As significant criticism continues surrounding the provincial government’s new Draft K-6 curriculum, the Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) acknowledges more work is still needed to bring it up to modern standards.

Brad Volkman, Superintendent for Wild Rose School Division, says they chose not to pilot the Draft K-6 curriculum this current school year, noting a number of reasons for their decision:

• Timelines were too short to provide adequate time for feedback and preparation for full implementation.
• The curriculum is lacking a K-12 scope and sequence.
• The curriculum is too content and rote learning heavy. There is not enough critical thinking or room for local context, creativity and choice. Volkman says this is especially a concern for students with complex needs. He says the curriculum as it stands does not allow room for multiple ways of thinking or moving at your own pace.
• In many cases the draft curriculum is not age or developmentally appropriate.

“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused considerable teacher and student fatigue, making the timing inappropriate to pivot a new curriculum,” says Volkman.

He says the WRSD is preparing teachers on professional learning days by bringing together groups of teachers to examine the drafts, plan units and lessons and identify resources. Volkman acknowledges, by collaborating and working together across schools and communities in the WRSD they are leveraging the expertise of their local educators.

WRSD officials believe the drafts released in March of 2021 were not up to standards. Officials say some revisions have been made and the subjects that required the most work have been slowed down to re-work, which Volkman believes is a positive.

“We fully support the development of a new K-12 curriculum, acknowledging that the current curriculum needs to be updated and changed. More teacher involvement, public consultation and a slower process to allow for a full pilot and a stronger drafting process is needed. The timelines are extremely short, but we are working hard to try to get teachers prepared.”

“We have not seen the final drafts that are to be put in classrooms for September, we expect them some time in April, ” adds Volkman. “It is hard to know if more changes are needed without seeing an updated product. All along we would have liked to see more teachers involved in the feedback and drafting process.”

Based on advice from the Curriculum Implementation Advisory Group, the government says it is taking a balanced, measured approach to move the updated curriculum into classrooms to better prepare students for future success. Government officials say this will be done in phases:

• K-3 mathematics and English language arts and literature in September 2022
• K-6 physical education and wellness in September 2022
• Grades 4-6 mathematics and English language arts and literature in September 2023

The advisory group will make recommendations by May 2022 on piloting and implementation strategies for the remaining K-6 curriculum: fine arts, science, social studies, French first language and literature, and French immersion language arts and literature.

News: Updated curriculum positions students for success (March 10, 2022)