Curriculum Theory and Methods: Perspectives on Learning and Teaching

Chapter 1: LEARNING & TEACHING: Charting the Course 
 The Shift from Behaviourism to Cognitivism to Constructivism 
Cognitive Development 
 Off to School 
 The Importance of Experience in Cognitive Development 
 Key Aspects of Cognitive Development 
Major Theorists 
  John Dewey 
  Jean Piaget 
  Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development 
Social Cognition And Social Constructivism 
 Lev Vygotsky 
The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences 
  Howard Gardner 
Emotional Development 
  Daniel Goleman 
Physical Development 
  Physical Development in Younger Children 
  Physical Development in the Primary Grades 
  Physical Development in the Junior and Intermediate Grades 
Summary 

Chapter 2: CONSTRUCTIVISM: Making Connections, Risk-Taking, and Other Sundry Bits
What is Constructivism? 
 Bruner Thinks About Thinking 
  How Children Construct Knowledge 
Educating the Whole Child 
 Examining the 3 Cs: A Rationale for Teaching the Whole Child 
  Incorporating Students' Interests into Learning 
  The Reggio Emilia Approach 
Setting the Stage for Using Prediction: Adaptation Revisited 
 Adaptation in Action: The Prediction Learning Cycle  
  Summary of How the Prediction Learning Process Works 
  The Importance of Risk-taking 
The Serious Business Of Play 
  Key Characteristics of Play 
  Play: Is It a Valuable and Viable Part of Learning? 
  How Children Use Play 
  Play and Older Students 
  Piaget's Stages Revisited 
Organizing the Constructivist Classroom and the Role of the Teacher in Constructivism 
Summary 

Chapter 3: AUTONOMY: A Self-Starter is Born 
Invitational Learning 
Autonomy 
  Moral Autonomy ("Free will") 
  Intellectual Autonomy ("Free choice") 
  Practical Applications of Autonomous Teaching 
  Autonomy and Play 
Self-Concept & Self-Esteem 
Self-Esteem 
Creating An Atmosphere For Learning 
Summary 

Chapter 4:
THE BRAIN IN A PLAIN BROWN WRAPPER:
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Brain and Might Be Afraid to Ask 
The Human Brain 
  Key Brain Structures 
  How a Message is Transmitted 
Brain Development in Young Children 
  The Role of Activity in Brain Growth and Development 
  If You Don't Use It, You'll Lose It 
  Novelty, Laughter, & Learning 
  "Food" for Thought 
Hemispheric Specialization 
  How the Hemispheres of the Brain Work 
  Adaptability and Flexibility 
  Important Considerations for Learning 
Cognitive Theory and the Human Brain 
  Learning Is an Active Process 
  Learning Is Non-linear 
  Learning Is Multi-dimensional 
  Learning Is Set Within a Social Context 
  Learning Is Influenced by the Affective Domain 
  Learning Is Concerned with Cognition and Metacognition 
Attention and the Brain 
Summary: Developing the Brain-Compatible Classroom 

Part II CREATING THE ROAD MAP FOR TEACHING & LEARNING 

Chapter 5: PLANNING: The Itinerary 
Getting Started: The "How People Learn" Framework 
  Knowledge 
  Students 
  Communities 
  Evidence 
Planning to Account for Knowledge, Student, Community, and Evidence 
  Getting Started 
  Theme Planning 
  Planning for Centres: Is It Necessary? 
  Professional Planning 
Summary 

Chapter 6: STARTING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE: Organizing Time, Space, and Materials 
Starting with the School: Design Principles 
  So What? Classroom Design 
  Primary and Upper Elementary Classroom Organization: The Same or Different 
  Matching Classroom Design and Teaching Philosophy 
  Classroom Decoration? Yours, Mine, and Ours 
  Storage: Things to Think About 
What Will You Do All Day? Thinking Through the Timetable 
  Biological Issues 
  Subject and Division Issues 
  Organizing Units 
  Daily Schedules 
  Time Management 
  Managing Resources 
  Centres in the Classroom 
Summary 

