Course Syllabus

The view of schooling is no longer the textbook-based, one-sided lecture method of the 19^th and even 20^th Centuries.  Education theory has shifted dramatically in recent decades. The passive learning styles of our past are now understood to be inferior methods of teaching that ignore the learning needs of children.

Research soundly shows that a holistic, interactive style of teaching, that encourages students to think and reflect, experiment and share ideas is a far superior way to harness their energy and minds. Through easy-to-understand lessons, this course identifies key concepts and techniques to help teachers transition to this interactive approach to teaching and learning. Drawing on what research now tells us about the brain and how people learn, we will demonstrate models for more active learning and less one-sided lecturing and rote memorization.

Forty-eight states have signed onto the concept of core standards. This course builds from those suggested national standards in eight subject areas: Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music and Movement, and Creative Dramatics.

For each subject, the course summarizes basic curriculum elements for first grade. Each lesson includes suggested age-appropriate activities to reinforce the lesson topics. Each lesson also includes teaching tips from experts on how to engage students in learning.