The Understanding of Teachers Regarding the 2022 Revised Elementary School Integrated Curriculum and Textbooks

This study aims to provide foundational data to ensure the successful implementation of the 2022 Revised Elementary School Integrated Curriculum by examining how lower-grade homeroom teachers understand the curriculum and textbooks and their experiences in the classroom. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with 1st and 2nd grade homeroom teachers who have been implementing the 2022 revised curriculum. The key findings on teachers’ understanding of the revised curriculum and textbooks are as follows: First, teachers showed mixed opinions about the curriculum’s focus on “the here-and-now of our lives.” Second, the increased curriculum autonomy due to the delegation of theme development to schools has imposed a significant burden on teachers. Third, the modular structure of the integrated textbooks has caused confusion for both teachers and students in the classroom. Fourth, the emphasis on physical activities in the revised curriculum has led to difficulties for teachers, particularly due to the burden of managing physical activities and the challenging level of play content. Lastly, the “learning guidance” approach, which grants students greater autonomy, has shown limitations when applied to lower-grade students. Based on these findings, providing teachers with specific, practical resources and tailored school support is crucial to alleviating confusion and burden in the field. Thus, ongoing in-depth discussions and concrete support that reflect the voices of the educational field are essential for the successful implementation of the 2022 Revised Elementary School Integrated Curriculum.