The Curriculum: Gallimaufry to coherence: Gallimaufry to coherence

by Mary Myatt

Mary Myatt argues that the solutions to overcoming achievement barriers lie in understanding the curriculum and in what children are meant to know.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching

200 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it took me quite a while to get through it, due to the amount of notes I was taking and ideas I was applying, I really enjoyed this book. I think Mary Myatt comes up with some great and unique ideas. I loved the emphasis that was placed on teaching children “why” we learn things and how they can be beneficial for everyday life.

[Alistair Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very good book. Having just finished this, I am seriously struggling to think of anything which is likely to change my teaching practice.

"The Curriculum" appears from all angles to have been written by a generalist with general thoughts about lots of things. As a result, it flies through extremely complex issues with little focus, depth, or demonstration of specialist expertise. The most obvious - but far from only - indication of the vague, generalist nature of the book is the subject-specific section at the end of the book, which rattles through subjects by engaging in a perfunctory manner with a very small number of the issues related to teaching them.

Try a book by a specialist in one of the thousands of areas that this book tries to cover. It will save you a lot of time.

[Matthew Benyohai · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the whole interesting but not enough depth at points. Sometimes the differences between primary and secondary aren't appreciated and there appears to be a definition of 'worksheet' in the author's head that isn't explained to the reader which makes some comments hard to understand. I enjoyed the general argument, but I don't feel I have enough concrete takeaways for this to get a higher rating.

[A Severs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really thought- (and action-) provoking!

[Tessa Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and thought provoking read. A good starting point for CPD and staff discussions.

[Suzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concise and interesting this is a quick and insightful read.