Endorsements are in for Alberta’s new K-6 curriculum. After years of declining outcomes for students, the new curriculum focuses on essential skills and knowledge. Just as we promised.
While Alberta’s United Conservative government is receiving constructive feedback on the curriculum, a series of endorsements have come in about the important changes, whether it’s for the strengthened focus on literacy and math, the addition of consent and financial literacy, or incorporating important features of Canadian and Indigenous history and knowledge.
Mathematics
With its emphasis on understanding and visualization, the proposed Alberta K-6 curriculum provides a solid basis for numeracy and mathematical skill.
This new draft curriculum is clear, concise, concrete and comprehensive. I am excited for both the teachers and their students, as it is a huge step forward towards evidence-based best practices in math education. This increased standard of excellence will give many parents great confidence that all our children will develop the mastery of fundamental knowledge, understanding, and skills in mathematics necessary to succeed in life.
"There are many good changes," says Craigen, who also points to teaching fractions in earlier grades as opposed to starting in Grade 7, saying: "It has the the potential to be a game changer... It is hard to overstate how pivotal that particular skill is in one's mathematical development."
Literacy
The new K-6 curriculum is inspired by the science of reading and brings to our teachers, parents, and children what is currently known around the world as best practice to support our children to become successful readers and writers.
Financial Literacy
The Edmonton Chamber applauds the new focus this curriculum places on financial literacy and the foundational skills that employers and entrepreneurs rely on each and every day. This will help spur creative thinking and fuel a new generation of Alberta entrepreneurial leadership.
Computer Science
Including computer science in Alberta's new K-6 science curriculum is a water-shed moment; it means Alberta students will now learn the foundational ideas, problem-solving and creative thinking skills behinds this 21st century science which now touches nearly every aspect of our lives.
We need a generation of critical users and creators of digital technologies if we want to ensure that technological innovations result in positive social change. By starting in kindergarten, the draft curriculum demonstrates that Alberta Education understands that computer science is too important for our children's future to be an educational afterthought.
Consent
I am thrilled that the Alberta government has ensured that consent will be taught as an essential part of the K-6 curriculum. I have been advocating for these changes for many years and applaud this leadership. We clearly know that this topic thrives on society's ignorance and indifference so the sooner we give our young people the tools and confidence, the better. To prevent maltreatment we need to start at the youngest age possible, so, in my mind, this education will not only change lives, it will save them.
Social Studies
It warms my heart as an immigrant raising my two kids in Calgary to see our government acknowledging the Muslim community in one of the most significant ways, which is Education. I believe that this will be the start of a new era for Alberta, where all students will be the start of a new era for Alberta, where all students will learn about the diverse, inclusive and multi-cultural communities that form our unique society.
As a former member on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada - Alberta, during our hearings was the first province to 'publicly declare that it was launching its own initiative to develop mandatory curriculum on the Treaties and residential schools for all students'. We believed that education, in general, is the key to reconciliation and with the work done to date it is consistent with the United Nations Declaration in the promotion of respectful relationships between citizens and as a Chief, I am honoured to be a validator of the new education curriculum and look forward to its transforming and positive change.
The proposed Alberta Education K-6 curriculum tells a great story about Chinese culture and the contributions of Western Canada's Chinese community to the building of this great nation. A broad awareness of the role of Chinese Canadians should dispel reasons for discrimination, racism and hate.
I am glad to see the evolvement of the K-6 draft curriculum includes more Indigenous, African and Caribbean history. It is the beginning of a very important learning foundation for school children in Alberta. Teaching our kids about previously invisible aspects of our history - the contributions of people of other races while adopting an anti-racism education lens is crucial to creating fundamental change in our society.
I have reviewed the draft K-6 curriculum and I am supportive and glad to see the First Nation, Metis and Inuit content. I would like to thank Alberta Education and our First Nation, Metis and Inuit Elders for delivering the draft curriculum. It is our shared knowledge, and Elders are the source for our understanding of history and the respect thereof.
The social studies curriculum doesn't shy away from major controversies or the free exchange of idea. It fosters an open classroom climate, with routine, structured opportunities for students to debate, to deliberate out loud, and to encounter a variety of viewpoints and opinions. Such classrooms have an independent, positive impact on long-term civil tolerance and political engagement.
