St.

Mary’s College of Meycauayan

Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER

The Perception of Grade 10 students and Science teachers

about the Science Spiral Curriculum
at St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Bendana, Joehan Paul
Bodollo, Christian Angelo
De Guzman, Jericho
Melton, Khriz Joseph
Fabre, Kia Mae
Gutlay, Ann Prudence
Mananita, Maristela Mae

Abstract

This Qualitative Research explored the perception of Grade 10 students and Science teachers about the
Science Spiral Curriculum at Saint Mary’s College of Meycauayan. In this research, the researchers want to know
how Science Spiral Curriculum helps the students in St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan to have a broad
knowledge in Science and how it allows the students to retain the skills and learnings that they had in the past
years. The phenomenon and perception of grade 10 students and Science teachers are the main subjects in this
research paper. Interview data were done properly and qualitatively with the authorization and approval of their
class advisers with the willingness of our respondents. Also, this qualitative research explored what is the major
problem why some students do not know the real meaning of spiral curriculum and the advantages and
disadvantages of the spiral curriculum to the students when it was implemented.

Keywords: Science Spiral Curriculum; Perception of Science teachers; and Grade 10 students.

I. Introduction simply repetition of one subject because it deepened

The researchers proposed a qualitative
research that explored the concept of spiral
curriculum. Spiral curriculum was implemented by
Jerome Bruner. The spiral curriculum has four
features, these are: the topics are being revisited,
there are increasing level of difficulty, new learning
is related to the previous learning and the
competence of students increases. The spiral
curriculum is an approach in which the teachers use
on how they deliver the topic in a specific subject and
the students can retain the idea or theme. But it is not
the topics so that the students will have more
knowledge and may encounter a more broad and
complex explanation about the study. It is a
progression in which the students may encounter
same topics in a complex manner. It also follows
progressive type of curriculum. According to Bruner
(1977) spiral curriculum allows the student to think
in simple to complex ideas in a short period of time
and gives the students a broad knowledge about the
specific topic or subject. It also helps the students to
revisit same subjects but in a different level of
difficulty, it can help students have critical thinking
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
skills and advanced knowledge about the specific
subjects. On the other hand, the authors Coelho and
Moles (2016) believed that majority of the students
are not oriented from what the spiral curriculum is
and some of the students are not able to cope about
the real purpose of the spiral curriculum. Some
articles strengthen the idea of Bruner in the concept
of spiral curriculum, according to Resurrection and
Adanza (2015) spiral curriculum progress had
greatly influence especially in science department
particularly in content and transitions of four areas of
science, also science teachers on how they will
deliver the topics to their students. Martin (2008)
stated that spiral curriculum is a design framework
which will help the Science teachers construct and
deliver their lessons, activities or projects that target
the development of thinking skills and dispositions
which do not stop at identification. It involves
progression and continuity in learning science.
Review of Related Literature
Harden (1986) believed that before
implementing a curriculum, it needs more attention
because, it aims the objectives, content, teaching
methods, and educational strategies to help the
teachers and students.
Feinstein (2004) confirmed that learning also
involves memory or remembering. In spiral
progression approach, memory is very important
factor.
According to the authors Coelho and Moles
(2016), majority of the students are not oriented from
what spiral curriculum is and some of the students
are not able to cope about the real purpose of spiral
curriculum and according to them the spiral
curriculum is a bit helpful for some students because
they can retain or remember their past lesson.
Harden, R. M. (1999) stated that spiral
curriculum requires the deepening of the topic that
has been taught to the students before with