Chapter 7: STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING: The Teacher's Tool Kit 
Teaching Strategies 
 Personal Attitude and Management Skills 
  Classroom Management 
  Questioning Skills 
  Organization Strategies 
  Cooperative Learning 
The Integrated Day Approach 
  Rationale for Using the Integrated Day 
  Plan Sheets: A Method of Planning, Implementing, Adjusting, and Tracking in the Integrated Day 
  Benefits of the Integrated Day Approach 
Summary 

Chapter 8: THE CURRICULUM: Organizing Pieces of the Puzzle 
Views of Curriculum 
Curriculum: A Contested Arena 
  Curriculum Control in Canada 
Curriculum Development and Implementation 
  Curriculum Mapping for the Classroom Teacher 
  Subject Matter: Does It Matter? (Or should there be content-free curriculum) 
  A Current Curriculum Issue: Does One Size Fit All? 
Student Engagement and Alternative Curriculum Approaches 
  Problem- or Project-based Learning 
  Integration Across the Curriculum 
  Curriculum Orientation 
Summary 

Chapter 9: ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION: The Glass is Half Full 
Assessment: The Context of Public Accountability 
  Principles of Authentic Accountability 
  Testing, Testing, and More Testing: Children, Tests, and Teacher Expectations 
  Evaluation and Assessment: The Same or Different? 
  Authentic Assessment: What Is It? 
  Strategies for Assessment 
  Data, Data, and More Data: Answering the "So What?" Question 
  Teacher Performance Appraisals 
 Summary
 
Part III ENHANCING CHILDREN'S THINKING 

Chapter 10: ADJUSTING THE PROGRAM: One Size Does Not Fit All 
What is Diversity? 
  Cultural and Linguistic Diversity 
  Maintaining and Fostering Socio-cultural Awareness 
  Multiliteracy Pedagogy: An Overview 
  Valuing Cultural and Linguistic Diversity 
  Another Form of Diversity: The Special Needs Student 
  Inclusive Pedagogy 
Diversity, Engagement, and Student Achievement 
Summary 

Chapter 11: ENRICHMENT: Letting the Genie Out of the Bottle 
The Process of Thinking 
Creative Thinking 
  Creativity and the Arts 
  How Teachers Can Foster Creativity 
Critical Thinking 
Problem Solving 
Encouraging Thinking & Promoting Metacognition 
  How Teachers Can Facilitate Metacognition 
  The Importance of Thinking Skills 
  Thinking Skills Revisits Questioning 
  Graphic Organizers 
  Mind Mapping 
  Making Connections 
Summary 

Part IV LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE
 
Chapter 12: ESTABLISHING BALANCE: Putting It Together 
Begin at the Beginning: What Makes a Good Teacher  
Becoming a Co-Learner: Assuming a Critically Reflective Stance 
  A Learning Community: What Is It? 
  Action Research as a Means to Understand Teaching 
Parents, Teachers, and Schools: Partners? 
  Getting to Know Parents: What to Do? 
  Preparing to Meet Parents: First Impressions Matter 
Understanding Performance Appraisal: Teacher Evaluation 
  Self Evaluation 
The Creation of the Context for Sharing: No More Boundaries 
Summary: Finding Balance-Taking Care of the Self 

Chapter 13: CLOSING THOUGHTS: "This Way to the Egress!" 
Alphabet Soup… The 3 Rs 
What is Effective Teaching? 
  Professional Learning Communities 
  Learning with Colleagues 
  Benefits of Participation in a Professional Learning Community 
  Moral Development 
  Character Education 
The Only Constant is Change 
  Educational Reform and Leadership 
 Initiatives in Teacher Education 
  The ABC's of Beginning Teaching 
  Final Inspirational Thoughts: A Credo for Children 
Summary