The New National Curriculum achievements are covered in the curriculum and are taught from a Christian World View.
Features of the Interact Curriculum
- Developing a knowledge of God: His nature and character
- Developing a knowledge of man: His nature and character
- Developing knowledge of the world.
- Developing character that is conformed to God's image.
- Recognising the unity of knowledge and the inter-relationship of subjects
- Working with a cycle of topics so that all age groups are studying the same topics at different levels
- Catering for individual learning styles
- Requiring a range of thinking skills
- Relating to real life with practical application.
The curriculum is a 4 year cycle; we are currently in our 5th year of the cycle so we've just about been once through and are starting again.
This year (Year A) our Themes are:
Term 1- God is Faithful
Term 2- God is Our Source
Term 3- God is Truthful
Term 4- God is Creative
In 2005 (Year D) our Themes were:
Term 1- God is Wise
Term 2- God is Loving
Term 3- God is at Work
Term 4- God is our Protector and Provider
In 2007 (Year B) our Themes will be:
Term 1- God is a Peacemaker
Term 2- God is our Leader
Term 3- God is Generous
Term 4- God is Forgiving
In 2008 (Year C) our Themes will be:
Term 1- God is One God
Term 2- God is the Owner of the Earth
Term 3- God is Holt and Pure
Term 4- God is All Powerful
In 2009 (Year D) our Themes will be:
Term 1- God is Wise
Term 2- God is Loving
Term 3- God is at Work
Term 4- God is our Protector and Provider Staff and students have enjoyed the unity the curriculum has given our programme and are looking forward to going through the cycle again to build on what we have learnt before.
Would you like to know more details? Read on
Why have we chosen the Interact Curriculum?
Interact gives us:
GODLY PERSPECTIVE
The Interact Curriculum is a Thematic God-centred Curriculum
- The Interact Curriculum gives us a focus that develops relationships with and a knowledge of God
- Godly character and attitudes are developed in staff and children as we desire to grow and change
- As an Integrated schools we are further enabled to maintain our school's special character
BALANCED PROGRAMME
Using the Interact Curriculum ensures that we have a balanced programme of topics in the following subject areas: Devotions, Science, Social Studies (including History, Geography, Government, Economics, Media, etc), Health, Oral Language, Written Language, Visual Language, Art, Technology, for our students.
COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS
- Teachers have good guidance, and yet the freedom for their own personality and objectives to be a part of the teaching programme
- It provides inspiration material
- It assists in clear planning, providing a clear and easily discernible progression of knowledge in each topic area throughout the age groups and levels
- It saves teachers time
- Resource material is readily available to support the curriculum and we have been able to focus the purchase of new materials to support the programme
- Team teaching or specialist teaching are both possible because all age groups are studying the same or similar subjects and teacher strengths can be harnessed by those with weaknesses in certain areas
- It facilitates efficient resource-gathering, visits, trips, materials, visitors and guest speakers at our Chapel services
The material provides
- Full-colour photographs of completed art activities are provided to inspire and give confidence to teachers who feel challenged by this subject
- It is simple and easy to follow and to expand on .
- It incorporates ideas from some of the most recent educational research as well as wisdom and knowledge from the Bible
- Students are able to learn more deeply about each topic as each subject interacts with others and a cumulative effect reinforces previous understanding
- It provides for opportunities for remediation and extension easily (a Year 8 child who needs remedial work on Year 6 understandings could have relevant material and or lessons available, as could a younger child needing extension)
- It enables older children to teach younger children occasionally, thus reinforcing concepts for both age groups
- A wide range of thinking skills and learning styles will be developed and practised
- Teachers gain the experience and expertise of a wide range of educators and educational advisors
- Schools are able to network with other schools using the programme for advice, moderation, and combined activity
- Schools have the opportunity to be involved in developing the Interact programme through critique
- The entire school family can learn about the same or similar topics and thus strengthen a sense of community, fostering greater unity in schools and families than wide ranging topic studies
- School trips and visits can be arranged for several classes at one time
- Spiritual understanding and character development are focused on by the entire staff and pupils at any one time, and thus the entire school can develop and grow together on these areas
While still a very young teacher, Helen Pearson, author of the Interact Curriculum, became the founding principal of KingsWay School in Orewa, New Zealand. Through this experience, though, it was quite overwhelming at times, God birthed in Helen a great enthusiasm for education that seeks to honour God, and a joy in developing curriculum to this end.
After leaving KingsWay School, Helen was asked to develop material to assist others to integrate Biblical faith and world view into a dynamic learning programme. In answer to this request, the week before her first child was born, Helen created a curriculum overview-a four year cycle- for KingsWay School, believing that it would one day be available for wider use.
Since 1991, Helen has gradually developed sixteen teacher manuals, each suitable for one term's work. She has also had four children! Her mother has been a wonderful support with the children during the times she has worked on curriculum development.
The Interact Curriculum is now in use in approximately 1/3 of schools in the NZ Association of Christian Schools. A number of homeschoolers also use the curriculum.
What qualifications does the author have to write the Interact Curriculum?
Helen trained as a teacher (1980-1983) in New Zealand at Hamilton Teacher's Collage and Waikato University, where, in 1983 she gained a Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching with Commendation.
It was in 1986, after further learning with Marty Heaslip of Kapiti Christian School, that she founded KingsWay School in Orewa with ten pupils, some trepidation, and yet a clear sense of God's call. The school grew to a roll of 118 pupils in the five years she served as principal and it now has a roll of over 350 using the Interact Curriculum.
After leaving KingsWay School In 1991, she also assisted in the development of MASTERS' Institute, a Christian Teachers' Collage in Auckland, New Zealand, and served as a director.
Perhaps her greatest qualifications are the experience she has had, her love for and desire to serve God, and her network of friends, advisors, and experts in various educational fields (both Christian and secular) who have been so willing to invest time and advice into the curriculum as she has developed it.
Many of the staff at Faith Academy have met Helen Pearson and have been able to contribute to the development of the programme through our experiences shared with her.