successive encountered building on the previous one.
It will allow them to revisit previous topics, subjects
or themes and discuss it more briefly.
According to the study of Resurrection and
Adanza (2015) the Spiral Progression approach had
greatly influenced science curriculum particularly
the content and transitions of four areas of science,
the secondary schools, the learners, and especially
the science teachers. Based on the findings, science
teachers were still adapting to the new curriculum,
they needed more time and trainings to master all the
fields and to learn new teaching strategies because it
is difficult to teach something, in which one does not
have the necessary mastery. They can teach other
branches of science without the in-depth discussion
because it is not their specialization.
Based on the study of Resurrection and
Adanza (2015), the spiral curriculum will help the
student to think critically with mastering the different
branches of the science, but they will be able to
master it with different level of difficulty. As they
increase the level, the lessons that will tackle to them
will be more difficult.
A blogger named Hasnah (2017) asserted that
the spiral curriculum aims and enable learners to
strengthen their skills since the designs is organized
through repeated learning opportunities and simple
to more complex ideas.
According to Michael McGravey (2016) in
the spiral curriculum, a new topic is introduced to
students in its most basic form without much detail
or explanation. Then as learning progresses, more
details is being taught to the students. It means that
students revisit the same topics as they progress
through their education with the process of adding
more detailed topics each time.
According to Martin (2008), spiral
curriculum is a design framework which will help
science teachers construct lessons, activities or
projects that target the development of thinking skills
and dispositions which do not stop at identification.
It involves progression and continuity in learning
science. Progression describes pupils' personal
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
journeys through education and ways, in which they
acquire, apply and develop their skills, knowledge
and understanding increasingly during challenging INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
situations. Continuity is concerned with ways in
which the education system structures, experiences Conduct
Unstructured Perception
and provides enough challenge and progress for interview about
learners in a recognizable curricular landscape. a. Three Science
Therefore, spiral progression approach is an interview Utilization Spiral
questions to of Review Curriculum
approach or a way on how to implement the spiral students of related
curriculum. a. Grade 10
b. Four Literature Students
According to Murray (2016), these are the interview
questions to b. Science
skills that students should possess especially in Science Teachers
Science: Critical thinking, Information fluency, teachers
quantitative reasoning, and ethical reasoning.
Davis (2007) stated that the effectiveness of
the curriculum relies on the teacher’s knowledge Statement of the Problem
about the curriculum.
Bruner (1977) stated that spiral approach General Question:
gives the students broad knowledge and allows
students to think simple to complex. It also helps the What is the Perception of Grade 10 students
students to revisit same subjects. Students will have and Science teachers about the Science Spiral
critical thinking skills and advanced Curriculum at St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan?
knowledge where experience is considered but
acquire more complicated knowledge. Specific Questions:
1. How does spiral curriculum help grade 10
students at SMCM to be more efficient
Conceptual Framework
with regards to their skills development
The readiness of the learners for the next in Science?
century in Science subjects including Earth Science, 2. What are the strategies of the Science
Biology, Chemistry and Physics aims to have 21st teachers of the grade 10 students in
century learners with exemplifies thinking skills, implementing the spiral curriculum in
productive learners and students with critical their class?
thinking by nurturing the critical thinking of the 3. How does spiral curriculum allow a
student, using scientific solutions and having the logical progression of concepts from
clear teaching skills of the teachers during present simplistic ideas to more complex
century. concepts from grade 7 to 10?

