To evaluate an individual child’s curricular experiences over one day

Aim

To evaluate an individual child's curricular experiences over one day.

Evidence and reflection

Identify a child for detailed observation. Record the major curriculum activities in which he or she engages during this period. You might do this by briefly recording the following:

Time activity started/ended

Curriculum subject (English, History, etc.)

Curriculum activity (reading, task completion, independent study, painting, etc.)

Extension

What kind of breadth and balance exists in the observed curriculum of your target child? Is any action or curriculum adjustment necessary?

How does this compare to other children in the class? If there are children for whom the curriculum is further restricted, is this justified, and can this be remedied?

More in this chapter

• To consider the connection between school philosophy and planning
• To investigate the approach to whole school curriculum planning in your school
• To investigate the coherence which a planned curriculum has for children
• To explore themes linked to Relationships Education, PSHE and Citizenship
• To consider the quality of activities in schemes of work
• To review medium-term planning for English, Mathematics and other subjects
• To structure teaching and learning in a curriculum area
• To consider the resource implications of a planned curriculum program
• To examine the extent to which weekly plans are significant in developing curriculum
• To review the use of technology in a series of lessons
• To review existing lesson planning
• To consider the extent to which pupils are clear about the learning objectives
• To evaluate a teaching session
• To examine tasks in terms of their learning demands
• To evaluate the stimulus and variety of tasks and activities
• To identify the aspects of the hidden curriculum in a selection of books, online resources and other resources