Let’s Make a Deal ! Engaging Students utilizing the Integrated Thematic Instruction method ~with a Kari twist!
Jan 03, 2016
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