Objectives of the Study

 Identify how does spiral curriculum help

grade 10 students at SMCM to be more
efficient with regards to their skills
development in Science.
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
 Determine what are the strategies of the
Science teachers to the students in
implementing the spiral curriculum in their
classes.
 Determine how does spiral curriculum allow
a logical progression of concepts from
simplistic ideas to more complex concepts
from grade 10 students.
II. Methods
Research Design
Phenomenology is the research design used
in this qualitative research, it is a method that allows
the respondent to state an experience about a thing,
place or people; it is about the phenomenon and
experience of people. By means of this research
design, this research will be able to help the students
and teachers for their readiness in the next century
using spiral curriculum.
Research Procedure
Procedure #1: The researchers used
purposive sampling by choosing three (3) students
(rank 1, 20 and last) in three (3) sections in grade 10
level at SMCM. Also, four (4) Science teachers in
junior high school level were interviewed by the
researchers to answer the formulated questions by
means of an interview.
Procedure #2: While interviewing the
respondents and gathering the data, the researchers
list down the answers on a separated paper, using a
recording device.
Procedure #3: Finally, after gathering the
data, the researchers will proceed to data processing
and analyse the data gathered that will answer the
general and specific questions.
Population and Sample of the Study
Purposive sampling is also known as
judgement or subjective sampling. It is a type of non-
probability sampling in which the researchers choose
the respondents based on their characteristics and
objectives of the study. (Crossman, A., 2018). Grade
10 level students and Science teachers were chosen
to be the population/respondents of this study.
Because Grade 10 students will soon finish to discuss
the other branches of Science required for junior high
school while Science teachers from junior high
school can give specific ideas and supports the data
gathered for this research. The 3 students in each
section represent the fast learner which is the top 1
student, average learner which is the top 20 student
and the slow learner which is on the last ranking in
class.
Research Instrument
Research instrument is a tool used to collect,
measure, and analyze the data that is related to your
subject. it is a way of the researchers to create and
provide information the researchers used interview
as instrument. Interview is a conversation where the
questions are asked to get information, so the
researchers interviewed the students and teachers to
know their experiences in facing and studying in the
Science Spiral Curriculum. By recording the answers
of the respondents, researchers get the needed data.
Data Processing
The data gathered from the respondents were
analyzed by the researchers by means of comparison
and contrast of the answers of the respondents during
the interview. By means of this process, the
researchers found out the different advantages and
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
disadvantages of spiral curriculum in the subject of I’m dumb and I admitted that. I do not go to stem
science at grade 10 level. Also, during data laboratory because I do not listen to my teachers
processing, the researchers found out how spiral while they are discussing." It shows that some
curriculum helps or hinder the student's academic
students really do not know the curriculum the one
behavior through their answers during the said
interview. who do not know the science spiral curriculum
admitted that he is a slow learner and he do not know
III. Results and Discussion the spiral curriculum. Most of the students know
what spiral curriculum is and both two female
students are at the Rank 1st in their class. As a fast
A. Students
learner, they knew what spiral curriculum is very
The researcher formulated interview well. Majority of the students had similar definitions
questions about the respondent’s experiences with about spiral curriculum, most of the students defined
science spiral curriculum because our research spiral curriculum as a changing of teachers, topics or
methodology is phenomenology. Experiences of the lessons in every quarter and they defined it very hard
students are the main subject. To be able to fully to understand because of the short period of time
grasp the concept of grade 10 student’s perceptions given to them. Other students defined spiral
about spiral curriculum, an understanding of curriculum as a big help for them to gain more
respondent’s definitions of spiral curriculum was knowledge about different topics in Science. Within
needed. These definitions encompassed the student’s the 4 of the 6 students, they considered the teaching
perceptions of how they view spiral curriculum. As skills of the teacher is one of the major problems why
we interviewed the students they defined spiral some of them do not master or understand the lesson
curriculum similarly. For instance, the question "Do very well. In this research question "Do you think
you know what is the science spiral curriculum? 3 spiral curriculum helps you to have more knowledge
out of 6 students defined spiral curriculum based on over the years? " We considered the perceptions of
what they know. They stated that: "It is the changing the 6 students if spiral curriculum helps them and this
of topics. For example, in first grading, we need to are all the results that we gathered bit we summed it
learn the biology while in second grading is earth up. "It enhances our learnings and helps us to have
science, in third grading is chemistry and last grading more knowledge because the teachers really know
is physics. " Some students give a broad definition the lesson that they will teach to us in different
about spiral curriculum like these two female subjects like chemistry because they mastered it
students they said that science spiral curriculum is already." To sum it up, everyone agreed that spiral
the changing of teachers every quarter based on their curriculum enhances their skills development in
major science subjects. But some of students do not Science. As we continue in asking them, we summed
