Breaking the Monotony of Learning through Curriculum Enrichment

Ericson P. Cabrera

Enrichment activities are essential in the teaching and learning process. Teachers must be masters of these activities, which can highly engage the students in learning activities. In this particular activity, teachers and principals as curriculum leaders must carefully plan the enrichment of the curriculum.

The content for the curriculum enrichment may be anchored on the students’interests, teachers’knowledge and interests, aspects of the discipline that is not usually part of the curriculum, and development in the subject. Furthermore, exceptional knowledge and expertise of the community, local characteristics of a topic, topics to be studied in greater depth, and other activities related to current events can be sources of enrichment.

With those choices, curriculum leaders can deepen the curriculum with topics that are not well-tackled in classes. Teachers are not only providing enrichment activities then but can also offer other options for students to explore. The Schoolwide Enrichment Model developed by Renzulli and Reis primarily caters to the academically gifted and talented students. This model provides augmented learning experiences and higher learning standards for all children through three goals; (1) developing talents in all children, (2) providing a broad range of advanced-level enrichment experiences for all students, and (3) providing advanced follow-up opportunities for young people based on their strengths and interests. Using the principles of the model, curriculum leaders can design enrichment activities that are aligned to the level of their learners.

The partnership of teachers and principal in curriculum enrichment must be well-established to address the renewal of the curriculum. The other options where they can collaborate in designing projects or school activities require institutionalization of the programs. In this way, students will not just have the usual units of study but are more likely to explore other learning opportunities that the school can offer with curriculum enrichment activities.

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The author is Principal II at Gov. Rafael L. Lazatin Integrated School.