- 23 Jun, 2020
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New Ontario elementary math curriculum to include coding starting in Grade 1
Ontario’s math curriculum is getting a makeover — with students learning coding and financial literacy in Grade 1, and a new focus on dealing with kids’ stress on the subject.
The new curriculum, unveiled Tuesday by Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce, was two years in the making and updates and streamlines the 2005 “discovery math” lessons into more of a back-to-basics approach on learning — and recalling — math facts.
There are a total of 465 “expectations” of learning for students from Grades 1 through to 8, about 150 fewer than the current curriculum.
It also includes a new “strand” on social and emotional learning skills — such as teaching children to learn from their mistakes and persevere despite math challenges, and build their confidence in the subject.
In Grade 1, students will look at sequential coding, possibly programming the image of a caterpillar that they can move a few steps forward or backwards using arrows.
The new curriculum also moves some concepts and lessons, including telling time on a clock from Grades 1 to 3, when students have a better grasp of patterns.
As part of financial literacy, students will also start learning that in Grade 1, and over the years it will cover personal budgeting and even e-transfers.
The government says the new curriculum was created after wide consultations with math experts, teachers and is meant to address the continuing drop in math scores in standardized testing, which is an issue many countries around the world are grappling with.
NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles slammed the government for introducing such major change during the COVID-19 pandemic and all the planning that needs to be done for schools to reopen in the fall, urging them to postpone the reforms.
“Dropping a new math curriculum during the middle of a pandemic is completely irresponsible,” she said.
The government “has not bothered to consider the additional burden this will cause for teachers, and for parents who are already struggling to help their children learn from home. Educators are focused on meeting student needs during the COVID-19 crisis, and September will already be a big challenge.”
She said “adding new demands at this point is setting up students to fail. The Ford government must pause this decision, listen to parents and educators, and concentrate on better supporting students during this stressful period.”
News Courtesy: Toronto Star