Curriculum Update 49

Curriculum Update, delivered direct to schools once each term, outlines recent projects to support teaching and learning, together with information from current research that could be valuable to schools in their pursuit of excellence in teaching. This issue looks at The Arts – Ngā Toi.

Curriculum Update 48

A key Ministry goal is the development and promotion of effective teaching through strategically planned programmes of professional development and support to raise student achievement and reduce disparity.

Curriculum Update 47

This Curriculum Update provides information about developments in assessment, the research that underpins them, and the new tools that are being developed. These tools will help teachers to gather, analyse, and use high-quality assessment information in order to make a difference to student learning outcomes.

Curriculum Update 46

Learning Experiences Outside The Classroom (LEOTC)

Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom provide students in New Zealand schools with interactive, curriculum-based programmes that enhance their learning. By term 3 2001, sixty providers including museums, historic parks, zoos, art galleries, arts organisations, and science centres will be offering stimulating and challenging programmes to students on behalf of the Ministry of Education. The Ministry seeks to ensure that LEOTC programmes are accessible to students in as many areas of New Zealand as possible.

Curriculum Update 45

From the Secretary for Education.
The world-wide focus on numeracy has highlighted the importance of high-quality mathematics programmes, which emphasise both numerical knowledge and advanced mental strategies. It has also highlighted the importance of integrating mathematical skills into other curriculum areas.

Curriculum Update 44

In 2001, the Ministry will continue to fund professional development through both School Support Services and a contestable contracting process. To meet the government's Closing the Gaps initiative, all professional development contracts must include consideration of the specific needs of teachers of Māori and Pacific nations children in mainstream classes. Several of the successful professional development programmes contracted for the 2000 school year are being extended for a second year in 2001.

Curriculum Update 43

September 2000 saw the launch of The Arts in the New Zealand Curriculum. A curriculum statement written in English has now been published for each of the seven essential learning areas. In te reo Māori, the parallel statement for the arts, Ngā Toi i roto i te Marautanga o Aotearoa, will be delivered to schools teaching in the Māori medium later this year. Consultation is proceeding on the draft statement for health and physical education in te reo Māori, Hauora i roto i te Marautanga o Aotearoa, with the final document expected in 2001.