Changes are coming to the curriculum for junior high students.
The Alberta government recently announced that the junior high curriculum will be updated, with the changes affecting mathematics for grades 7 to 9, social studies for grades 7 to 9, physical education and wellness for grades 7 to 10, and career and life management (CALM).
The province said that teachers will be involved in the revision process, although it is not clear to what extent. So far, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has submitted one nomination for each of the four Teacher Curriculum Consultation groups for engagement with the province.
“It’s our hope that teachers’ experiences and insights are included at the curriculum writing table and not brought in as an afterthought,” said ATA president Jason Schilling.
According to the province, school authorities will then have the option to pilot the draft curriculum in 2025/26. While the need for some updates is clear (CALM has not been revised since 2002), some have expressed concerns with the timeline for the pilot.
The changes come as teachers are struggling with a lack of resources and overcrowded classrooms. Given this — and having seen the challenges and strain experienced by teachers implementing the new K–6 curriculum in six subjects over the last two years — the ATA is urging the government to pause and to include teachers in the full process, from drafting to implementation, to avoid a repeat of the recent shortfalls.
“It’s a teacher’s job to set students up for success, and the only way they can do that is if they have a say in what is being taught,” Schilling said.
For the K–6 curriculum overhaul, teachers expressed frustration that instead of being included at the drafting table, they were able to provide feedback only on the already assembled draft. Further, there were concerns about the draft social studies curriculum that went unaddressed. Despite the ATA and teachers urging the government to delay the piloting of the K–6 social studies curriculum given their concerns, the curriculum was launched in classrooms in September.
Terra Kaliszuk, ATA executive staff officer, said that although the social studies pilot is ongoing, she is receiving feedback already.
“Teachers find the content load of the curriculum overwhelming,” she said.
The ATA will be undertaking research this school year to gather information about teachers’ experiences with the pilot. For Schilling, the feedback from teachers on the social studies pilot must inform the process for updating the junior high curriculum.
“A curriculum needs to be viewed as a staircase,” Schilling said. “Our concern with the social studies pilot is that steps were missed.”
To prevent this from happening again, the ATA is advocating for teachers to be meaningfully involved in the curriculum revision process from the very beginning. When it comes to the junior high curriculum update, teachers’ involvement will serve all students well by helping address the shortfalls that remain in the K–6 curriculum, Schilling said.
“We need to understand and address the learning gaps in the elementary curriculum before we move to junior high, otherwise you’re creating a system of upwards failing.” ❚
