The education world is constantly evolving with the introduction of new strategies and content. With the constant changes, some things that are introduced enhance students learning, while some may not. One of the newer strategies that has begun to be used by many professionals in the education field is curriculum integration. Shoemaker defined integrated curriculum as, “….. education that is organized in such a way that it cuts across subject-matter lines, bringing together various aspects of the curriculum into meaningful association to focus upon broad area of study. It views learning and teaching in a holistic way and reflects the real world, which is interactive” (1989, p.5). By integrating various subjects into one lesson students are able to learn content in a meaningful way. Students begin to understand that many subjects relate to one another, each subject matter is not one single learning experience, they are connected, just like life. When curriculum is integrated students are able to explore one topic with varied content that stretches across several standard-based academic disciplines that reinforces learning while bringing the curriculum to life in a meaningful way. Researchers have found that …show more content…
If curriculum is integrated correctly in the classroom, the students learning can be greatly enhanced. Whichever way a teacher decides to integrate a curriculum, there are a few common components a teacher want to make sure he/she includes. The components of an integrated curriculum include: a focus on basic skills, content and higher level learning, encouragement on lifelong learners, structures learning around themes, big ideas and meaningful concepts, provided connections among various curricular disciplines, provides learners opportunities to apply skills they have learned,
Vars, F. G. (2001). Can Curriculum Integration Survive in an Era of High-Stakes Testing?. Middle School Journal, 33 (2), 7-17. doi: 10.2307/23043475
Applying principles in curriculum, such as: balance, rigorou, coherent, vertical, integrate, appropriate, focuse and relevant make curriculum transparent and effective. These making clear of purpose of my curriculum in educational and sociological terms, being easy to understand and applied in measurable way. And I can say that learning is planned, ideas is introduces and learning is experienced.
Once practices such as mainstreaming and inclusion were set into place, pressure was on teachers to create a curriculum that would encompasses the various learning needs for all the students in their classroom. Teachers began to retro-fit the current curriculum in ways that would meet individual students’ needs (Udvari-Solner et al., 2002); not an easy task considering education is generally taught in a teacher-directed way, to the “average” student. This type of instruction is what stu...
...m while having freedom to choose how to teach it. This allows the curriculum to become more personable. Teachers currently associate curriculum with government mandates. They believe that curriculum is what they are told to teach instead of what is desired to learn. Curriculum in the educational setting, according to Pinar, is intended to be used to teach us to think intellectually, sensitively, and with courage to prepare us to be individuals committed to other individuals.
The curriculum in my classroom will utilize hands-on activities and concrete materials. The curriculum selected for my classroom will be researched-based, multi-dimensional, and support children’s development in all aspects. Children of all levels will be supported through intentionally planned experiences. There will be a balance between teacher planned activities and activities that emerge from the children’s interest.
When reviewing the literature regarding the past, present and future of educational curriculum, several main points seem apparent, namely that curriculum is cyclical, that a dilemma or paradox exists, and that curriculum must be looked at with a sensitive view.
Curriculum is important being it’s the underlying factor that plays a role in determining ones growth, achievement and success. The majority of curriculum con...
Integrated lessons have the added benefit of saving the schools time and money by needing only one teacher to educate students in multiple content areas at the same time. Social studies lessons in many areas are marginalized due to lack of time to teach lessons, and the general attitude that social studies should take a backseat to other, more important subjects, leaving teachers with little time for comprehensive social studies lessons (VanFossen, 2005). Despite the fact that integrated lessons allow students to develop reading, writing, and comprehension skills, the actual social studies lessons can get lost when the focus of a lesson shifts more towards the ELA side of things. When planning curriculum using integrated teaching it is sometimes easy to forget that fiction and historical fact do not always line up. It will be of the utmost importance that teachers understand the difference between historical fiction and facts. Some books may provide students with the opportunity to be exposed to new information, new cultures, or new ways of thinking. These books can be hugely beneficial for students when they help students connect with social or political issues that they are currently dealing with in their own communities (Meléndez, 2015). On the topic of teacher expertise, teacher-planned social studies lessons can be some of the most creative and engaging lessons that
Since then, Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction has been a standard reference for anyone working with curriculum development. Although not a strict how-to guide, the book shows how educators can critically approach curriculum planning, studying progress and retooling when needed. Its four sections focus on setting objectives, selecting learning experiences, organizing instruction, and evaluating progress. Readers will come away with a firm understanding of how to formulate educational objectives and how to analyze and adjust their plans so that students meet the objectives. Tyler also explains that curriculum planning is a continuous, cyclical process, an instrument of education that needs to be fine-tuned.
Todays’ teaching is tailored to student’s interest and strategies. Teachers are taught that a well-developed lesson plan should be engaging to students in order for the students to learn. This philosophy is the total opposite of what is being taught in education programs. I cannot imagine a classroom that does not teach its students based off a curriculum that meets the student’s needs and interest. It is proven research that everyone learns best when information is tailored to meet the specific learner interest.
Implementing an effective educational curriculum establishes a classroom environment of trust and respect, help to influence healthy behaviors and attitudes providing young people the tools to flourish and contribute significantly to society. An equitable formula is essential to developing future generations of healthy learners. My commitment to facilitating a suitable curriculum for all learners is important.
According to Marc Prensky in his article “The World Needs a New Curriculum”, our current curriculum is based on a set of “proxies” which actually can’t help our next generations much in future as their generation is “internet generation”. Curriculum supposes to be based on the real underlying educational needs. However, our curriculum focuses too much on academics instead of skills. He suggested that they need a new education core and set of basics.
Curriculum Differentiation One of the most urgent challenges teachers face today is creating a classroom environment where all students are simultaneously engaged in meaningful activities. Too many times students may either become lost as the teacher continues on with the lesson or the material may not be advanced enough, thus becoming boring for students. The implementation of curriculum differentiation is a sustainable solution to this prevalent dilemma. In some parts of the world, the teacher will come into the classroom, write the title of the lesson on the board, and ask one of the students to read aloud as the rest of the class listens. When the student finishes reading, the lesson is considered to be taught.
Educational institutions today are increasing their emphasis on high standards as a crucial factor in improving the quality of education imparted to their students. They are, therefore, looking at new and better ways to develop such a curriculum that meets all the pre-decided standards. This calls for a change in the way schools are run and the methods of teaching in order to design, implement and evaluate curriculum effectively.
Integrated curriculum is a researched discipline discussed since the 20th century started (Drake & Burns, 2004). Many researchers recorded their findings on the impact of an integrated curriculum in the classrooms. Lakes (2016) researched that gravitating towards integrated curriculum meant that teachers were pulling away from instructing students to memorize and recite isolated facts. Teachers began to move toward teaching meaningful lessons that incorporated connections between more than one subject(Lakes,2016). Researchers Drake and Burns (2004) researched that theorists over the past one hundred years have presented three simple categories for integrated curriculum. The three categories proposed were the multidisciplinary approach, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary (Drake & Burns, 2004). The multidisciplinary approach creates standards around themes (Draghicescu, Gorghiu, Gorghiu, & Petrescu, 2013). The interdisciplinary approach is constructed a curriculum