Roles within Curriculum Renewal

Administrators and classroom teachers have a shared and important responsibility in helping students become "literate individuals who are competent and confident in using language for both functional and aesthetic purposes" (English Language Arts: A Curriculum Guide for the Elementary Level, Saskatchewan Education, 2002, p. 3). Discussion and reflection about the roles within curriculum renewal assume that schools and school divisions are committed to actualizing the renewed Elementary Level English language arts curriculum in their classrooms.

As educational leaders, administrators are key to successful curriculum renewal. Administrators facilitate the curriculum renewal process by having knowledge of the curriculum, supporting resources, and the change process. In general, it is helpful if administrators:

• understand the general intent and principles that underlie the renewed curriculum for the Elementary Level English language arts program
• understand that renewal requires time and commitment
• develop a plan for supporting renewal
• ensure that teachers have an opportunity to participate in a variety of professional development opportunities (see Appendix B)
• inform students, parents, and the broader school community of the philosophy, goals, and methods of the renewed curriculum
• recognize the role of appropriate resources in an English language arts classroom and ensure that the school division resource selection policy reflects Saskatchewan Learning initiatives and guidelines
• consider how the assessment and evaluation suggestions in the renewed curriculum affect the school's policy and reporting of student progress
• support teachers who wish to expand their repertoire of instructional strategies and methods related to language arts instruction
• review and discuss regularly with teachers their insights and needs related to English language arts instruction
• share information (particularly curriculum and resource updates) with teachers
• attend, when possible, professional development opportunities related to English language arts curriculum and instruction.

A checklist for In-school Administrators focused on supporting the renewal of English language arts is found in Appendix C.

The renewed curriculum encourages teachers to plan for and model effective language arts instruction including:

• attending to each of the six language arts as well as integrating them
• emphasizing the communication and construction of meaning
• teaching skills and strategies that effective communicators use
• creating meaningful contexts, purposeful activities, and a supportive environment for students to learn language knowledge, skills, and strategies
• using (and having students create) a range of texts in a variety of genres
• modeling the before/during/after skills and strategies that effective communicators use
• attending to and teaching language conventions and mechanics
• attending to content, process, and product
• providing consistent and ongoing feedback to students.

New teachers, and teachers new to English language arts, as well as experienced teachers of English language arts will need time and opportunities to develop an awareness, to explore, and to become knowledgeable about and adopt classroom practices that reflect the philosophy and expectations outlined in the renewed curriculum guide. While individual teachers will be at different stages in their understanding and comfort with the teaching of English language arts, they will find the sample teacher checklists provided in the renewed curriculum and the reflection guide provided in Appendix D of this bulletin useful to reflect on their strengths and needs in developing plans for action.

Saskatchewan Learning has selected and provided professional development for teachers in each educational region of the province in order to support the renewal of English language arts at the Elementary Level. The role of these teachers is to:

• understand the philosophy and practices advocated in the renewed curriculum in order to be a school division resource
• facilitate a range of professional development opportunities designed to meet the needs of schools and school divisions in renewing ELA programming
• promote the curriculum in their respective schools, school divisions, and professional development sessions
• become a mentor for ELA teachers
• provide feedback to Saskatchewan Learning on future professional development needs in their region.

Administrators and teachers need to acquaint parents with the renewed Elementary Level English language arts curriculum guide, including its aim, goals, and objectives and its philosophy, content, and approach. In order to facilitate awareness and understanding of the English language arts curriculum, information such as the sample parent newsletter found in Appendix E of this bulletin may guide discussions or presentations during parent awareness sessions or may be included as a component in a parent information package.