Here's an example of what you describe as a foundation that needs to be fixed.
I teach in a public school (5th grade). I have some students who really struggle to read. Nobody after 2nd grade did anything to help these students. Nobody will do anything to help them once they leave me. Why? Because nobody knows how. Nobody has ever been trained in how to teach kids who are struggling to read. I have picked it up over the years because I decided I was going to help these kinds of kids. But it was me, by myself. None of my teacher training in college showed me how. None of my training by my district has addressed it. None.
Think about that. There is nothing more important or fundamental than reading. And teachers don't know how to help kids who don't just pick it up on their own.
I'm curious about the interplay of "fixing" teacher training and "fixing" curriculum. How would you define curriculum? If we fix the teacher training issue, why would we want teachers to adhere strictly to a curriculum? If they know (& love) the material they will teach, why couldn't they have more freedom to curate lessons -- including how best to assess learning -- not less?
Here's an example of what you describe as a foundation that needs to be fixed.
I teach in a public school (5th grade). I have some students who really struggle to read. Nobody after 2nd grade did anything to help these students. Nobody will do anything to help them once they leave me. Why? Because nobody knows how. Nobody has ever been trained in how to teach kids who are struggling to read. I have picked it up over the years because I decided I was going to help these kinds of kids. But it was me, by myself. None of my teacher training in college showed me how. None of my training by my district has addressed it. None.
Think about that. There is nothing more important or fundamental than reading. And teachers don't know how to help kids who don't just pick it up on their own.
That's a foundation that is in terrible shape.
I'm curious about the interplay of "fixing" teacher training and "fixing" curriculum. How would you define curriculum? If we fix the teacher training issue, why would we want teachers to adhere strictly to a curriculum? If they know (& love) the material they will teach, why couldn't they have more freedom to curate lessons -- including how best to assess learning -- not less?