What Do We Teach?

I think that if you asked any seasoned teacher "what do we teach?," the answer would be the same. I teach ____ grade and _____ subject. But there are other things to consider when answering that question. For example, what teaching methods do you use, how do you assess the comprehension of students, and is it effective?

There are some important things to consider when developing curriculum for students. It is important for teachers to organize teaching around central key concepts that students can relate to. Teaching students facts or making them memorize material is not effective. A student who can grasp a key concept idea, such as conflict in the civil war, and relate it to a real life scenario, like conflicts with my peers, is much more likely to retain the information they are taught. If organized correctly, these concepts can be taught across all subject areas at one time. It is important for students to see connections with the material they are learning. When the curriculum aligns with personal interests of young adolescents, they become personally motivated to learn and succeed. It is also important to cater to each student and find the balance between concepts that are too challenging and concepts that are too easy. 

When creating learning plans, one useful tool might be to use "backward design." This process involves a teacher  focusing on the desired outcomes of the lesson as opposed to just focusing on the teaching aspect. Teachers should first identify desired results by deciding what students should understand and be able to do. Then, the teacher should think like an assessor and determine acceptable evidence that students have met the learning goals. The last step is then to plan instruction and learning experiences. 

Teachers use different methods to explain concepts to their students. One of these is the hands-on approach. An example of this can be seen at Flagler Palm Coast High School in Florida. Recently partnering with New Tech Network, a nonprofit, they are now supporting the planning and implementation of programs that emphasize problem-solving skills. Students are treated as mature adults, and their lessons are planned around relatable topics and necessary skills. These students are responding well because they appreciate the way they are being treated, and they are finding the information they are learning to be relatable. 

So to answer the question, what do we teach, I think that we need to teach broad concepts that students can relate to their own lives, and while preparing lessons it is important to utilize the backward design planning process.