So, I am in the process of interviewing with several schools that offer four distinct curricula.
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The first is (IBDP) English. Yet to be decided if it is English A or English B.
The second, (IMYC) Language Arts/Humanities.
The third, (PYP) Elementary English.
The fourth, (Common Core) Secondary English/ESL. From what I have gleaned, it would entail something similar to an English B class.
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All the schools seem to have similar savings potential and seem like nice places to work/live. Which of these curricula would be the most useful down the line to? I'm a little concerned Common Core won't be around much longer. It would be a shame to put in 4 or 5 years only to have the curriculum abandoned. I would like to build experience in a curriculum that will add some value to my fairly young resume (currently only 2 years of Common Core experience in the states). Any other recommendations for curricula that are especially desirable? Thanks!
The Compendium of Curricula
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
Intriguing. Very different options.
Either of the IB options adds the most value to your CV overall. But those two options are quite different. Do you want to teach littleuns or bigguns? Most people have a strong preference, not to mention qualifications for one or the other but not both.
The PYP option seems a little odd. The IB requires that "The classroom teacher takes responsibility at least for the language of instruction, mathematics, social studies and science" (IB Standards and Practices). So for you to be an Elementary English teacher in PYP would mean that either the school's language of instruction is NOT English, or you would actually be a classroom teacher with responsibilities far beyond teaching English. Or possibly the language of instruction is English, and you'd be an EAL support teacher? But that's not usually called an "Elementary English" teacher, though I suppose it could be.
Is the 4th school Common Core or AERO? I think Common Core is probably going to be around for a while anyway, and AERO is going to last even longer. There's nothing to replace either, so hard to eradicate them.
Either of the IB options adds the most value to your CV overall. But those two options are quite different. Do you want to teach littleuns or bigguns? Most people have a strong preference, not to mention qualifications for one or the other but not both.
The PYP option seems a little odd. The IB requires that "The classroom teacher takes responsibility at least for the language of instruction, mathematics, social studies and science" (IB Standards and Practices). So for you to be an Elementary English teacher in PYP would mean that either the school's language of instruction is NOT English, or you would actually be a classroom teacher with responsibilities far beyond teaching English. Or possibly the language of instruction is English, and you'd be an EAL support teacher? But that's not usually called an "Elementary English" teacher, though I suppose it could be.
Is the 4th school Common Core or AERO? I think Common Core is probably going to be around for a while anyway, and AERO is going to last even longer. There's nothing to replace either, so hard to eradicate them.
Response
I find @sids response to be rather naive, and uninformed.
First, CC isnt going away, the name might change, the leaders that push it will likely change, but CC as it stands in respect to a set of numeracy and literacy objectives will endure, and existed and were practiced in IE well before the US DOE minted the term "Common Core". At the heart these represent standard practices, they arent going to be tossed to the curb.
Does the CC option 4 include AP?
Based on the information provided, the IB DIP English is going to be the most marketable, its not just exit level, but you will have performance (score) data, you can see this, easily.
The IMYC language arts is junk, you might as well call it anything else its lower secondary, there isnt any performance data, and from a curriculum perspective all you did was "kids studies".
Since you asked, I have to assume you have no experience wit PYP and so have no idea that it is VASTLY different from teaching stranded subjects. Your first year is a training year, you make a lot of mistakes, and spend way too much time making bubble planers.
@Sid is in error there is only one IB option, IMYC is not IBO, and anyone with experience with it might recognize some similarities since the MYP while more prescribed than in the past has a lot of emptiness to fill with anything. IMYC is just a cheap (very cheap) knockoff.
@Sid is correct regarding the PYP responsibilities of a PYP HRT, but its so easy to get around them, many PYP ISs have specialist science ITs and maths ITs, its more common to find an HRT with a language and social studies and then handing off science or maths to a specialist.
AERO is nothing more than the NextGen science standards attached to the CC (Language Arts and Maths) objectives.
First, CC isnt going away, the name might change, the leaders that push it will likely change, but CC as it stands in respect to a set of numeracy and literacy objectives will endure, and existed and were practiced in IE well before the US DOE minted the term "Common Core". At the heart these represent standard practices, they arent going to be tossed to the curb.
Does the CC option 4 include AP?
Based on the information provided, the IB DIP English is going to be the most marketable, its not just exit level, but you will have performance (score) data, you can see this, easily.
The IMYC language arts is junk, you might as well call it anything else its lower secondary, there isnt any performance data, and from a curriculum perspective all you did was "kids studies".
