Republic of the Philippines

Davao Oriental State of Science and Technology

Guang-Guang, Dahican, Mati City, Davao Oriental

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A Research paper

Entitled: Thematic teaching

In Partial Fulfillment of the course Requirements

EDUC 150: Teaching Multi-grade Class

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Presented by;

Arnel C. Bentayao

BSEDMATH III

March 6, 2015

Introduction

The effective implementation of the integrated curriculum is anchored on the

preparation of thematic units of instruction. Thematic teaching becomes a general

feature of an integrated curriculum. This kind of teaching was created by teacher around

a central idea or theme which serves as an umbrella in a particular unit of study. How to

star thematic teaching? These begin with identification of theme – the underlying

concepts that allow for the structure and organization of specific content across

disciples. A theme is a topic of interest that provides a core for group activities. It will be

an aid to see meaningful connections across disciplines or learning areas. Themes

provide relevance for the learners by drawing together concepts under one umbrella.

Lesson in social studies can be thematically organized such as wars and conflicts. It will

also be used in reading, language, music, physical education and art. Moreover the

dynamics of interactive teaching can produce themes that are meaningful, interesting

and cohesive. This mode of teaching highlights BEC (2002) as one of the mode of

instructions. This research will be informative enough to know further deeper meaning

given by great educators about thematic teaching. This will also tries to explain the

significance of this mode of teaching in BEC.

Discussion

Thematic teaching was widely utilized by many great educators. They

have a goal of establishing holistic learning by integrating concept and provides real –

life connection for better appreciation of the lesson by the learners aiming for optimum

learning, educators finds thematic teaching as key for successful integration of concepts

in which connection of one discipline to other is visible. Thematic instruction will be an

aid to shorten the long topic by making generalizations through graphic organizers. The

following persons expressed their views on thematic teaching as mode of instruction

which can be useful for those who want to develop their lesson through teaching

concepts thematically.

Robin Fogarty of understanding educators define thematic teaching as

instructional method of teaching which emphasis is given on choosing a specific theme

for teaching one or many concepts. He emphasized further that thematic teaching has a

unifying theme that is common to all learning areas. He stressed out that a theme will

lead to develop that Life is full of emerging concepts and established an understanding

that everything is interrelated to each other.

Thematic teaching according to Funderstanding educator team is the

organization of a curriculum around a macro theme. It integrates basic disciplines like

reading, math and science with the defloration of a broad subject. Broad subject can

organized thematically themes that begins from general to specific helps educator

organized the lesson in a simple way despite of its complexities. A macro theme will

constitute a bird- eye overview of the lesson in which both the learners and teacher in

the classroom can have their broader understanding.

Janelle Cox an Elementary Education expert viewed thematic teaching as an

organization of a curriculum around a central theme. Cox emphasize that it is not only

the concepts in the lesson can be organized thematically but the curriculum has its

central target which respond to the learners changing needs and interest. Planning of

curriculum in a thematic way a lot who could be at the center of education which is the

learners

GanidGitonga says that thematic teaching involves the real life , easy to visualize

themes explain concepts in basic discipline such as math, science and reading. It is

more natural to a student and such information linking and association allows ideas to

be connected and flow easily. The Mode of delivery becomes easy if planning of such

things is realistic. Student will be more aggressive to see its connection and relation to

real life situation.

Dirkx, John, Prenge and Suzzanne views that teaching thematically must

organize activities or lesson around a general ides or theme meaningful to the learners.

It draws objective, concepts and skills from areas relating to students goals and this

integrate them with a chosen theme. It seeks to put the teaching literacy skills into

context of a real world subject specific enough to be impractical and broad enough to

allow creative exploration.

My analysis

Thematic teaching in my own views starts in planning the concept it will

be organized thematically. Effective implementation will follow until we obtain its

outcome. There must be a pilot-testing of the implementation before the discussion to

utilize this mode of instructional delivery. It is highly needed to try out for the

determination whether it is suitable to organize is a thematic manner. Macro themes

lead to complexities hence, it will be too difficult for the learners to understand the link

sub concepts. Thematic teaching is not a perfect mode of teaching but it will be bout

beneficial to learners and teachers. Not all concepts can be presented in a thematic

manner hence, it needs complements from other modes of instructions. It is really true

that this mode was widely used by great educators but to some aspects thematic

teaching is not applicable where in succeeding young educators conduct a focal study

to respond to such issues. Boundless connection of certain disciplines to other

discipline may soon become relevant because learners become interested with its

linked. It may somehow lead to piece meal approach that might unfold the other

disciplines. Thematic teaching if over used will lead to compartmentalization of the

students mind.

On the good side of thematic teaching I viewed this mode of teaching as holistic

mode of instruction because it caters cognitive, affective and psychomotor aspects of

the learners. It provides meaningful connection of the discipline which will provide

relevance for the learners. It brings to interactive teaching that can produce a theme

that is meaningful, interesting, cohesiveness. These attempts to combine two or more

learning areas into single approach despite of the boundless connection, the disciplinal

identity were still retained. Thematic teaching gives a sense of cohesiveness and

structure to student learning. It tries to evade piece meal approach. Thematic teaching

stressed that “the more connection we made and integration, the more we develop

values that will be a legacy between the teachers and learners.

References

Wikipedia.org./wiki/thematic teaching

www. Funderstanding .com/educators/thematic.teaching

K6 educators. About.com/components/what_is _thematic teaching

www.ehow.com/info-8703675-thematic-teaching-method.html

www. C-pal.nel/course/module4/m4.thematic-teaching.html