ERIC Number: EJ870364
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Dec
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0958-5176
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Available Date: N/A
Curriculum Deliberations of Experienced Elementary Teachers Engaged in Voluntary Team Planning
Reid, Mark J.
Curriculum Journal, v20 n4 p409-421 Dec 2009
Few reports have been published about the deliberations on classroom curriculum conducted by teachers. This qualitative case-study explored the curriculum deliberations of three fourth-grade teachers who met weekly to plan social studies and science lessons. The teachers participated voluntarily and routinely produced viable plans for the coming week. The planning meetings were audiotape recorded and transcribed. The resulting transcripts were analysed using Walker's System for Analysing Curriculum Deliberations (SACD). The teachers had deliberated routinely about their lessons for four years. This veteran group experienced few conflicts and invested most of their planning energy in SACD episodes identified as "brainstorms". Group members valued the social aspects of their meetings as well as the curriculum plans produced. This case-study demonstrates the power of teachers who work together to craft the curriculum they implement. This type of team planning requires a structure that allows teachers the freedom to make their own decisions. This requirement for freedom alerts school administrators and curriculum writers on the importance of allowing teachers truly to be the "ultimate arbiters of classroom practice".
Descriptors: Curriculum Development, Experienced Teachers, Elementary School Teachers, Volunteers, Teamwork, Cooperative Planning, Case Studies, Brainstorming, Lesson Plans, Curriculum Research, Transcripts (Written Records), Interviews, Content Analysis
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education; Grade 4
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
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Author Affiliations: N/A