SACSC Resources

Model for Integration

The Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC) identifies three approaches that teachers can use to integrate safe and caring topics and principles into their teaching practice.

The Toward a Safe and Caring Secondary Curriculum program is based on the topics shown in the SACSC circle in the model below. These topics are the "content" of the SACSC programs. The topics are designed to focus on themes and concepts that help students examine and reflect on their own knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in relation to what they are learning in school.

This model illustrates the places SACSC topics can intersect with the Alberta Curriculum (what we teach) and instructional strategies (how we teach). Ideally, lessons will integrate both SACSC content and SACSC methods, depicted by the darker shading where all three circles intersect. However, either approach to integration is effective if the teacher also models safe and caring behaviour and attitudes.

Approach 1: Modeling (Teacher)
The most sustainable way that safe and caring principles can be integrated continuously into any classroom is through the approach taken by the teacher in his or her daily interactions with students. As teachers we need to reflect on our own attitudes and behaviours to understand the impact these have on our students. Although most teachers intuitively know that our behaviours and attitudes influence students' behaviour, it is helpful to reflect on the power of modeling as a key component of teaching.

Approach 2: Curriculum Links (Blue and Green Circles, or Circles 1 and 3)
The green circle represents curriculum outcomes that comprise the Programs of Study for Alberta (or whatever the province or state where you teach). Toward a Safe and Caring Secondary Curriculum helps teachers link knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSAs) outcomes from their own subject areas to the SACSC content. On the conceptual model these links are represented by the shaded areas where the green and blue circles intersect. The more these two circles overlap the more effective the lesson is in developing SACSC KSAs while at the same time teaching to the outcomes in the curriculum. Each unit and lesson plan in this resource makes one or more links between Alberta curriculum outcomes and SACSC content for the designated subject.

Approach 3: Teaching Methods (Blue and Red Circles, or Circles 1 and 2)
The red circle represents categories for the dozens of instructional methods teachers use in implementing lessons. Selecting teaching methods that provide practice in social and relationship skills integrates safe and caring learning outcomes without ever having mentioned a safe and caring topic or concept. Safe and caring teaching is represented by the shaded area where the red circle intersects with the blue or the green circles. Being conscious about why you use particular teaching methods and understanding what students can learn from participating in learning activities that use these methods will considerably enhance your teaching effectiveness. Cooperative learning and peer teaching strategies are particularly helpful in developing positive social attitudes (character) and behaviours (skills).

To access the Alberta curriculum, go to www.learning.gov.ab.ca/k_12/curriculum/

Back to the Resources main page