know the word spiral curriculum. Two students said up that they are all aware that spiral curriculum helps
that " I really do not know what spiral curriculum is, them to have more knowledge about different topics.
but I know it is the curriculum we are facing right In this section, the research question is "What is your
now. It is kind of... I do not know what it is because opinion about the implementation of spiral
curriculum?” This study’s purpose is to know the
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
perceptions of the grade 10 students are when facing Yohlee. We are doing it by major. For example, as a
the spiral Curriculum. The six students had a major in biological science, I always handle the
different perceptions or opinion about the biology class in different levels same as the other
implementation of Science Spiral curriculum. One teachers. What we do is we practically all do the
student stated "Science spiral curriculum is a good strategies needed for example, we need to observe
implementation but not all the students appreciate different microorganisms, so we will be bringing
that. Because of the changing teachers and topics, it them to the laboratory for some observations. As a
is hard for us to understand the topics or themes coordinator, I investigate the used of the laboratory
broadly like in chemistry and physics. It has different by the teachers if they are using the physics lab,
formula and we need to memorize it for them to pass during their physics lesson. If the chemistry teacher
and understand the lesson carefully but because of is using the Science laboratory. Because using that
short period of time we did not do that, and it is hard laboratories, there we can apply those techniques
for us to cope. "All of the students agreed that spiral because you know the techniques and strategies in
curriculum is hard to understand, and they give their Science are really into experiments.” Using those
everyday experience about the curriculum and facilities can apply those techniques and strategies
because of the changing of topics and teachers. They because Science subject is really into experiments.
know that Spiral Curriculum is the changing of While on the second question in the interview: Do
teachers. Some students did not listen or focus on the you find it challenging to teach the concepts of the
lessons because for them, it is hard. It really depends Science subjects with a spiral progression to your
on the teachers. Some students totally did not know students? She stated: “Yes, it’s really challenging the
what spiral curriculum is. For this analysis, the moment we’ve learned that topics will be discuss by
researcher wants to now the perceptions of every quarter. Number one, it is challenging in the sense
students on the positive and negative effects of that—the students, there is no much mastery, for
science spiral curriculum for them. The next chapter, example, the grade 7 students in one quarter, we will
the Discussion, will elucidates the advantages and only be discussing the part of bio diversity and then,
disadvantages of spiral curriculum in science the next lesson for that will be discuss on the
subjects to the grade 10 students in Saint Mary’s following year at different quarter. They might forget
College of Meycauayan and how this research is what they’ve learned last quarter. Yes, it encounters
timely and has a very important topics that our future gap learning and that’s true to all areas. Another is,
readers need to know. Physics 1, is being stopped, then the next year you
must apply that Physics 1 to Physics 2 unlike the
B. Teachers design before if you are in grade 10, all Physics
The researchers interviewed the Science lesson from A-Z it is whole. So that’s the struggle of
coordinator. In the first question: What techniques the teachers. Because instead of going forward, you
and strategies that you use in teaching the different had to check first if they have learned something in
areas of science? She said: “We place ourselves first the past, for you to move forward. The retention of
according to our major and basically because of sister skills will only be known if we will give them
remediation and sort of review, review will be given
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
to the student, they will be asked if they do still to her specialization and the facilities that are
remember what they have learned last year or past 2 available. While as a coordinator, she investigated
years. So, review and the examinations that we are how the Science teachers use the laboratories during
giving. Also, the basics are included too that we their specific Science class. According to Martin
thought that they have already learned from the past. (2008), spiral curriculum is a design framework
“Teaching the Science subjects in this curriculum is which will help science teachers construct lessons,
really challenging for her because students do not activities or projects that target the development of
have too much mastery in the sense that they might thinking skills and dispositions which do not stop at
forget the topics that they have learned last quarter. identification. Using those facilities can apply those
The third question of the interview: How does the techniques and strategies because Science is really
spiral curriculum allow a logical progression of into experiments. Harden, R. M. (1999) stated that
concepts from simplistic ideas to more complex spiral curriculum requires the deepening of the topic
concepts from grade 7 to 10? She stated that: “Spiral that has been taught to the students before with
progression is simply giving less to the basic—that is successive encountered building on the previous one.
for me. Spiral is not only for grade 7, grade 7 will be Teaching the Science subjects in this curriculum is
based on the elementary learning. Because there is really challenging for her because students do not
also simple progression. For example, they will start have too much mastery in the sense that they might
talking about steps in scientific method. What they forget the topics that they have learned last quarter.
have learned in those years they have spent in the She also agreed to what the researcher said that the