Since you asked, I have to assume you have no experience wit PYP and so have no idea that it is VASTLY different from teaching stranded subjects. Your first year is a training year, you make a lot of mistakes, and spend way too much time making bubble planers.
@Sid is in error there is only one IB option, IMYC is not IBO, and anyone with experience with it might recognize some similarities since the MYP while more prescribed than in the past has a lot of emptiness to fill with anything. IMYC is just a cheap (very cheap) knockoff.
@Sid is correct regarding the PYP responsibilities of a PYP HRT, but its so easy to get around them, many PYP ISs have specialist science ITs and maths ITs, its more common to find an HRT with a language and social studies and then handing off science or maths to a specialist.
AERO is nothing more than the NextGen science standards attached to the CC (Language Arts and Maths) objectives.
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
Feel free to consider my answer naive, though of course I disagree. but please do note that there are 2 IB options: DP and PYP are both IB. IMYC has nothing to do with IB beyond sharing some of the same curriculum developers, though that's not a fact the IB likes to talk about.
AERO is an adapted version of the CC with adjustments for international schools. Both CC and AERO are likely to stay around, but AERO will likely last longer. If the CC falls, or falls out of favor with some states, individual states will need to replace it with individual curricula. That's not a great option for an IS, hence my assertion that AERO will last longer.
AERO is an adapted version of the CC with adjustments for international schools. Both CC and AERO are likely to stay around, but AERO will likely last longer. If the CC falls, or falls out of favor with some states, individual states will need to replace it with individual curricula. That's not a great option for an IS, hence my assertion that AERO will last longer.
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shadowjack
- Posts: 2140
- Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
Please note PYP can also include an EAL type specialist who still needs to model and teach to PYP guides and formats, including ATL's LPs and more.
Reply
@Sid
You are right DIP and PYP are both IB, my mistake.
@helloiswill
My rush to respond neglected PYP. There has been an increase in IPC and IMYC ISs stating that they are the same as IB,and IB ISs wont give consideration of them as equivalent to IB.
Where @sid is still in error is Aero. It wasnt designed for IE at all, it was the state of CAs implementation of CC, they attached the next gen science standards and called it Aero+. The rest of the framework is nothing more than literact and numeracy around a subject theme, and even then they have little direction that would prohibit anything in social studies or other subject areas.
You are right DIP and PYP are both IB, my mistake.
@helloiswill
My rush to respond neglected PYP. There has been an increase in IPC and IMYC ISs stating that they are the same as IB,and IB ISs wont give consideration of them as equivalent to IB.
Where @sid is still in error is Aero. It wasnt designed for IE at all, it was the state of CAs implementation of CC, they attached the next gen science standards and called it Aero+. The rest of the framework is nothing more than literact and numeracy around a subject theme, and even then they have little direction that would prohibit anything in social studies or other subject areas.
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helloiswill
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:39 am
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
Thank you for the clarification and advice on which path to choose.
@Sid
Strangely, I don't have a strong preference for either "bigunns" or "littleuns." I'm still pretty green in the education field so experience with a curriculum that could bolster my resume is more important to me than age group.
@psyguy
I'm happy to hear that you don't believe CC is going away. I've come to really like the curriculum over the past two years of using the standards. However, I haven't taught IB and perhaps I will come to like it if given the chance to become familiar with the program.
@Sid
Strangely, I don't have a strong preference for either "bigunns" or "littleuns." I'm still pretty green in the education field so experience with a curriculum that could bolster my resume is more important to me than age group.
@psyguy
I'm happy to hear that you don't believe CC is going away. I've come to really like the curriculum over the past two years of using the standards. However, I haven't taught IB and perhaps I will come to like it if given the chance to become familiar with the program.
Reply
@helloiswill
To clarify @Sid, age group can be a factor that makes an offer. Secondary is a lot of years an IT with experience at age group is more marketable than one without all other factors being equal. Many ITs are very indistinct from one another, at a certain point its not about finding the best candidate anymore but shrinking the applicant pool so that leadership can short list the X number of applicants. If the vacancy is years 7 and 8 an IT with experience teaching those ages is more marketable than one thats only taught years 11 and 12.
Its not like CC didnt exist before it was called CC, all CC did was formalize a set of MINIMUM standards and aggressively push it across state borders. It was more a political process that what was good for CA was good enough for the nation. Thats all CC did was say this is the bottom line of what we should expect students to be able to do in maths and reading (and to a lessor extent science with the addition of the NGS). CC didnt change much if anything for IE, as those ISs were already at standards and those that werent didnt care. The only changes for IE was in the form of scope and sequence, not performance expectations. The AP in curriculum did more work changing the binder and conveying the sequence/scope changes then they did any work or effort requiring an increase in performance.
