Integrated Thematic Instruction

Integration in the classroom

What is integration?

What does it mean to have an integrated curriculum?

What might it look like?

Eight Brain-Compatible Elements

Absence of Threat

Meaniningful Content

Choices

Adequate Time

Enriched Environment

Collaboration

Immediate Feedback

Mastery (Application)

The Model

Three parts:Brain Research

Curriculum Development

Teaching Strategies

Bring these three parts together to create a “vehicle” to bring purposeful instruction to the students that we have been entrusted with.

Characteristics of an Integrated Curriculum

An integrated program includes:

Experiences to develop children’s attitudes, skills, and knowledge and to help them make connections across the curriculum

Activities that provide for a range of abilities

Activities that are both teacher-initiated and directed and child-initiated and directed

Whole class, small group, and individual experiences

Opportunities for critical and creative thinking

Teacher, peer, and self-assessment

Opportunities to experience learning as a meaningful whole

Themes

Themes are not an end to the means without making sure that all parts are there

It is not enough to pick and choose what we are comfortable with.

The theme needs to have these parts:

It must have substance and application to the real world

It must have readily available resources

It must be age-appropriate

It must be worthy of the time spent on it

It should flow---from month-to-month and back to center

The title should be a kid-grabber

Pacey 4th Grade Schedule 2014-2015

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

8:00 - 8:15 Opening Opening Opening Opening Opening

8:15 - 9:30 Guided Math Groups Guided Math Groups Guided Math Groups Guided Math Groups Guided Math Groups

9:30 - 10:30 Gym/Music Gym/Music Art Gym/Music Guidance/Library

10:30 - 11:10 Social Studies/Science Social Studies/Science Social Studies/Science Social Studies/Science Social Studies/Science

11:10-11:35 Tier II Tier II Tier II Tier II Tier II

11:35-12:10 Lunch/Recess Lunch/Recess Lunch/Recess Lunch/Recess Lunch/Recess

12:15 - 12:30 Read-aloud Read-aloud Read-aloud Read-aloud Read-aloud

12:30 - 1:40Guided Reading/Daily5

Guided Reading/Daily5

Guided Reading/Daily5

Guided Reading/Daily5

Guided Reading/Daily5

1:40 - 2:00Recess

Recess Recess Recess Recess

2:00 - 3:00 Language Arts Language Arts Language Arts Language Arts Language Arts

3:00 - 3:06 Review/Pack Up Review/Pack Up Review/Pack Up Review/Pack Up Review/Pack Up

Recap

How will you use the eight brain-compatible elements in your classroom when integrating curriculum?