elementary will also be applied in high school. If the learning is being interrupted or stopped. Because
elementary periods are poor, then that’s going to be when the subject was thought in the seventh grade, it
the challenge in the high school. The high school will be continued on the eighth grade unlike before
being the heart of progression approach, we should that if you are in tenth grade, you will only take the
give more a broader concept on the lessons Physics subject the whole school year. The teachers
depending on the lessons that they have learned in should also check if the students remembered what
the grade school.” Students should have a broader they have discussed on the past years, that results into
concept on the lessons based on what they have not moving forward. For the follow up question that
learned in the past years. The last question to the how the skills in Science retain to the students, she
interview is: What are the skills that the students said that it will be known if the teachers review them
should gain upon taking Science subject in Spiral like asking if they still do remember their topics last
Curriculum? She stated that: “Well number one, year and the basic topics and definitions in the
scientific skills example is the ‘ING’ (Identifying, examinations that are being given to them. The
Classifying, Analyzing, Hypothesizing) and many progression of science subjects from grade 7 to 10
more. Simply all those scientific skills that we need and 1st quarter to 4th quarter is based on the
to explore in Science.” There are many skills that elementary learnings because there, they encounter
should be developed or gain upon taking Science the simple progression. According to Michael
subjects in Science Spiral Curriculum. Mrs. Robles McGravey (2016) in the spiral curriculum a new
as a Science teacher used her techniques according topic is introduced to students in its most basic form
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
without much detail or explanation. Then as learning spiral then third quarter I'm in grade 10 and last
progresses more details is being teach to the students. quarter I'm in grade 8, as a teacher--I am the one who
She also gave an example that whatever they have adjust to my students not the students are the one who
learned in elementary will also be applied in high adjusts."
school. She said that if the elementary learnings are
poor, there is a possibility that it will be a challenge The IBED Principal in SMCM is not
in high school years. Giving the students a broader challenged because she is in where she is specialized,
concept on the lessons should be based on what they she knows what she should do and how she will
have learned during in grade school years. deliver the topics into their students. Teachers will
Identifying, Classifying, Analyzing, Hypothesizing have difficulties in teaching when the subject or
and many more are the skills that students should branch is not appropriate to their major and in terms
gain upon taking Science Spiral Curriculum and of managing the students, different levels and
explore in Science subjects. Feinstein (2004) different quarters the teachers will have further
confirmed that learning also involves memory or difficulties because of that. Science spiral curriculum
remembering. In spiral progression approach, allows the progression of the concepts from
memory is very important factor. There are two basic simplistic ideas to more complex concepts from
theories to explain as how we memorize events. grade 7 to grade 10 because according to her: "When
According to one theory, memory is said to be stored you are in grade 7 you are already taking all the 4
in the brain as a memory. Acccording to Murray, J. branches of Science, but in lower level meaning the
W. (2016), These are the skills that students should spiral curriculum is progressive you are studying
possess especially in Science: Critical thinking, same topics but as you go up the level of difficulty is
Information fluency, Quantitative reasoning, Ethical increasing." She stated that the skills should gained
reasoning. by the students in Science Spiral Curriculum are
scientific skills like inquiring, predicting, observing
The researchers interviewed the IBed and explaining and she is hoping that after the spiral
Principal in SMCM. The techniques that she uses progression, the students will gain that scientific
are: First, specialization in the teachers are skills. Acccording to Murray, J. W. (2016), These are
specialized with, in a nutshell, science teachers are the skills that students should possess especially in
needed to focus in one area like what she said Science: Critical thinking, Information fluency,
because she is a biology major. Second, they look to Quantitative reasoning, Ethical reasoning. She
the schedule, they look to the curriculum which believed that the grade 10 students here in SMCM
among the levels follows that curriculum. Third, they can retain their past lessons because it is spiral like
schedule where the teacher should be. For example, for example she says that "When she was teaching
She said "In first quarter the level that I taught was biology in grade 8 definitely the students will retain
grade 9 meaning the biology subject or biology the topic and refresh it into grade 9, they will always
topics in grade 9 are being taught during the first remember what their past lesson was is all about but
quarter , then 2nd quarter I'm in grade 7 because the in different level. It has retention because they have
second quarter of grade 7 is all about biology that's remembered it and has a connection to what their
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
past lessons is all about and YOU WILL HAVE A students. It means that students revisit the same
TASTE OF EVERYTHING when you are in grade 7 topics as they progress through their education with
as you go up the difficulty is also increasing". the process of adding more detailed topics each time.
The last question to the interview is: What are the
The researchers interviewed the one of the skills that the students should gain upon taking
Science teacher in junior high school. In the first Science subject in Spiral Curriculum? According to
question: What techniques and strategies that you use Murray, J. W. (2016), These are the skills that
