As the autumn breeze gently ushers in the new semester, SUIS Qingpu is taking steps to implement the educational philosophy of the nation’s new curriculum standards. Their goals include optimizing the curriculum structure, enriching curriculum resources, and exploring effective paths for curriculum development and implementation. On September 11, SUIS Qingpu hosted a “Curriculum Development and Related Issues Seminar,” where the school invited Professor Wang Jianjun, a well-known expert who holds several titles: Associate Professor of the Department of Education at East China Normal University, Master’s Supervisor and Director at the Institute of Teacher Education Research at East China Normal University, Researcher at the Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, as well as a guidance official at the Basic Education Reform and Development Research Institute.
During the morning session, Coco Miao and students from Class 4H embraced the challenge of a composition class titled “Recommend a Good Place.” Throughout the class, Coco Miao introduced the concept of a ‘good place’ by immersing the students in the natural setting of the campus’ newly-constructed small theatre. She skillfully guided the students to grasp the tone of ‘recommendation’ through thoughtful questions. From reviewing in-class knowledge to extending experiences beyond the classroom as well as presenting real life scenarios, Coco ensured that students accurately comprehended the task of the in-class composition.
After the class, Professor Wang conducted a thorough review of the teaching process, offering valuable commendations and suggestions. Using the composition class as a starting point, Professor Wang delivered a mini lecture on implementing core language literacy. He provided professional guidance on topics such as studying the new curriculum standards and transforming the classroom. He encouraged teachers to inspire students to progress from “having nothing to say” to “having something to say, wanting to say it, knowing how to say it, and saying it beautifully.” Simultaneously, he encouraged teachers to shift their teaching mindset and thus teach students how to approach a particular type of composition through a single essay, thus contributing to the students’ lifelong development. Professor Wang elaborated on multiple dimensions of how to move beyond the ambiguity of language teaching, pointing towards the path of designing and implementing learning with enhanced thinking abilities.
Professor Wang’s lecture sparked contemplation and enthusiastic discussions among the attending teachers. Through this exchange and interaction of ideas, they realized that teaching without research remains shallow, and research without teaching leaves gaps. Co-Principal Sunny Huang, building upon Professor Wang’s lecture and the current status of curriculum reform at SUIS Qingpu, addressed questions and provided clarifications. In the realm of Chinese language teaching, they discussed methods to present knowledge in a structured manner, make learning more contextual, give thinking clearer visibility, and employ advanced questions to stimulate thinking. Teachers at SUIS Qingpu continue their research journey, and the once vague answers are bound to become clearer. They adopt a mindset of wide observation and selective extraction while accumulating knowledge to grow. Their journey of educational research never stops; it is a poetic form of practice.
In the afternoon session, the leaders of various school departments reported on their work in curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation. In response, Professor Wang provided guidance and recommendations for potential issues in the curriculum. He emphasized that the curriculum system should leverage national curriculum standards and the Shanghai curriculum plan as a foundation. Building upon this foundation, they should continually create a curriculum system with the unique characteristics of SUIS Qinpu. This system should be rooted in the development of students’ core literacy and promote the professional development of teachers. Professor Wang’s professional advice and encouragement provide new directions and motivation for curriculum development at SUIS Qingpu.