural environment. Learners will share the resources of our planet. Learners will be empowered to improve the environmental sustainability of our world.

A structured inquiry into helping the learner understand the world around them. Learners will manage the complex systems of human society. Learners will be empowered to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the systems in our world.


Focus of theme Practical strategy to support child at home

Learners will establish and achieve personal goals in their life.

● Set goal for self, share with child, discuss progress toward success● Help child set goal of their choice, help them set system for monitoring progress, celebrate success

Learners will identify a local need of others and plan action.

● As you go about daily life, identify local needs of others● Discuss small ways that you might be able to help● Take action on something: Random acts of kindness, senseless acts of beauty

Learners will share the resources of our planet.

● Discuss limited resources of plan and how your family is trying to preserve resources● Discuss challenges of sharing resources and why it is complex and may lead to conflicts

Learners will manage the complex systems of human society.

● Discuss complex systems in the world (How many people do you think work in the airport? How many flights are arriving? How many passengers? How do you think the airport gets organized? Who do you think does the organizing? What would make that challenging? What would make it fun?


Approaches to

Thinking


Reflective Thinking Service Design Thinking Sustainability Thinking Systems Thinking

Reflective thinking helps learners develop higher-order thinking skills by prompting learners to a) relate new knowledge to prior understanding, b) think in both abstract and conceptual terms, c) apply specific strategies in novel tasks, and d) understand their own thinking and learning strategies.

Service design thinking is the process of planning services according to the needs of customers and the competences/capabilities of service providers, so that the service is user-friendly, competitive and relevant to the customers, while being sustainable for the service provider. Service design thinking uses methods and tools derived from different disciplines in order to inform changes to an existing service or creation of new services

Sustainability thinking is the process of considering how our daily choices affect our environment. Sustainable science is the study of sustainable development and environmental science. Sustainability is the endurance of systems and processes. The organizing principle for sustainability is sustainable development, which includes the four interconnected domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture.

Systems thinking is the process of understanding how those things which may be regarded as systems, influence one another within a complete entity, or larger system. In nature, systems thinking examples include ecosystems in which various elements such as air, water, movement, plants, and animals work together to survive or perish. In organizations, systems consist of people, structures, and processes that work together to make an organization "healthy" or "unhealthy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability_science

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizing_principle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development

http://www.drawtoast.com/


Approach to thinking Practical strategy to support child at home (gradual release of responsibility- in teams)

Reflective thinking ● ?

Service design thinking ● ?

Sustainability thinking ● ?

Systems thinking ● ?


Project-based Learning

Inquiry-based Learning


Core Value Curriculum implications

Project-based learning ● Key knowledge, understanding, & Success Skills● Challenging problem or question● Sustained inquiry● Authenticity● Student voice and Choice● Reflection● Critique and Revision● Public Product

Inquiry-based learning ● Students view themselves as learners in the process of learning.● Students accept an "invitation to learn" and willingly engage in an exploration process.● Students raise questions, propose explanations, and use observations.● Students plan and carry out learning activities.● Students communicate using a variety of methods.● Students critique their learning practices.

This is a modified list based on "Inquiry-Based Science, What Does It Look Like?" published in CONNECT MAGAZINE, March-April 1995.


Design element of Project-based learning

Practical strategy to support child at home

Key knowledge, understanding, & Success Skills ● Ask your child what skills they are learning from a school assignment.

Challenging problem or question ● Pose problems to your child that YOU don’t know the answer to: How many people come to this store in a day?

Sustained inquiry ● Let your child struggle, avoid quick answers, don’t focus on speed

Authenticity ● Allow your child to do real things at home: make things, take things apart,

Student voice and Choice ● Engage your child in choice: when doing errands at the mall, what order should we do them in?

Reflection ● Ask your child to think about “How can I do this better next time?”

Critique and Revision ● Don’t accept the first draft as finished, require them to bring first draft to you for review and suggestions

Public Product ● Come to public presentations at school, encourage your child to share learning with family.


Design element of Inquiry-based learning

Practical strategy to support child at home (gradual release of responsibility- in teams)

Students view themselves as learners in the process of learning.

● ?

Students accept an "invitation to learn" and willingly engage in an exploration process.

● ?

Students raise questions, propose explanations, and use observations.

● ?

Students plan and carry out learning activities. ● ?

Students communicate using a variety of methods.

● ?

Students critique their learning practices. ● ?

Review1. Content: “World-class elementary education curriculum”

2. Context: “Parents as partners in the learning process”

3. Strategies: Understand topics, how they form curriculum, support at

home.

a. SSIS Mission

b. Core Values & Key Concepts

c. SuperUnit themes

d. Approaches to Thinking

e. Project-based and inquiry-based learning

the ssis elementary curriculum helping your child succeed · helping your child succeed: the ssis...

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