in teaching the different areas of science? His students should possess especially in Science:
technique in way of delivering his lesson is constant Critical thinking, Information fluency, Quantitative
recalling of what are their previous topics is all about reasoning, Ethical reasoning. He stated that the skills
to link it to new topics. In this curriculum, the teacher that the students should gain in terms of Science
needs to recall the previous topics to move forward Spiral Curriculum is scientific skills like observation,
without confusion. Harden, R. M. (1999) stated that interface, prediction etc. Lastly, they should
spiral curriculum requires the deepening of the topic demonstrate scientific attitudes and values.
that has been taught to the students before with
successive encountered building on the previous one. The researchers interviewed the Chemistry
While on the second question in the interview: Do subject teacher in junior high school. In the first
you find it challenging to teach the concepts of the question: What techniques and strategies that you use
Science subjects with a spiral progression to your in teaching the different areas of science? She said:
students? He said yes. He is challenge because most “First and foremost, I don’t teach Chemistry,
of the grade 10 students can't recall what their Physics, Biology and Earth Science in a Spiral
previous lesson is all about that is so hard. Feinstein curriculum. Since I am a chemistry major, I teach it
(2004) confirmed that learning also involves across grade 7, 8, 9 and 10. I didn’t experience
memory or remembering. In spiral progression teaching Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry and
approach, memory is very important factor. Physics in Grade 10. When teaching Chemistry, you
Recalling the previous topic in the past year will help should have a lot of pictures and audio-visual
the students to understand more the new one. The materials and presentation. Meaning you should also
third question of the interview: How does the spiral show a video to them. Especially that Grade 10
curriculum allow a logical progression of concepts chemistry has a lot of computations. It involves
from simplistic ideas to more complex concepts from topics like gas law, balancing chemical equations and
grade 7 to 10? He stated that spiral curriculum has an biomolecules. Gas laws involves computation and
ideally views levels of knowledge, simple ideas conversion of units. What I do at class is to search for
comes first when you are in grade 7 and as you go up a format in problem solving and give three problems.
the ideas are getting more complex. According to I will be the one to answer the first problem in which
Michael McGravey (2016) in the spiral curriculum a I have steps in answering, GRESA (Given Required
new topic is introduced to students in its most basic Equation Solution Answer). Example if the problem
form without much detail or explanation. Then as is about Boyles’ Law, I will answer the first, require
learning progresses more details is being teach to the the student to answer with me the next and allow
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
them to answer it by themselves on the third. The of the topics.” The last question to the interview is:
best strategy is collaborative and interactive. It What are the skills that the students should gain upon
involves think-pair-share strategy in which they taking Science subject in Spiral Curriculum? She
answer individually and share their answers together. stated that: “The student must be able to integrate one
Another is round robin. For example, there are five topic in four domains. For instance, they must
groups, with different topics like Charles’s law, connect earth science to physics, physics to
Boyles’ law, Gay-Lussac’s law. Each group has five chemistry, and chemistry to biology. Integration will
members, they will study their topic and then some allow vertical alignment. Meaning you can align
of the members would have to the other groups to topics of grade 7 to 8, 9 and 10. There is also
explain the assigned topic to them. Laboratory is horizontal within the year level. Example, you can
common especially in Science.” While on the second connect earth science to physics, biology and
question in the interview: Do you find it challenging chemistry. Horizontal because it is in the same year
to teach the concepts of the Science subjects with a level. Students understand them easily if more
spiral progression to your students? She stated that knowledge is connected.” For the follow up
“The concept alone is not hard to teach however the question: Is there any retention of the skills of the
problem lies to the spiral progression appropriate for students? She stated that: “I cannot identify the
year level. It depends upon the teacher. Overlap may factor. Low retention, different sets of teachers each
occur when another teacher had already taught the quarter, different topics each quarter. Each teacher
topic. Gap could also occur. Overlapping occurs in has different strategies and factors. Retention is hard
cases wherein subjects taught in grade seven is taught when teachers are also varied. Students will find it
again in grade 8. Gap occurs when topics are not hard to adopt. Spiral is good in deepening when you
being taught.” The third question of the interview: master it. This curriculum is good when you can
How does the spiral curriculum allow a logical integrate.”
progression of concepts from simplistic ideas to
more complex concepts from grade 7 to 10? She A chemistry major teacher stated that spiral
stated that: “Neutral. Advantages: the topics are age curriculum is not challenging in terms of teaching
appropriate even the activities. During grade 7 it only and discussing to her students. Science spiral
focuses on models. When they reach grade 10 a lot curriculum is a good implementation, but it really
of laboratories and activities which are aligned to the depends on skills of the teachers and the acceptance
age of the child. If the child can understand, he is also of the student to the lessons. These results are
capable of doing it. Disadvantages: the topics of connected to what Cornford said. According to
