Stories

We are engaged in the second year of a whole-school curricular review. Perhaps it seems that aligning a curriculum across many grades, subjects, and teachers would be an easy task. It is not, and a surprisingly large number of schools do not even attempt it. At Prep, we understand that a thoughtfully aligned and sequenced curriculum is important because it will enhance student learning and faculty excellence. 

Our portrait of the graduate and philosophy of education statementsprovide important clarity as we engage in curricular development. Without a clear sense of its point and purpose, teaching and learning will be unmoored and less effective. The essential question of curricular design is what should students know and be able to do? The curriculum is then shaped by the answers to this question. Think of it this way: When we build a house, blueprints result in a well-constructed building. The same is true of a student's education. A well-conceived and aligned curriculum is the educational blueprint of a school.

Too often schools are satisfied with simple coverage of content. A textbook becomes the learning plan, or a period of time, say the literature of America in the 20th century, is the curriculum. This, however, does not go far enough because content alone is often forgotten. Learning must be tied to something more than just raw information. Students need to be able to transfer their learning to new subjects and life experiences. The purpose of learning needs to be rooted in understanding and animated by provocative and interesting questions. Learning is not inert – it is for going somewhere.

The result of this vital work will be a more engaging, relevant, and intellectually rich curriculum, which benefits both students and teachers. We will share updates as we make progress on this important strategic goal, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on each of our students.