CC will be around forever, though it will likely under go some name changes and updates as science is formalized and social studies/humanities is added and then formalized, but CC is just a name for what has and always will be 'best practices' by another name.
The IBO is a cult, you either like the Koolaid or you dont (I love their Koolaid, its like mixing blue raspberry and black cherry).
You should understand that the IB and its programs are more a product of marketing than they are meds/peds or curriculum. Its a product of Swiss educators who borrowed from the EB (European Baccalaureate) program to form an assessment framework as an alternative to the rigidity of O levels (and A levels to a lessor extent). After a few years, the IBO was formalized, and like any good product grows to fill the market space.
There was community service long before CAS, and honors papers long before EE. TOK is nothing more than a modern organization of philosophy courses (right along with Latin) that students use to study. These fields are nothing more than modernized versions of classical aspects and approaches to education 'globalized' for the current time period. The IB is already working on the next iteration of itself.
To clarify @Sid, age group can be a factor that makes an offer. Secondary is a lot of years an IT with experience at age group is more marketable than one without all other factors being equal. Many ITs are very indistinct from one another, at a certain point its not about finding the best candidate anymore but shrinking the applicant pool so that leadership can short list the X number of applicants. If the vacancy is years 7 and 8 an IT with experience teaching those ages is more marketable than one thats only taught years 11 and 12.
Its not like CC didnt exist before it was called CC, all CC did was formalize a set of MINIMUM standards and aggressively push it across state borders. It was more a political process that what was good for CA was good enough for the nation. Thats all CC did was say this is the bottom line of what we should expect students to be able to do in maths and reading (and to a lessor extent science with the addition of the NGS). CC didnt change much if anything for IE, as those ISs were already at standards and those that werent didnt care. The only changes for IE was in the form of scope and sequence, not performance expectations. The AP in curriculum did more work changing the binder and conveying the sequence/scope changes then they did any work or effort requiring an increase in performance.
CC will be around forever, though it will likely under go some name changes and updates as science is formalized and social studies/humanities is added and then formalized, but CC is just a name for what has and always will be 'best practices' by another name.
The IBO is a cult, you either like the Koolaid or you dont (I love their Koolaid, its like mixing blue raspberry and black cherry).
You should understand that the IB and its programs are more a product of marketing than they are meds/peds or curriculum. Its a product of Swiss educators who borrowed from the EB (European Baccalaureate) program to form an assessment framework as an alternative to the rigidity of O levels (and A levels to a lessor extent). After a few years, the IBO was formalized, and like any good product grows to fill the market space.
There was community service long before CAS, and honors papers long before EE. TOK is nothing more than a modern organization of philosophy courses (right along with Latin) that students use to study. These fields are nothing more than modernized versions of classical aspects and approaches to education 'globalized' for the current time period. The IB is already working on the next iteration of itself.
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
"Its a product of Swiss educators who borrowed from the EB (European Baccalaureate) program to form an assessment framework as an alternative to the rigidity of O levels (and A levels to a lessor extent)."
Hey Dave, for the first time you've told me something new: I always thought Alec Peterson was a Brit and Gerard Renaud was French. Clearly they are secret yodellers!
Hey Dave, for the first time you've told me something new: I always thought Alec Peterson was a Brit and Gerard Renaud was French. Clearly they are secret yodellers!
Reply
@walter
The predecessor of the IB was the International Schools Examinations Syndicate (ISES) which was created at IS Geneva.
IT nationality is irrelevant, and irrespective of practice. You can be a German, French, British, English, American, Japanese, Indian IT and be located in Australia, Switzerland, Eqypt, Thailand and after X years you are an educator of your new and current location. Is your position thus that a British IT in Switzerland who has been there a decade and teaches in a Swiss Gymnasium is better described as a British DT than a Swiss DT?
You still dont know what you think you know.
The predecessor of the IB was the International Schools Examinations Syndicate (ISES) which was created at IS Geneva.
IT nationality is irrelevant, and irrespective of practice. You can be a German, French, British, English, American, Japanese, Indian IT and be located in Australia, Switzerland, Eqypt, Thailand and after X years you are an educator of your new and current location. Is your position thus that a British IT in Switzerland who has been there a decade and teaches in a Swiss Gymnasium is better described as a British DT than a Swiss DT?
You still dont know what you think you know.
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
@Dave
“IT nationality is irrelevant, and irrespective of practice. You can be a German, French, British, English, American, Japanese, Indian IT and be located in Australia, Switzerland, Eqypt, Thailand and after X years you are an educator of your new and current location.”
