Author Archives: Sandie

Integrating Instruction: Language Arts Standards

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Sandie

After you have listed out the science and social studies themes for the year and organized them in a way that allows the content to build upon itself, the next step is to tackle language arts. Using your district’s, state’s, … Continue reading →

Posted in How To..., Instructional Planning, Integrated Instruction, Language Arts, Thematic Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Integrating Instruction: Organizing Themes

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Sandie

Now that you can see all the themes you’ll be working with, you can organize them in a way that is supportive and cumulative.  This example shows nine themes for the year (themes are underlined and in bold type) for … Continue reading →

Posted in How To..., Instructional Planning, Integrated Instruction, Science Themes, Social Studies Themes, Thematic Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Integrating Instruction 2–Identifying Themes

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Sandie

The first step in organizing your curriculum for integrating instruction is to know what it is you are to teach.  If you have been relying on your textbooks to provide this structure for you, you can still do so, but … Continue reading →

Posted in How To..., Instructional Planning, Integrated Instruction, Science Themes, Social Studies Themes, Thematic Teaching | 2 Comments

Integrating Instruction 1–Getting Started

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Sandie

If you are interested in integrating instruction across all curricular areas, there is a lot of planning and prep work needed initially.  The bad news is it can take a considerable amount of time.  The good news is it’s fun, … Continue reading →

Posted in How To..., Instructional Planning, Integrated Instruction, Thematic Teaching | 2 Comments

Project Based Learning in Thematic Instruction

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Sandie

Thematic teaching can be very time-consuming, messy, and active, but the rewards so far outstrip the demands IMO I don’t like to teach any other way.  It’s just so much fun! Because this teaching method gives you enough time to … Continue reading →

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What is Thematic Teaching?

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Sandie

For me thematic teaching is all about engagement and thinking.  Practically there are a ton of reasons why this style of instruction makes sense, but for me, watching children take charge of their learning, seeing them playing at recess what … Continue reading →

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Back to School Freebie–Base Ten Clip Art

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Sandie

Download this set of Base Ten Clip Art to make your own games, worksheets, and classroom materials.  I hope it will be helpful!

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15 Reasons to Teach Thematically

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Sandie

Thematic teaching saves instructional time.  You can combine subjects that are mutually supportive, making learning more efficient. Thematic teaching fosters thinking through highlighting connections and Teaching skills in context. Therefore, transfer is not an issue. Thematic teaching can utilize any … Continue reading →

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The Power of Thematic Instruction

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Sandie

I had my first taste of the power of integrating instruction during my senior year in college.  I was taking a diverse group of classes which really didn’t seem to have much in common: Bible as Literature, Aging and Death, … Continue reading →

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Happy, Emotional Learning

Posted on July 19, 2014 by Sandie

I’ve been thinking a lot about learning:  I’m surprised, in a new way, to realize how personal it is.  Although some of the learning theorists I’ve studied have built whole theories on how personalized learning is, it’s amazing me now … Continue reading →

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