THEMATIC INSTRUCTIONBy: Stacy Huhn

THEMATIC INSTRUCTION What are the characteristics of the thematic approach? How can we use it to help English Language Learners? Benefits to using thematic instruction.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THEMATIC INSTRUCTION

Select the

Theme

Thoughtful

Instruction

Assessment

Selecting the ThemeThe theme shapes the unit,

lessons and topics

What do your students already know? What do they show interest in learning more about?

What will it teach my students about the language, culture and subject content?

Do I have the needed materials to support these activities and topics? If not, can I obtain them?

THOUGHTFUL INSTRUCTION Build background knowledge and preteach vocabulary

Facilitate learning centers and collaborative learning

Authentic activities for integrating literature

Engage CLD students cognitively with Higher Order Thinking

Use visual aides and graphic organizers

ASSESSMENTS Formative

Monitors student learning

Allows teachers to adjust lessons as needed

Summative Evaluates student

learning

Usually comes in the form of a culminating, collaborative project

HOW CAN THEMATIC INSTRUCTION HELP ENGLISH

LANGUAGE LEARNERS?

THEMATIC INSTRUCTION WITH INTELLIGENCE Cross-Curricular Thematic Instruction uses multiple

learning styles and approaches that are appropriate for each lesson

Adding the theory of Multiple Intelligences helps the teacher and student evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses

Students learn to use Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

THEMATIC INSTRUCTION WITH INTELLIGENCE

Rattanavich (2013) conducted a study comparing Thematic Instruction using Multiple Intelligence Theory vs. Conventional Instruction

Students in the Thematic/Multiple Intelligence (T/MI) group had better language performance than the students in the Conventional Group

Students in the T/MI group had broader cross-curricular experiences which improved their motivation to learn English

These students also improve their English performance in listening-speaking, reading and writing significantly much better than the Conventional Group

Thematic Instruction with Intelligence

Conclusion:

Using the Thematic Approach paired with Multiple Intelligences is an effective way to improve ELL success

INSTRUCTIONAL CONVERSATIONS Bauer’s (2008) stated that ELLs who participate in

Instructional Conversations were more expressive in class than those students who did not have this strategy

Thematic Instructional Conversations build schemata and promote more complex language

Supports students’ peer interactions

INSTRUCTIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Students who write in literature logs prior to instructional conversations makes it easier for ELLs to participate

ELL students can feel as though they experience the text, explore social issues, and make connections when culturally relevant books are used

When using these techniques, students become engaged with the texts and develop a strong sense of understanding

OTHER BENEFITS TO THEMES Students become more engaged in their learning goals

when they help choose the direction of study of a thematic unit

Students develop a deeper sense of community when they work together to choose what they want to learn

Teacher is able to mold the theme to the specific needs of her current classroom

RESOURCES Bauer, E. B.; Manyak, P. C. (2008). Creating Language-

Rich Instruction for English-Language Learners. The Reading Teacher. 62(2), pp. 176-178.

Rattanavich, S. (2013). Comparison of Effects of Teaching English to Thai Undergraduate Teacher-Students through Cross-Curricular Thematic Instruction Program Based on Multiple Intelligence Theory and Conventional Instruction. English Language Teaching. 6(9), pp. 1-18.