1. School Framework
B Y: S A M A N T H A R O D R Í G U E Z
SEMINAR EDPE4019-001
DR. ANÍBAL MUÑOZ
2. What is a Curriculum Framework?
Document that gathers foundations, philosophical principles and concentration
of every program starting from Kindergarten all through the twelfth grade. It
also gives us a better idea of what the program’s curriculum is.
This document is known to include: Suggested strategies, ways of teaching,
criteria to evaluate, organization, study content appropriate for each level, a
vision, mission, goal and the scope and sequence of content.
In other words, the framework explains in detail the curriculum principals
given in each level and the theoretical foundations that uphold them.
3. What is a Curriculum Framework?
According to the Department of Education, the curriculum is made up of three
parts:
a) Content that must be developed such as: skills and concepts directly from the
materials used in class.
b) Teaching techniques, strategies and methodologies or methods that are of
updated and modern learning theories.
c) Learning and assessment process. In this part of the curriculum, the student
must be the core and creator of knowledge.
The public school’s curriculum has three very diverse levels starting with
elementary, then intermediate, and finally high school. The content that is
taught in these levels all consider every single student’s physical and
psychological development.
The framework is also helpful to college professors because they are those who
train future teachers of the Department of Education. These future teachers
must be taught the content they will eventually teach, the attitude they must
always have and the skills they must acquire in order to meet the terms that the
Department of Education requires.
4. What is the Framework’s Purpose?
It establishes goals, objectives, content, mission, teaching and learning
methods, and focuses.
The program’s goal actually depends on each student’s values and educational
needs.
It guides investigations and evaluations of how effective the curriculum and
academic achievements are.
The curriculum was created to help students learn which means that in order
for students to succeed, they must acquire certain content, skills, values and
attitudes; All of these add up to academic achievement.
5. What is the Framework’s Purpose?
It helps teachers prepare and develop in-service training by subject.
Student’s academic success greatly depends on current teachers as well as
future teachers. With that said, teachers must be exceedingly prepared when it
comes to their knowledge , teaching skills, content they have to teach and their
ability to apply modern teaching theories to their classes. The framework
provides teachers with the necessary tools to do so.
It helps to guide the curriculum in its distinct levels.
The framework determines the criteria as well as the philosophical and
theoretical foundations that are the source for a successful curricular
development in all school levels.
6. Highly Prepared Teachers
Substantially fluent in the English language but also have great L2 pedagogical
skills.
Their knowledge must be proven through a tough certification process.
They should always be open and willing to continue learning and expanding
their level of expertise through training and educational opportunities provided
by the Department of Education.
7. The Framework’s Missions and Goals
The Department of Education’s main goal is that students become
communicatively competent in the English language. However, students
should master the communication skills in their native language (Spanish)
because it serves as a good foundation to learn a second language.
Another goal is that students learn to think creatively and critically so that they
can successfully communicate with others.
Being able to provide to all students a learning experience that is somewhat of
a challenge, is meaningful and important to them and uses performance and
assessment standards with the constructivist learning theory in mind.
8. The Framework’s Missions and Goals
Help students reach their highest potential in their oral and written
communication, appreciation for literature and reading comprehension.
Motivate students to want to be intelligent, confident, reflective, competent
and independent English language learners.
Expose students to a wide variety of English literature, push them to be great
model citizens and give them plenty of opportunities to participate in class.
9. Concepts & Principals
Assumptions of the English Program:
Students and their parents feel that the English language is a threat because it
will take over their first language and culture .
We as teachers must show them that learning the English language means the
complete opposite; It improves and enriches our knowledge, abilities and way
of living. This message can be effectively shared with the community through
parent/teacher meetings, orientations, school activities, etc.
Students need to be taught content that integrates their learning styles, interests
and cultural realities.
We should not just be satisfied with an hour of English class, we have to
immerse students in the language through educational yet fun activities that
can take place during summer vacation, weekends or afternoons. It is
important to always create topics for these activities that are of interest to the
students so that the experience is meaningful and they can put their English
communication skills into practice.
Integrate what students are learning in their different classes to the English
class.
10. Focuses & Features
Student Diversity
Teachers have realized how difficult it is for students to learn a second language,
they have also noticed the skepticism, lack of support from family and lack of
exposure to the language after class. This means that teachers have to learn how
to work around those factors and figure out a way to improve the issue.
