Toss Out the Textbook!

The Power of Story in Bringing the Curriculum to Life

Abstract

The challenges posed by curriculum renewal are familiar to teachers the world over. In Queensland such renewal has lead to the introduction of new syllabuses in each of the key learning areas. The opportunities to engage with and share literature are fewer and the lure of the textbook stronger as teachers grapple with new underpinning philosophies, organization of curriculum materials, concepts and content. Brisbane Catholic Education teacher-librarians have been working to ensure that story does not become a casualty of the demands of curriculum change and implementation by forging links between literature, syllabus concepts, and content.