In "The Fifth Season," the Afro-futurist and speculative fiction writer N.K. Jemisin (2015) describes a world upended by massive climactic events that end typical seasonal cycles--introducing a fifth season of climatic emergency--and require a reorganization of society. As our planet Earth rapidly accelerates climatic change, educators…

Teachers take seriously that "teaching is a deeply human enterprise," yet they can be candidates of worry about standards (or, perhaps more accurately, standardized tests) and where it's taking them in terms of curriculum design. If in their planning they crank out lessons solely focused on goals that young people don't care much about,…

Sorting students into different tracks within a school correlates strongly with student race and economic status and predicts and contributes to student outcomes. Students in higher-level classes typically experience better teachers, curriculum, and achievement levels than peers in lower-level classes. Creating classrooms that support equity of…

The need for curriculum workers to seek ambiguity that arises from the utilization of alternative modes of inquiry is discussed. (DB)

It seems apparent that the traditional two-step organization of eight elementary and four high school grades is the weakest. The most promising organizational plan is the three-step 4-4-4 or 5-3-4 plan, which promises greater attention to individualized instruction. (AN)

Article describes the Curriculum Inquiry Center of the Teacher Education Laboratory in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles and its purposes and functions. (GB)

Five short articles describe curriculum planning achievements in selected schools, including establishment of goals for a program for gifted and talented children; the use of learning charts, curriculum guides, and content lesson plans to make expectations public; establishment of subject area coordination; and two curriculum models. (MLF)

Describes the use of "essential moral questions and provocative propositions" to frame the design of curriculum units. Provides example from high school U.S. History course. (PKP)

Describes International Baccalaureate Organizations' Primary Years Program, an international educational curriculum for elementary school students. (PKP)

Describes how an elementary school in Konya, Turkey, used Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences to personalize students' learning experiences. Includes description of the initial effort; the curriculum structure consisting of three elements (core courses and activities, exploratories, and projects); and the benefits for students and…

Schmoker asserts that the kinds of skills students need to succeed in college--skills like clear thinking, effective writing, and the ability to analyze international and policy issues--are equally needed for non-college-bound youth. He maintains it is possible--and necessary--to provide an intellectually challenging and culturally enriching…

Discusses the type of fragmentation taking place in the curriculum, examines some of the forces causing it, and considers the educational effects. (Author/MLF)