Characteristics of an ESL teacher
Has excellent English language skills – fluent oral and written skills
Is fully academically prepared for the profession.
Is optimistic and positive towards English teaching and learning in P.R.
Comprehends the L2 student’s learning and acquisition process.
Dedicated to teaching and is willing to continue learning and researching.
Is able to work with parents and involve them in their child’s teaching and
learning process.
Help students develop critical thinking skills and explain to them the
importance of our L1 and L2 culture.
11. Focuses & Features
English teachers should always try to create a stress-free environment so
that students don’t feel intimidated, uncomfortable or overwhelmed with
the second language acquisition process.
Teachers should be so prepared that they are able to study each student and
determine the area in which they need the most amount of help in.
Obviously teachers will need help in order to achieve all of this so there are
options such as seminars, workshops, among others. Teachers who always
try to improve and expand their knowledge to become better professionals
should be rewarded for it because of their additional responsibilities and
workload.
12. English Program Curriculum Features
The English curriculum gives students options to the traditional ESL
curriculum.
The framework guarantees high standards in student’s results.
English class is integrated with other classes.
Research on second language acquisition and methodology support a student
centered curriculum where the student is interested in learning new things and
growing intellectually.
13. Other English Program Curriculum Features
Environment – hygiene, recycling, health…
Values, Attitudes and Human Virtues – responsibility, dignity,
socialization…
Economy – budgets, savings, investments…
School to work - commitment, negotiation, rules…
Technology – effective equipment usage, internet, educational application…
Skills and Competencies – communication, reflective thinking, life skills…
Cultural Diversity – race, socio-economic status, type of family…
Knowledge – facts , theories, concepts…
14. Strategies With Positive Results
Teachers can pick out the materials that they wish to include in their curriculum.
Based on student’s needs, the teacher can choose the strategies, teaching and
learning activities and techniques he/she thinks will be more effective.
The teacher can include more class activities, projects and assignments that are
more hands-on which helps students with diverse learning styles.
Activities outside of the classroom can be planned so that students have more
opportunities to practice their English language skills.
Technology can be integrated in the English class as another way of exposing
students to the target language.
Teachers can provide students with tutoring sessions.
The teacher’s decision on the activities, strategies and approaches he/she will use
in class must be considered with the following factors in mind: the teacher’s
preferences, the situation in the moment and the student (with their distinct
learning styles and strategies).
15. Strategies With Positive Results
The Total Physical Approach, Natural Approach (for communicative skills)
and Language Experience Approach (for literacy skills) all have been
considered very successful teaching methods for second language learners.
Music, dramas, storytelling, poetry and role-playing also help students
improve in their second language skill development.
Try integrating activities that are hands-on or project based, create activities
that cover multiple intelligences, create opportunities for students to improve
in their writing skills by arranging writing workshops, etc.
16. Scope & Sequence
The teaching approaches that have been included in the curriculum and joined
with the language arts are Communicative Approach, Language Experience
Approach, Total Physical Response, Balanced Literacy Approach and Natural
Approach.
Kindergarten and 1st Grade – First semester focus on listening,
speaking and cultural diversity. Second semester of 1st grade focuses on
reading, writing, listening, speaking and cultural diversity.
2nd and 3rd Grade – Same focus as 1st grade but now using the
Balanced Literacy Approach and language arts.
4th through 6th Grade – Same focus as Kindergarten- 3rd grade using
the Balanced Literacy Approach to better develop listening, speaking and
writing skills as well as cultural diversity. These grades start learning
how to write creatively and are encouraged to create bilingual resources.
17. Scope & Sequence
7th through 9th Grade (Intermediate Level)– The Balanced Literacy
Approach is highly recommended to use for these grades so that the
language arts are integrated too. Students at this level are given more
opportunities to read, speak aloud and complete written
projects/assignments on their own.
10th through 12th Grade (High School) – Usage of the Balanced
Literacy Approach once more. Here, students develop their writing
skills (written composition) , improve in their oral communication, analyze
reading selections and do investigations. At this level, the language arts
are integrated and the conversational skills are emphasized on. Students
now independently read classic reading selections and complete oral and
written projects based on these texts.
18. Reference
The Department of Education of Puerto Rico’s Curricular Framework
Document for the English Program
http://www.de.gobierno.pr/sites/de.gobierno.pr/files/Ingles.pdf