Confusing Curriculum Terms, Explained
Every new homeschool parent has been there. You are scrolling through an online catalog, or a homeschool mom’s recommendations page, and you are reading the words, but have no idea what they mean in this context. What is a spiral curriculum? What is the Singapore method? That sounds… advanced. And why the heck why does everyone have so many opinions about Common Core?
Let’s break down some commonly used terms about curriculum, so you can make more informed decisions about what will work for you family.
Spiral curriculum: Often used in math curriculum, this is the idea that rather than spend several weeks devoted to one topic, you “spiral”. You keep revisiting different topics or skills, adding more layers each time you teach it,
For example: You introduce the very basics of a skill (geometry, for instance), and spend a day (or maybe two) learning how to identify different shapes. Then you move onto another skill (such as addition) and introduce the very basics of that. And while you focus on one skill day, you continue to practice the skills you have already learned, until you are pretty comfortable with them. Eventually, you circle (or spiral) back to geometry, and add another layer to what you have been practicing- now that you are comfortable identifying different shapes, you talk about measuring the perimeter of shapes. Saxon Math is a classic (and well-loved) example of this method.
Note: For many kids, it works well. However, I have worked with kids who really needed to “soak” in a concept for a while, and struggled to move on to another topic so quickly. It really depends on the child, their learning style, and personality.
Spiral curricula can be “short spiral” or “long spiral”. Saxon Math is a great example of the short spiral curriculum— you keep circling back to the same concepts and building on them throughout the school year.
Typically, long spiral curriculum covers multiple years. Science and history curriculum often use this method, and school systems typically structure their curriculum this way.
For example: Fourth grade science might focus on life science (i.e. biology). Obviously, you will continue to revisit (spiral back to) biology, perhaps again in 7th grade, and then again in 10th grade. Each time, you use what you learned from past biology classes, and go more in depth each time.
Manipulatives
For many people, the word manipulative conjures up images of that unpleasant acquaintance or relative, but in the education world, we love manipulatives! It simply means hands-on materials that can help demonstrate a concept. (It comes from a Latin word, meaning to move around with your hands.)
They are most commonly used in math and are definitely a must. It is SO much easier to teach about fractions when you have circles that are already divided into the appropriate sizes, or to teach about time if you have a clock that kids can use themselves. Most curriculum have sets that you can purchase along with the books.
Note: While you can save money making some manipulatives yourself, I usually think these are worth the investment. Most will last you through several kids, and are helpful for several years,
Other subjects can have manipulatives, especially for younger kids. For instance, letter blocks and tiles are common when teaching younger kids how to identify letters, or create sentences.
Common Core
Ooof. This is a big topic, and I am only going to give a basic outline, and then link to some more in depth information. Basically, Common Core is a set of national education standards adopted by most states in 2010, focusing on math and language arts. The aim of Common Core is to standardize “what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade”.
You will see many curriculum described as “Common Core Aligned”, which means they follow the standards set forth in Common Core.
What does this mean for homeschool families? Not much. This is simply a set of standards that states have to follow if they want to receive federal funding. It is not a requirement for those outside the public school system. You still have to follow what your state requires in terms of the subjects you teach, but you are not required to follow Common Core.
However, if you live in a state that requires you to periodically submit standardized tests for your kids, often those tests are aligned with Common Core Standards. Find out the laws in your state, and see what is required. If you still find it confusing (don’t worry- many people do), the Homeschool Legal Defense Association is a great resource.
However, this should not be a big stressor- if you are using age-appropriate curriculum, it will include the topics you need to teach, and will not be incredibly different from Common Core standards.
A note for those who are confused about debate: Many people have opinions about how Common Core approaches math. The truth is, there are a variety of ways to teach math concepts, and trends in education shift over the years. This is nothing new. Common Core uses one particular way of demonstrating math concepts, and some people find it confusing, and some find it helpful. The beauty of homeschooling is that you get to choose what works for your kids.
Keep in mind that the homeschooling community is largely populated by non-conformists who are not afraid to be different, and who are willing to devote significant money and time to their children’s education because they have opinions and want to make their own choices. So the idea of a national, standardized education plan that requires all kids to learn the same things, in the same way, at the same age is going rub many of them the wrong way, no matter what math models it uses, or which president was in office when it was adopted.
It doesn’t mean that Common Core-aligned curriculum is terrible (although maybe it is for your family), or that you are surrendering to Big Brother by using one (each family gets to decide their own comfort level in that regard). Do your own research and decide if it will work for your family.
Singapore Method
Simply put, this is a method of teaching math. As the name suggests, it originated in China and is widely used in international schools. The curriculum runs from Kindergarten to 6th grade. While there are many facets to this approach, if can be summed up by “CPA” (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract)
Concrete: You introduce each mathematical concept with a very concrete, hands-on example, ideally using manipulatives. (Example: Looking at 3 equal groups of eight blocks, students, pencils, etc.)
Pictorial: When the student understands the concrete idea, you use pictures to discuss/ practice the same idea. (Example: Looking at a picture of 3 equal groups of eight people, and finding the total. Again, keep repeating this until students really gets it.)
Abstract: When the student understands and grasps the idea in pictures, then you move on to abstract thinking. (Example: Looking at the math problem 3 x 8 and finding the total.)
There are other important aspects of this approach, but that’s the main idea.
Note: If you like this approach (and there is much to like about it) the younger you start, the easier it will be. Most schools who adopt this curriculum do so gradually— it is introduced in the younger grades (kindergarten or 1st grade) and each year, the next grade transitions to this curriculum. If students have used another method until fifth grade, suddenly adopting this would be a very difficult change.
If you are considering this curriculum, I strongly recommend some training, I do think it is effective, when used correctly by someone who is willing to invest time and energy into learning about it.
Note: There are several different versions, all produced by the same company. This site has a great break down of the different editions.
Some drawbacks and common criticism of Singapore Math:
Most students will need to move s-l-o-w-l-y. The Singapore method results in a very indepth understand of mathematical concepts, but that takes time. I have yet to meet any teacher or parent who has covered an entire Singapore textbook in one year. There have been years when I barely got to the second workbook. This can be tough for many kids- I was downright sick of word problems by the time my class had mastered them one year and we were able to (finally!) move on. I am sure the kids felt the same way.
The textbook is not a step-by-step teaching guide, the way most math textbooks are. If you are new to this, I strongly suggest purchasing the instructional guide as well as at the textbook and workbook.
Because students spend so long in one subject, there is not much review of previous chapters. I ended up creating my own “weekly reviews” for students to continue practicing skills from earlier in the year. They will use those skills again and build on them, but I found most of my students needed more consistent review than Singapore offered.
Want to know more? MathGeekMama has a great article covering the basics of Singapore from the perspective of a high school math teacher.
What other curriculum terms would you want explained? This is definitely a multi-part series, so add some ideas in the comments!
