Alberta Education and ATA approve new K-4 curriculum for field testing

Minister Eggen and Parliamentary Secretary McKitrick participate in a financial literacy learning opportunity with grade 4 students from Garneau School.

(December 14, 2018) – Alberta Education and the Alberta Teachers’ Association have approved the kindergarten to Grade 4 curriculum for field-testing within classrooms.

In June 2016, Alberta Education and the Alberta Teachers’ Association began the development of future kindergarten to Grade 4 curriculum, simultaneously in English and French, in language arts (English, French, Français), mathematics, social studies, sciences, arts and wellness.

This curriculum rewrite is the first of its kind in Alberta. It focuses on rewriting all core subject areas at once so that all subjects complement each other, allowing students to develop literacy, numeracy and competencies like critical thinking in each subject and grade.

 “Our government is fulfilling its promise to develop and deliver a modernized kindergarten to Grade 12 provincial curriculum,” stated Minister of Education, David Eggen. “Field-testing future curriculum in the classroom is an important part of our process and it helps to ensure that what looks good on paper also makes sense in the classroom. We will continue to work with our education partners and stakeholders to ensure that future curriculum is ready for students in a timely matter.”

Government asked Albertans to provide feedback on the draft curriculum through surveys, telephone town halls and curriculum roundtables held across the province. More than 100,000 people responded, making it the most open and transparent curriculum rewrite in Alberta Education’s history.

 “It’s been a long time coming for the curriculum to include First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives, experiences and history,” noted Alberta Education representative Jamie Ahksistowaki Medicine Crane.

“We are the first people of this land, major contributors to this country, and have faced and continue to face so many obstacles. It is important to have our world view be included in the new curriculum, as it will teach the truth about our shared history, allowing students to become to understand our ways of knowing as we are all distinct and diverse because of the land where we come from. It also allows us to get rid of stereotypes and misconceptions and begin the process of reconciliation moving towards Reconcili-Action. The new curriculum is concept-based to allow our education system to become more holistic.”

“Through consultation and working group participation, thousands of classroom teachers have provided input into this draft curriculum,” remarked Greg Jeffrey, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. “Teachers are excited by the curriculum and it is in their classrooms where it will be brought to life. We will now begin a period of extensive field-testing and evaluation that will ultimately result in a program of studies that will serve Alberta students well, now and into the future.”

“This new curriculum will provide teachers in francophone and anglophone schools across Alberta the opportunity to share the important contributions from our diversified francophone communities,” added francophone teacher Micheline Spencer.

“In addition, since the francophone perspective will be evident in all subjects in both languages, it provides the francophone community the opportunity to communicate loudly and proudly its cultural identity and the importance of the francophone language in our worldlier-focused curriculum.”

“I have had the opportunity to be a collaborative voice in the process of updating the Alberta curriculum,” noted teacher Amanda Forster. “The new curriculum is designed to be modern and reflective of who we are as a province. I am excited about the opportunities it provides students.”

“I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of teachers who have looked at the draft curriculum since April,” noted teacher Colette Mondor. “Most teachers say they are excited and optimistic about the changes. I believe this curriculum will help prepare students for a life in a complex and interconnected world.”

Background

  • Targeted timelines for ministerial approval of curriculum
    • Grades K-4: December 2018
    • Grades 5-9: December 2019
    • Grades 10-12: December 2020 to 2022
  • Implementation timelines have yet to be established. Current curriculum remains in effect until implementation timelines have been developed.

Government has also launched a new platform where people can view the draft curriculum: new LearnAlberta.ca website.

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