New Teaching Framework For Govt. Schools

October 19, 2015

The Ministry of Education will today [Oct 19] launch a new educational framework for teaching in preschool, primary 1 and 2 levels at an after-school event for teachers this afternoon at Northlands Primary School.

The Ministry said the “goal of the Inquiry Framework is to establish a common teaching and learning framework across government preschool and primary schools and to engage children early in 21st century skills including imagining, problem solving, innovating and collaborating.

“The inquiry process mimics the way young children learn, construct knowledge and make meaning of their experiences.

“Approximately 60 teachers will receive training from subject specialists on the connections between inquiry and subjects such as mathematics, science, social studies and literacy. Teachers will participate in workshops, where they get ‘hands-on experiences’ of inquiry in these subject areas.

“Throughout the year, preschool and early primary teachers will participate in monthly meetings to gain further insight into inquiry and classroom practice.”

Dr Llewellyn Simmons Director of Academics states, “By our early childhood educators applying hands on experience, the Department of Education is changing how teachers in Bermuda have predominantly taught for years.

“We are changing their teaching practices from didactic to critical teaching. Early Childhood teachers are thinking critically about teaching using the inquiry model.”

Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education, Dr. Sharon Speir, “The inquiry method of teaching has the teacher working alongside children, wondering and researching with them. In this model of teaching and learning, it is okay for teachers to say I don’t know, let’s find out together.

“We find that children are very motivated to find answers to questions they have, they take ownership for their learning and take their learning outside of the classroom, into their homes and the community.”

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Comments (10)

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  1. Truth Hurts says:

    YIKES!!! Inquiry learning is hard to implement with children who have basic skills… doing this at these young levels is THE RIGHT SOLUTION placed on the WRONG POPULATION. For instance, if were inquiring in to the America’s Cup participation this weekend, and couldn’t COUNT, how would any conclusions worth anything be made?

    • Positive Minds says:

      How do you know these children have basic skills? Are you a teacher in the public school? Have you visited a classroom? Furthermore, it looks like you need to go back to school to learn basic skills – grammar!

  2. Desiree says:

    I’m sorry…but can we please focus on basic and foundation education for pre-schools, P1 and P2. Why would you expect it is necessary to make this a necessity at this level? Stop putting the cart before the horse. Children are naturally inquisitive if their brains are being stimulated, but let’s allow them to focus on reading, writing and arithmetic. While inquiry is important throughout learning, let it be the focus in DUE time. Let them get the skills for how to do something first. Teachers should not always say, “I don’t know, let’s look it up…” Not in P1 and P2 for goodness sake.

    • Southampton #29 says:

      This is just why our students are failing. We are not teaching the basic skills of understanding. Most P1-P4 need more time for understanding of the basic skills in all core subjects. We have students who are 7 years old expected to know their timetables up to 6 when they can barely add their basic addition facts to 20. Parents needs to practice at home and reinforce what is being taught in the schools. TEACHERS CAN NOT DO EVERYTHING! Raising a child needs takes the village not another NEW programme.

  3. bluebird says:

    And after all the good and positive NEWS that we have had in the last week or so and NOW WE GET SMOKE AND MIRRORS FROM THE UNION OF TEACHERS
    What a crock of you know what,education is not about teaching education is about “LEARNING”

  4. Nothing new says:

    Inquiry is a natural skill in children and adults. There’s nothing new here.

  5. mommaoftwo says:

    I wish that teachers would stand up for what they believe is right for our children regardless of what schools they attend. I am the mother of a P1 student and a P4 student. I am also a former educator and ALSO formally educated in Education with a Master’s degree from a very prestigious university. Schools need to decentralize and allow the Principals and a Board of Governors to run the schools. That’s when you would see results. I am so glad that I have children who are smart either way but they also need to get a foundation first. How do you begin to build a house? With a foundation…correct? That’s a rhetorical question but it’s also common sense. Foundation education, inquiry and application of what you know is constantly built upon. Start with the building blocks first, a-b-c. 1-2-3, etc. Educators and teachers, especially those who teach at the high school level are always complaining that a large number of students have terrible math abilities, ie., knowing how to multiply, etc. Had they learned it to a mastery level in primary school they wouldn’t have a problem. Instead, schools focus on projects that require application of the skills and higher thinking processes before children are ready, leaving the parents to do the project. I implore government and the Department of Education to use common sense in the decisions they make.

  6. bluebird says:

    mommaoftwo,
    you are absolutely correct except for one thing.
    get rid of the Education department as they are there for themselves and not the children and have not been to my knowledge in the last fifty years.
    To many of our youngsters have slipped through the cracks over many years and nothing has changed.
    And that should be “PROOF” TO everyone.

    • mommaoftwo says:

      Thank you bluebird, that is exactly what decentralize means – to get rid of a Ministry that holds all of the power. If schools were granted a certain amount of money based on performance, you’d see top notch schools!! The question is how does education reform? This will require a respectful forum for all parties involved and it needs to start at the grassroots level…in the schools.

  7. Sad to say says:

    Pre-school to P2 – should be building foundation, not just reading, writing and mathematics but character too. Let’s start with character and the rest should follow.

    Once good foundation is built, our children will go a long way.

    My son is in P1 and they have started spelling a few words, doing basic math. We spend 40 minutes to an hour every night on his homework. By the time we finish, he is exhausted and grumpy.

    We have to make learning fun. Homeworks are not helping children.

    They have 15 minutes to eat their lunch, how do you promote mindful eating in a hurry.

    They spend 45 minutes free play in the playground with minimal supervision where bullying starts.

    Why not have some programs during lunch hour, organized game play.

    After school program sucks, why not have homework club or other activities than free play.

    The school system is sadly deteriorating.