PowerPoint Presentation
Lets Make a Deal !
Engaging Students utilizing the Integrated Thematic Instruction
method ~with a Kari twist!
Kari [email protected]
Teacher 4th/5th grade at Lewis Elementary
Starting a new journey into thematic teaching after 20 years in
various classrooms. I by no means have all the answersthats why
youre here
All handouts are on the wiki created for today
http://teamreeve.wikispaces.com/Who am I? What am I? Where am
I?2Positive student engagement enhances student achievement (Akey,
2006; Heller, Calderon, & Medrich, 2003; Garcia-Reid, Reid,
& Peterson, 2005)
Engaged students also are more likely to perform well
academically. Therefore, teachers need a large inventory of
instructional strategies to engage a variety of students
(Garcia-Reid et al., 2005)
Why focus on engagement?3Students are engaged when they devote
substantial time and effort to a task, when they care about the
quality of their work, and when they commit themselves because the
work seems to have significance beyond its personal instrumental
value (Newmann, 1986, p. 242)
When students feel challenged, they are less likely to be bored
and disengaged (Akey, 2006).
What does engagement look like?4Develop a classroom culture
where
Learning is cool
Students feel safe asking questions
Have consistent expectations for all students
Incorporate rigorous instruction that is aligned with
standards
Develop clear, high, attainable goals
How do we engage students?5Started in the 1970s and refined by
Susan Kovolik in the 1990s
It is a model for implementing a "brain-compatible" learning
environment for students and teachers using a year-long theme to
organize curriculum content and skills. (Kari twist- I do a content
area theme)
It allows learning to be more natural and less fragmented than
the way, where a school day is time divided into different subject
areas.What is Integrated Thematic Instruction?6It allows literacy
to grow progressively, with vocabulary linked and with spelling and
sentence writingbeing frequently, yet smoothly,reinforced.
It guides connected ideas to follow on easily.
What is Integrated Thematic Instruction?7Absence of Threat- a
safe environment where students are free to take risks,
predictability of schedule, and life skill practice
Meaningful Content- based on our 5th grade standards
Choices- in work or product
Adequate Time- time is needed for practice and processing of
informationWhat are the Elements of an ITI classroom?8 Enriched
Environment- hands on activities, purposeful immersion into the
subject
Collaboration- cooperative groups where students have
opportunities to solve both academic and social problems
Immediate Feedback- through small groups and time management
skills being taught
Mastery- assessed in a variety of ways
Elements Continued9I felt a stronger connection to all of my
students
My classroom management/behavior was overall improved
Students became better problem solvers/time managers
I learned from my students- many connected their learning to
what was going on around them.
It was HARD WORK up front, but in the midst of the unit I could
not wait to come to work to see what would happen!
What did I find after a year of implementing my version of the
model?10Felt more in charge of what I was learning~ Mina
Learned how to manage my time~ Caleb, Josephine (and many
others)
I got to make choices in what to do and when to do it~ Aiden
Got excited to learn about (SCI/SS) when it was not my favorite
subject~ Makai
I got to design my foldable~ TramWhat did my students think?11
ELA quarterly themes found on PICASSO
Social Studies and Science Standards
Other teachers and the web!
How did I get started?12Cheezy 70's Game ShowSoundzaboundVolume
3, track 1030276.143
