Parents as Coaches: What to Expect for your Child
Transition from grade 8 to 9
. The Alberta Social Studies curriculum’s main focus is to promote responsible citizenship at all and any age group. In grade 8, students will be asked to broaden their horizons on identity, the role of democracy, and engaged citizenship. Moreover, the students are asked to explore how societies in the past and present interact when coming into contact. By assessing the different ideologies and value systems of Japan, Renaissance Europe, and Spain and Aztec societies, students will gain a deeper understanding of conflicts, resolution, and how the western world was affected. The purpose of this is to broaden the horizons of the learner, as well as create an understanding of everyday society in every grade eight student. According to the Alberta government, Grade eight students “will examine issues related to contact between societies with differing worldviews. They will explore elements of worldviews and how these views are expressed by people living in different times and in different places. Through this inquiry, students will reflect on their own worldviews and assess the influence that the past has had on the present. Examples will be drawn from Japan, Renaissance Europe and Spanish and Aztec societies” (pg, 21. http://education.alberta.ca/media/445772/pub8.pdf). By exploring both past and present government and societal order, the students are asked to gain a deeper understanding of Japan, Renaissance Europe, Spain and Aztec societies, and how past and present societies influence one another in a western world context. However, the transition from grade eight to nine can be a difficult move for any type of student. As parents, there are many things you should be aware of to help your child benefit from the learning process, as well as become successful and responsible citizens.
Much like grade eight, the students in grade nine are asked to become responsible and active citizens in a Canadian context. By exploring the past and the present, the students will be asked to critically assess and analyze the society we live in today. Grade nine is a more analytical and challenging level of learning than grade eight. Because of this, it is important that parents are actively engaged in their children’s learning and education. First off, it is immensely important to be positive and encouraging towards the learner. The main point of this is to not only encourage a positive self-image and self-esteem, but also encourage the growth of the student’s self-efficacy. Next, make sure you discuss with your child, every day, about their schoolwork and what they had learned. Furthermore, it is proven that students learn more and the knowledge is engrained more thoroughly when the information learned in school is connected with everyday life. If parents tell stories and become actively engaged in the student’s education, the child will prosper academically. However, probably one of the most important things a parent can do for their child is to keep in touch with your child’s teacher about everything. Not just the bad behaviors or missed class time, but about the students accomplishment as and positive transitions.
In grade nine, the overview of the curriculum is to broaden the students understanding and appreciation of the relationships among governance, economics, quality of life, and citizenship and identity. The students will be asked to focus on two main subjects respectfully; issues of Canadians, and issues for the United States. Firstly, they will be asked to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how Canada’s political processes impacts citizenship and identity in an attempts to meet the needs of all Canadians. Next, the students will be asked to assess how economic decision making in Canada and the United states impacts the quality of life, as well as citizenship and identity. Moreover, students will analyze their daily lives, consumerism, and their role as responsible and active citizens in a more real context than any grade prior. In grade 9, these students are able to analyze and break down the government process piece by piece in order to get closer of reaching the Alberta Education Social studies goal of students becoming engaged and active citizens in everyday society. The Social Studies program of studies has distinct expectations for the students to reach under the category of “Dimensions of Thinking”. These four categories include critical and creative thinking to determine the validity and reliability of information based on context, bias, source, objectivity, and evidence to broaden understanding. Furthermore, there is expected outcomes in historical thinking, geographic thinking, and problem solving; to be able to become social participants in the democratic process. Grade nine focuses on the government processes of Canada, how regular society is run, and how this connects to the democratic and responsible society we live in today. As future grade nine students, it is important to keep an open mind, embrace the learning and connect everyday knowledge with the academic process of the classroom.
Some resources that may be of help to Parents of Students include:
Alberta Program of Studies- http://www.learnalberta.ca/ProgramOfStudy.aspx?lang=en&ProgramId=564423#999963
Good luck to both the parents and the future students!
Alberta Education Coordinator for FACTSnet
Lindsay Spence
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