grade 7,8,9, and 10 are wide in scope. There are Cornford, I. (1997) about Bruner’s spiral curriculum
topics that are already taught, however students tend concept is in ensuring the knowledge of students and
to forget about it immediately. Especially that effective integration of each students. Through
science is cumulative in nature. It also involves interviewing of students’ perceptions and their
process wherein you need to have mastery first definitions of spiral curriculum, the researcher found
before getting into the next stages. The common out that some students did not know what spiral
problem for spiral progression is short-term memory curriculum is, but they know that it helps them. By
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
understanding teachers and administrators can of the topics. It is hard to master the topics and
become more aware of the complex dynamics lesson. They can master it, but they cannot remember
involved in the phenomenon of grade 10 students it over the years. The students must know how to
while learning and understanding the lessons in integrate the lesson for them to have more
Science. Science Spiral Curriculum that the concept knowledge.
is not hard to teach. It is good because the activities
are age appropriate, it means that the students can do Conclusion
it and analyze it. There is an overlap and gap. A. Students
Overlap because the lesson is being teach in advance.
That is why the knowledge is being teach twice. In concluding, spiral curriculum is very
There is a Gap because the lesson is not discussing useful especially to all students that want to know
to the grade 7 that’s why it will give to the grade 8 the more complex thing about the topics and by
students a hard time in dealing with that and it is pushing themselves to know that the real purpose
really depend on the teachers because the impact of of this curricula is to produce a knowledgeable
the teachers is big like what is happening now under student with exemplified skills. Adjustments is a
the science spiral curriculum. Davis (2007) the big thing for this curriculum. Both the teachers
effectiveness of the curriculum relies on the teacher’s and students adjust to cope with each other.
knowledge about the curriculum. According to Researchers found that it is like a recycling of
Martin (2008), spiral curriculum is a design topics, ideas or themes for you to have a more
framework which will help science teachers complex manner and thinking skills. Based on
construct lessons, activities or projects that target the the study of Resurrection and Adanza (2015), the
development of thinking skills and dispositions spiral curriculum will help the student to think
which do not stop at identification. She uses many critically with mastering the different branches of
techniques or strategies when she is teaching to her the Science. Spiral Curriculum is helpful to our
students. Like Round Robin, GRESA and community especially to all the students that we
Laboratory activities. It is because all her students have. Spiral Curriculum makes our knowledge
want an activity that will give them a chance to talk more broad, complex and it help us to think
to each other and real. The retention is very low critically especially for those students that want
because of the changing of the topics and teachers. to be in the field of Science. Spiral Curriculum
Because all teachers have a different factors and help the students to understand, remember and to
techniques on how they will teach the lesson. Also, be repeatedly exposed to concepts, terms, and
there is a vertical and horizontal alignment. There is skills throughout our school years and will have
a Withdrawal and Depositing of the knowledge. The many different opportunities to apply and extend
most important skills that the grade 10 students their learning in hands-on and meaningful ways.
should master is how to integrate all the topics. To increase our learnings skills and through
According to her, the advantages about the science investigation and inquiry, we will have the
spiral curriculum are you can integrate the topics and opportunity to observe and explore a variety of
the problem about spiral curriculum is the recycling scientific disciplines. Because Spiral Curriculum
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
is not just in repeating or revisiting the same
topics in lower years, it is also a way for all the
students to have more knowledge for them to be
ready to face the new world and it is a bit helpful
for them to be on top for their future and to be
innovative in future. According to Martin (2008)
Progression describes pupils' personal journeys
through education and ways, in which they
acquire, apply and develop their skills,
knowledge and understanding increasingly
challenging situations. The students can cope up
with the topic that their teachers are discussing.
Some students do not appreciate the spiral
curriculum because they are disoriented from
what is the real purpose of it. Harden (1986)
believed that before implementing a curriculum,
it needs more attention because, it aims the
objectives, content, teaching methods, and
educational strategies to help the teachers and
students. The development of an understanding
of student perceptions of the spiral curriculum
will give an insight to the institutions, teachers
and administrations about what is needed for the
students to appreciate the teaching skills of the
teachers in their different major subjects in
science. According to Martin (2008), spiral
curriculum is a design framework which will
help science teachers construct lessons, activities
or projects that target the development of
thinking skills. These perceptions, and the
insights gained from them, could aid in the
creation of learning environments that envelop
the students in a sense of skills development and
provide for them an alternative and efficient way
for the students learning. The teachers should be
aware if they really teach their major subjects to
their students. Because the researcher summed
up that most of the student’s problem is how the
changing of teachers happen and it really affects
them. Davis (2007) the effectiveness of the
curriculum relies on the teacher’s knowledge
about the curriculum.
B. Teachers
Based on the data gathered, the researchers
