Page 18 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 AND 10 | Canadian and World Studies
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CANADIAN AND WORLD STUDIES PROGRAM
Students
Students’ responsibilities with respect to their own learning develop gradually and increase over time as they progress through elementary and secondary school. With appropriate instruction and with experience, students come to see how applied effort can enhance learning and improve achievement. As they mature and develop their ability to persist, to manage their behaviour and impulses, to take responsible risks, and to listen with understanding, students become better able to take more responsibility for their learning and progress. There are some students, however, who are less able to take full responsibility for their learning because of special challenges they face. The attention, patience, and encouragement of teachers can be extremely important to the success of these students. Learning to take responsibility for their improvement and achievement
is an important part of every student’s education.
Mastering the skills and concepts connected with learning in the Canadian and world studies curriculum requires ongoing practice, personal reflection, efforts to respond to feedback, and commitment from students. It also requires a willingness to try new activities, explore new ideas, keep an open mind, collaborate with peers, and follow safety practices both during field studies and in the classroom. Through ongoing practice and reflection about their development, students deepen their appreciation and understanding of them- selves and others, the communities to which they belong, and the natural environment.
Parents
Parents8 have an important role to play in supporting student learning. Studies show that students perform better in school if their parents are involved in their education.
By becoming familiar with the curriculum, parents can better appreciate what is being taught in the courses their children are taking and what they are expected to learn. This awareness will enhance parents’ ability to discuss their children’s work with them, to communicate with teachers, and to ask relevant questions about their children’s progress. Knowledge of the expectations will also enhance parents’ ability to work with teachers
to improve their children’s learning.
Effective ways in which parents can support their children’s learning include attending parent-teacher interviews, participating in parent workshops, and becoming involved
in school council activities (including becoming a school council member). Parents who encourage and monitor project completion or home practice, including the application
of skills in new contexts, further support their children in their geography, history, and civics (politics) studies. Parents can be supportive by taking an interest in and discussing current events with their children, helping them make connections between their studies and current issues and developments. Parents can also promote their children’s understanding of and appreciation for the multiple communities to which they belong – ethnocultural, religious, linguistic, national – by exposing them to people, cultural events, and stories related to their heritage. Within the school, parents can promote and attend events related to Canadian and world studies.
8. The word parent(s) is used in this document to refer to parent(s) and guardian(s). It may also be taken to include caregivers or close family members who are responsible for raising the child.
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