You find it so difficult to admit you’re ever wrong. You stated quite clearly before that the IB was the product of Swiss educators. When you see the fact (oh Dave loves facts) that there was no Swiss educator involved, your new line is that an international teacher working in an international school in Switzerland is de facto a Swiss domestic teacher. You’re such a funny boy.
At least no one will ever make the assumption that you have become the same as a national domestic teacher in your various international postings. Even you would recognize that you have stay longer than a year for that to happen.
“IT nationality is irrelevant, and irrespective of practice. You can be a German, French, British, English, American, Japanese, Indian IT and be located in Australia, Switzerland, Eqypt, Thailand and after X years you are an educator of your new and current location.”
You find it so difficult to admit you’re ever wrong. You stated quite clearly before that the IB was the product of Swiss educators. When you see the fact (oh Dave loves facts) that there was no Swiss educator involved, your new line is that an international teacher working in an international school in Switzerland is de facto a Swiss domestic teacher. You’re such a funny boy.
At least no one will ever make the assumption that you have become the same as a national domestic teacher in your various international postings. Even you would recognize that you have stay longer than a year for that to happen.
Reply
@walter
Still dont know what you think you know, I have no problem admitting when I am wrong, when I actually am, and this isnt one of those times. They were absolutely Swiss educators, and based on data (facts are something you have a problem with), you tend to believe everything leadership and admins say is fact by virtue of having a big chair in your office.
Ive been in positions longer than a year, such as my current one.
Still dont know what you think you know, I have no problem admitting when I am wrong, when I actually am, and this isnt one of those times. They were absolutely Swiss educators, and based on data (facts are something you have a problem with), you tend to believe everything leadership and admins say is fact by virtue of having a big chair in your office.
Ive been in positions longer than a year, such as my current one.
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
http://www.ibo.org/about-the-ib/governa ... -peterson/:
"Alec Peterson was the first Director General of the International Baccalaureate® (IB). He shaped the educational philosophy of the IB based on his own deeply humanist and liberal beliefs; from the IB's commitment to stimulating courses, and its focus on independent research, to its balance between academic work and community service.
"The development of critical thinking skills, and the central role of theory of knowledge to the Diploma Programme (DP), were also key aspects of his philosophy.
"Born in Edinburgh in 1908, Alec entered the teaching profession in 1932, holding roles as headmaster of various government-run and independent schools in England, as well as posts in the UK military."
Born in Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Switzerland?
"Alec Peterson was the first Director General of the International Baccalaureate® (IB). He shaped the educational philosophy of the IB based on his own deeply humanist and liberal beliefs; from the IB's commitment to stimulating courses, and its focus on independent research, to its balance between academic work and community service.
"The development of critical thinking skills, and the central role of theory of knowledge to the Diploma Programme (DP), were also key aspects of his philosophy.
"Born in Edinburgh in 1908, Alec entered the teaching profession in 1932, holding roles as headmaster of various government-run and independent schools in England, as well as posts in the UK military."
Born in Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Switzerland?
Reply
@sid
Please read the prior post, as cited below (with emphasis).
"Swiss educators who borrowed from the EB (European Baccalaureate) program to form an assessment framework as an alternative to the rigidity of O levels (and A levels to a lessor extent). AFTER a few years, the IBO was formalized,..."
Note the use of the term AFTER. BEFORE the IBs predecessor was formed (again note the use of the term BEFORE) the IB was an assessment framework (ISES) created at IS Genovia which is in Switzerland. This occurred BEFORE the tenure of Alec Peterson.
Please read the prior post, as cited below (with emphasis).
"Swiss educators who borrowed from the EB (European Baccalaureate) program to form an assessment framework as an alternative to the rigidity of O levels (and A levels to a lessor extent). AFTER a few years, the IBO was formalized,..."
Note the use of the term AFTER. BEFORE the IBs predecessor was formed (again note the use of the term BEFORE) the IB was an assessment framework (ISES) created at IS Genovia which is in Switzerland. This occurred BEFORE the tenure of Alec Peterson.
Re: The Compendium of Curricula
Ahh.
So something other than the IB was formed by people other than IB people.
Which somehow makes the IB people Swiss?
I suppose that also makes the creators of the IMYC Swiss, since the IMYC was developed by people who followed the IB? Wow, won't they be surprised to find out.
As, I suppose, will Alec.
So something other than the IB was formed by people other than IB people.
Which somehow makes the IB people Swiss?
I suppose that also makes the creators of the IMYC Swiss, since the IMYC was developed by people who followed the IB? Wow, won't they be surprised to find out.
As, I suppose, will Alec.