conclude that both students adjust to learn from
the teachers in different branches of Science
every year and the teachers adjust to teach the
lesson properly and accordingly with the Science
Spiral Curriculum. According to the study of Jelli
Ann Resurrection and Jonathan Adanza (2015) it
is difficult to teach something in which one does
not have the necessary mastery. According to the
four Science teachers, they teach their students
based on their specialization or major to let the
student understand more the subjects that they
teach. Teaching science spiral curriculum only
gets challenging if the student forgets the topic
that they had discussed in the past years and if the
Science teacher is not teaching based on his/her
specialization. According to Martin (2008),
spiral curriculum is a design framework which
will help science teachers construct lessons,
activities or projects that target the development
of thinking skills and dispositions which do not
stop at identification. Using of facilities, different
types of presentation and visual aids are
strategies that the other Science teachers in junior
high school do to deliver a broad knowledge to
the students. The progression of concepts from
simplistic ideas to more complex concepts are
being developed from grade school. According to
Michael McGravey (2016) in the spiral
curriculum a new topic is introduced to students
in its most basic form without much detail or
explanation. In high school, the students will
encounter more lessons related to the topic that
they have discussed in grade school, and it will
be continued for the next years with complex
ideas. Based on Murray, J. W. (2016). These are
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
the skills that students should possess especially
in Science: Critical thinking, Information
fluency, Quantitative reasoning, Ethical
reasoning. The Science teachers in junior high
school stated that students should gain Science
skills like inquiring, predicting, observing and
explaining, identifying, classifying, analyzing,
hypothesizing, horizontal and vertical alignment
are the skills that the students should gain upon
taking Science Spiral Curriculum. A blogger
namely Hasnah (2017). The spiral curriculum
aims and enabling the learners to strengthen their
skills since the designs is organized through
repeated learning opportunities and simple to
more complex ideas. This curriculum helps the
students to more efficient to their skills
development in Science in a way of how the
teachers deliver the topic based on the level of
understanding of the students and their
specialization. Bruner (1977) Students will have
a critical thinking skills and advanced knowledge
where experience is considered but acquire more
complicated knowledge. This curriculum helps
the students to think critically and have an
advanced knowledge. Hence, according to Davis
(2007) the effectiveness of the curriculum relies
on the teacher’s knowledge about the curriculum.
Recommendation
The researchers highly recommend this topic
for those who are searching for an essential and
useful topic in purpose. This qualitative research
aims to give information for our future readers for
them to understand that Science Spiral Curriculum is
a big a help for them to have a complex, broad and
concrete knowledge about all the branches of
Science. With this topic, the teachers will be able to
enhance their skills in delivering their lessons, giving
activities and projects that will help the students to
have more knowledge in Science over the years. It
will be hard for you to get a data if you will not be
going to use effective research instruments. Also,
this study will find that it might be a better
opportunity to make the students more
knowledgeable as they increase their level, the
lessons that will be tackle to them will be difficult,
but it would be a great help to them to become
competitive and productive learners with critical
thinking skills. For the future researchers of this
study, mind that it is important for you to know the
real meaning of your study, topic and what are the
questions that you would like to be answered. Also,
gather more data that will support your conclusion at
the end of the research. Examples are the grades of
the students and their test scores in Science subjects.
References
 Jelli Ann Resurreccion1 and Jonathan
Adanza (March 2-4, 2015). Spiral
Progression Approach in Teaching Science in
Selected Private and Public Schools in
Cavite. Retrieved February 2019 from
https://www.dlsu.edu.ph/wp-
content/uploads/pdf/conferences/research-
congress-
proceedings/2015/LLI/017LLI_Resurrecion
_GF.pdf
 Dowding, T. J. (1993). The application of a
spiral curriculum model to technical training
curricula. Educational Technology, 33(7),
18-28. Retrieved from
https://www.jstor.org/stable/44428015
 Harden, R. M. (1999). What is a spiral
curriculum?. Medical teacher, 21(2), 141-
143.Retrieved from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.108
0/01421599979752
 De ramos-samala, H. (2018) according to RA
no. 10533, rule 2 curriculum section 10.2.9.
Retrieved from
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 St. Mary’s College of Meycauayan
Meycauayan City, Bulacan
Integrated Basic Education Department
Senior High School Level
S.Y. 2018-2019
SECOND SEMESTER
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/05/
15/republic-act-no-10533/

 Michael McGravey (2016). Ever Increasing

Circles – What Spiral Curriculum Can Do
For Your Students. Retrieved from
https://www.teachwire.net/news/ever-
increasing-circles-what-the-spiral-
curriculum-can-do-for-your-students

 Coelho, C. S. & Moles, D. R. (2016).

Student perceptions of a spiral curriculum.
European Journal of Dental Education,
20(3), 161-166.
 De Ramos-Samala, H. (2018). Spiral
Progression Approach in Teaching Science:
A Case Study. KnE Social Sciences, 3(6),
555-567
 Resurreccion, J. A., & Adanza, J. (2015,
March). Spiral Progression Approach in
Teaching Science in Selected Private and
Public Schools in Cavite. In Proceedings of
the DLSU Research Congress (Vol. 3, pp. 1-
12)
 Murray, J. W. (2016). Skills development,
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dialectical approach to undergraduate
general education curriculum mapping.
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