Curricular Maps: Important Links

In my previous post I talked about what are the new Curricular Maps and my thoughts on the matter. Here I’m going to give you a set of links for you to read if you would like to learn more about them. To read this post visit THIS LINK.

Let’s start with the actual Circular letter that brings the concept into play. (Most of these links are in Spanish.)

Carta Circular Núm. 2-2010-2011: Planificación del Proceso de Aprendizaje




Aclaración Carta Circular Núm. 2-2010-2011: Planificación del Proceso de Aprendizaje

Curricular Maps
At the moment there are only the curricular maps for the main four basic courses; those are English, Spanish, Math and Science. But the orator at the workshop ensured us that one for Social Studies is in the works.

Standards & Expectations
I’ll update this post as needed when more information is available (or I realize that it is available).

Puerto Rico's New Curricular Maps for Education (Mapas Curriculares)

This trimester I’m taking 5 college courses; yes, I know crazy right? In one of those courses, Teaching Strategies, we study the various ways we can structure our teaching methods effectively.

About a month ago, our professor informed us that the public school’s educational curriculum for the whole of Puerto Rico is being re-structured; effective this past August. Teachers all over Puerto Rico are being given workshops on how the new curriculum works and the materials they need to learn it and begin implementing it, etc. My professor also informed us that she had managed to, along with another professor, bring the workshop to our university for one day so that us –future teachers– can begin getting to know the new structure.

So what is the new curriculum about?

Basically is a form of escalated learning based on skills. Let me explain and take my major as an example. I’m currently doing a Bachelors of Arts Degree in the Teaching of English as a Second (more like foreign) Language at the High School level; or TESL (TEFL) for short.

Idioms

What are idioms?

According to Dictionary.com, an idiom [id-ee-uhm] is:

noun

1. an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general grammatical rules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics. 
2. a language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people. 
3. a construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the same way in the second language. 
4. the peculiar character or genius of a language. 
5. a distinct style or character, in music, art, etc.: the idiom of Bach. 

Basically, idioms are the good ol’ sayings that you hear many times; in Spanish we know them as “refranes.”

Here is a list of some common Spanish idioms and their English equivalent.