Teach the Children Well Total Curriculum Teach the Children Well http://library.uncc.edu/files/5/graphics/curriculum3.gif

Top Ten Reasons to Teach an Integrated Curriculum 10. Unless you have 50 hours a day to teach, you will never teach it all. 9. Science and social studies frame your reading, writing, and math. 8. The brain thrives on connections.

Top Ten Reasons to Teach an Integrated Curriculum 7. Life is not divided into neat little blocks called subjects. 6. Problem solving skills soar. 5. Real literature in real books provides great authentic ideas.

Top Ten Reasons to Teach an Integrated Curriculum 4. School's got it backwards! In real life you are tested with a problem. 3. Working in groups allow all students to make a contribution. 2. Your standardized test scores will hit the top!

Top Ten Reasons to Teach an Integrated Curriculum And the Number One Reason Students LOVE an integrated curriculum and thrive on its challenges! - The Little Red Schoolhouse, 2002

Table of Content Background Common Traits Top Tens Benefits Considerations Examples See In Action Getting Started http://www.shelleybacon.com/logo.JPG

Background On a superficial level it is the two or more subjects being combined into one lesson. On a deeper level the two or more subjects are so completely combined that it is impossible for the student to know where one leaves off and another begins.

Current Approach Each student is taught one subject at a time. No direct connection is made between subjects School Life, not real life 4 Separate Lesson

Many Subjects – One Lesson Total Curriculum Teachers collaborate to create lessons that integrates various subjects Each subject supports and reinforces every other subject. Many Subjects – One Lesson

Common Traits A variety of subjects and skills are carefully combined around an authentic project Acquisition of information extends beyond the textbook An emphasis on higher level thinking skills is required

Common Traits Students work in cooperative groups Relationships and connections are established between subjects and skills

Example: English & Government An English teacher and a Government teacher develop a single lesson plan around the book The Lord of the Flies. The students analyze the plot, character develop of the story and at the same time analyze why the boys needed to develop a government, the tasks their government undertook, the types of governments the boys formed, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Oster, L. "Sub-Saharan Africa: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum Unit." English Journal 82/4 (1993): 24-28. “I'm learning more in this course, and I'm doing better than I used to do when social studies and English were taught separately.” - Student, quoted in Oster 1993, p. 28

Example: Science & Math A Science and Math teacher combine efforts to teach the students about calculating insect populations over a large area. Area is divided into smaller sections. Students investigate and catalogue the number and type of insects they discover. Students hypothesize and predict the total number of each type of insect in the entire large area.

Learning More The following websites offer resources for teaching across the curriculum  and integrating technology in the classroom.  Seeing how science and art can work to enhance student's learning can be found through Rensselaer Institute Download this PDF brochure and share it with your friends. Advocacy Guide.pdf Chicago schools reference -chicagoinnercityschool.pdf Student inclusion -includestudents.pdf Integrating Curriculum

Watch Integrating Curriculum In Action Picturing the Possibilities - Integrated Curriculum  Integrated Learning ARTSplash! http://www.patsyclinehta.com/images/MovieCamera.jpg

Learning More: Web, Wikis & Blogs Interdisciplinary teaching  Classroom Teacher/Integrated Lesson Ideas NCTE Inbox Blog http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/wiki.jpg

Designing & Implementing an Integrated Curriculum: A Student-Centered Approach Edward T. Clark, Jr. (1997) Holistic Education Press http://www.great-ideas.org/clark.htm

Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction Teaching Beyond the Facts H Lynn Erickson, Gonzaga University (2002) Corwin Press http://www.corwinpress.com/

It’s up to us to work together.