Information materials
Curriculum Update 56
This issue of Curriculum Update describes how the Arts Strategy, supported by ongoing research, guides quality professional development in the arts.
The Arts Strategy reflects the government's goals for excellence in teaching; for home, school, and community partnerships; and for effective planning for and learning in the arts. Sources of teacher support include professional development programmes, online communities and resources (Arts Online and Te Kete Ipurangi), and a range of print and electronic resources.
Learning Media item number 10987.
Sharpening the Focus 10
This issue of the newsletter for principals and boards of trustees sets out the recently gazetted changes to the National Education Goals (NEGs) and National Administration Guidelines (NAGs). These require schools to "give priority to regular quality physical activity that develops movement skills for all students, especially in years 1–6".
the newsletter describes the professional development options that support the amended legislation and some of the curriculum resources available to teachers.
Learning Media item number 10948.
Looking ahead
The Ministry of Education and Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) will be producing a comprehensive set of guidelines in 2006 to support principals and boards in raising the profile of physical activity in schools.
The Numeracy Story continued – What is the evidence telling us?
This pamphlet continues the numeracy story first introduced in Curriculum Update 45, 50, and 55. It outlines the findings from the Numeracy Development Project and describes the features of quality teaching in mathematics. It also sets out findings from the programme Te Poutama Tau, particularly the links between language and numeracy learning for students in Maori-medium settings.
Learning Media item number 31048. Copies of each of these publications were sent to all schools in August.
Evaluation and Research Compendium: Findings from the New Zealand Numeracy Development Project 2004
From its inception, the Numeracy Development Project has been guided by research evidence about mathematics education, effective teaching, teacher learning, effective facilitation practice, and educational change. The 2004 evaluators and researchers focused on three strategic themes (student achievement, professional practice, and sustainability) for each of the Early, Advanced, Intermediate, and Secondary Numeracy Projects.
Learning Media item number 31049. One reference copy of the research report was distributed in August to all schools. The research report can also be accessed online.