His discussion on curriculum was very interesting to me and still has me thinking. He lists eight competencies that schools should facilitate; what teachers do in the classroom should help students develop these competencies.
Curiosity – asking questions and exploring how the world works
Creativity – generating ideas and practicing them
Criticism – analyzing information, evaluating ideas, reasoning and forming arguments about these things
Communication – expressing thoughts and feelings clearly through different media and in a variety of forms
Collaboration – working constructively with others
Compassion – feeling empathy and acting on it
Composure – developing a strong sense of self and creating balance within
Citizenship – engaging with society and participating successfully in it
I can see a place for all of these competencies in a preschool or kindergarten class (as well as a high school or college classroom). As I continue to think about how to act purposefully and intentionally, these competencies will come into play.
What do you think? Do you see these working in the curriculum you teach and the things you do in the classroom?
I haven’t quite finished Creative Schools. But it certainly is a thought-provoking book and fits nicely into all I’m thinking about at the present time.
