Comparison Map of Curriculum Standards 1. TEKS for English Language Arts and Reading; updated Fe...

1. Do the standards offer specific strategies for instruction?

1.1. TEKS--Language Arts: While the TEKS--LA standards do not offer specific instruction stategies, teaching strategies can be discovered through these standards. For example, one early standard includes "Students are expected to orally generate rhymes in response to spoken words." As a teacher, you can infer rhyming practices to be used in the classroom.

1.2. TEKS--Social Studies: These standards include somewhat specific strategies for instruction, though much is general. For example, in the U.S. History course, it is suggested to use Martin Luther King's letter from the Birmingham City Jail as part of the standard that students are expected to identify significant leaders of the civil rights movement.

2. Are the standards specific as to subject matter content for each level of schooling?

2.1. TEKS--Language Arts: The standards are specific to literacy development in children grade K-12. For example, print awarenss skills are standards for beginning readers. While research synthesizing skills are expected for older students.

2.2. TEKS--Social Studies: These standards offer specific standards for each grade level K-12. At the high school level, standards are given for various high school courses, including: U.S. History, World History, Government etc.

3. What are the major education goals?

3.1. TEKS--Language Arts: Students should "...demonstrate exemplary performance in the reading and wrting of the English language."

3.2. TEKS--Social Studies: Students should "build a foundation in history, economics, government, citizenship, culture, science, technology and society, and social studies skills." Students will also: "understand the importance of patriotism, function in a free enterprise society, and appreciate the basic values of our state and nation..."

4. What is the worth of learning or knowing?

4.1. The worth of learning and knowing is complex. For me, the worth of learning is gaining life experiences and growing as a person.

5. Which curriculum theorist’s position are the standards in line with?

5.1. TEKS--Language Arts: I feel these standards seem to be in line with Ralph Tyler's theory. The standards are more rigid and do not account for individual differnces. Also, these standards seem to be achievement oriented, which I feel fits in with Tyler's theory.

5.2. TEKS--Social Studies: These standards seem to be most closely related to John Dewey's theory. The emphasis on logical thinking skills in the upper grades was reminiscent of his theory, as well as the importance of democracy in the standards.

6. To what extent can a teacher bring in his/her own pedagogical knowledge to the prescribed standards?

6.1. TEKS--Language Arts: I feel the standards are general, and can allow for individual differences in teacher instruction. These standards allow a teacher to use a variety of methods to carry-out the learning goals.

6.2. TEKS--Social Studies: These standards are more content specific, and include specific limitations for types of sources to be used in instruction. However, within the content area a teacher may use instruction strategies they feel comfortable with in delivering the material.

7. Do the standards refer to assessment?

7.1. TEKS--Language Arts: These standards align with the TEKS assessment of Language Arts and the TAKS test.

7.2. TEKS--Social Studies: These standards align with the TEKS assessment of Social Studies and the TAKS test.

8. Do the standards offer suggestions or guidelines for dealing with controversial topics and issues?

8.1. TEKS--Language Arts: These standards do not offer guidelines for dealing with controversial topics in the are of the Language Arts.

8.2. TEKS--Social Studies: These standards include knowledge that may be sensitive or controversial, such as the civil rights movement. While the TEKS does not specifically offer guidelines for dealing with these controversial topics, it does outline the use of primary sources and grade-level appropriate material. Therefore, these controversial subjects should be taught in accordance with the appropriate age described in the standards.

9. Do the standards offer suggestions for teaching students who are culturally different, for students with special needs, and for students who are intellectually gifted and talented?

9.1. TEKS--Language Arts: The standards include standards for instructing ELLs so that they will meet the goals for all students. For example, "Reading instruction that enhances ELL's ability to decode unfamiliar words and to make sense of those words in context

9.2. TEKS--Social Studies: The TEKS standards do not offer strategies for teaching students with a variety of needs.

10. What is curriculum to you?

10.1. Curriculum is any of the activities students participate in to meet the school’s instructional goals. Curriculum is all learning that occurs, planned or unplanned, in the academic setting.