Thursday is library day for my sons at MLC. I remember the trips I would take with my class to the library. There was a shelf of science books that I checked out; I started with the first book on the shelf and worked my way through the stack. My sons enjoy the library and I am glad of how it is integrated into the classroom curriculum.
Integration. True integration. Thematic instruction. Sometimes you hear of a lesson or unit where students read about the Romans and then write a Roman myth and the term integration is thrown out there. Whether this is or is not integration for you, I am sure that what Metropolitan Learning Center does with its curriculum would strike you as integrated, thematic, and fully supported by research as best teaching practices.
Last year, the over-arching theme for study (the guiding question) was "What is your footprint?" All walks of the academic year tied into this concept of what you do has an impact on the world around you. Even, and I do not mean this in a derogatory way, the PE class tied their actions into the school-wide question.
The library is part of my son's weekly life in school. They do not go to the library in one big mass; get 15 minutes to look; check books out; and then SSR for the remainder of the period, never to deal with the book in an academic way with the teacher as guide.
Going to the library and using it is part of what students do. I appreciate my sons seeing the act of learning as not isolated by subject, but pulled together by enjoyment.
Research shows, and most teachers and students will agree, when concepts are tied to other concepts, in a real way, the learning is more meaningful. This year the guiding question is on "What was our past?"
Today I saw great evidence of superb teaching strategies created from the idea of integration and teaming. How do the teachers at MLC organize, team, and prepare thoughtful integration that ties all subjects and a minimum of three grade levels? That happens on Friday.
I agree with Nancy, integrated learning is hard work. But, and I am sure she would agree, the integrated learning is stronger for the students and more rewarding for the teachers. Why do teachers spend so much time stuck in their rooms, outside of collaboration with others?
Really enjoying “the week”–especially this piece on integrated, thematic learning. When the amount of accessible knowledge is doubling every decade, it makes infinite sense to begin to put “facts” into context for kids.
Thematic learning has taken some heavy hits in the past few years, probably because it’s easier to sort facts into boxes so kids can memorize them for tests, than to throw out a key concept and see what applies. Developing integrated lessons is hard, hard work, as well. Congrats to MLC. Love the “footprint” theme–it’s perfect.