Integrative and Interdisciplinary Curriculum in the Middle School

Integrative and Interdisciplinary Curriculum in the Middle School

Author: Lisa Harrison

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2020-02-24

Total Pages: 137

ISBN-13: 1000044963

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Originally published as a special issue of the Middle School Journal, this book presents integrative curriculum as a foundational element of the middle school. By addressing the current gap in literature on curriculum integration in the middle grades, this text explores how learning can be organized around authentic concepts or questions which cut across disciplines and speak to young adolescents. Providing a current, nuanced, and comprehensive review of what it means to embrace and implement an interdisciplinary and integrative curriculum, the volume considers how educators can create and deliver a high-quality integrative curriculum which is enjoyable, challenging, and inclusive. Examples of implementation in teacher preparation programs and middle grade classrooms showcase integrative approaches and illustrate how curricula have been key in tackling social inequities, increasing engagement with STEM, and supporting collaboration. This text will be of great interest to graduate and postgraduate students, researchers, academics and libraries in the field of Middle School Education, Curriculum Studies, Teacher Education, Theories of Learning, and STEM Education.


An Integrated Approach to Curricular Contents

An Integrated Approach to Curricular Contents

Author: Muşata Bocoş

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2013-07-16

Total Pages: 210

ISBN-13: 1443850136

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An Integrated Approach to Curricular Contents: Particular Features for Primary Schools is closely related to the elements constituting the educational and curricular reform in Romania. The content integrated approach enables the student to undergo a complete development, both on a personal and social level. Competences are acquired and developed in a progressive manner through interactive and cumulative processes leading to both specific competences (pertaining to a certain discipline) and transdisciplinary competences (competences that cross several disciplinary boundaries). Currently, the curricular integrated approach paradigm within the Romanian educational system is reflected in an explicit manner at the level of educational policies. A new evaluation system has been laid down and promoted through the National Education Law no.1/2011 which will lead to the optimization of the whole Romanian educational system. This law conceives and promotes a new evaluation system that will lead to the reconstruction and consolidation of an integrated vision pertaining to both the process of teaching-learning-evaluation and the optimization of the whole Romanian educational system. As such, the present work provides answers to some educational policy challenges and reflects on curriculum policy and educational enforcement. It will be of great use and interest to curriculum scholars, to primary school teachers and to teacher trainees. The work has a pragmatic feature, emphasizing both the authors’ thoughts and the knowledge gained throughout vast experience of teaching. Moreover, certain concrete and validated practical teaching methods are provided, in order to design the integrated activity sequences at primary school level, among which an emphasis on certain curricular aspects that are useful within an integrated approach represents the original feature of the present work and a practical feature of integrated knowledge.


How to Integrate the Curricula

How to Integrate the Curricula

Author: Robin J. Fogarty

Publisher: Corwin Press

Published: 2009-04-14

Total Pages: 153

ISBN-13: 1452272239

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"This book should make educators stop and consider exactly what they mean when they discuss curriculum integration." —Julie Prescott, Assessment Coordinator Vallivue High School, Caldwell, ID "The biggest strength of Fogarty′s work is its clear, concise organization centered on the guiding questions of each chapter." —John C. Baker, Eighth-Grade Social Studies Teacher Salem Middle School, Apex, NC Strategies for moving students towards more holistic and authentic types of learning! For both students and teachers, the mission is essential: to connect ideas, discern themes, and thread skills of various content areas into a cohesive whole. Yet, the question remains: "What does integrating the curricula really mean?" The answers are provided in this updated resource that helps teachers create brain-compatible, learner-centered classrooms and better prepare students for lifelong learning. Based on a four-pronged rationale for using an integrated curriculum—including findings from brain-based research, parental concerns, practitioner challenges, and student perspectives—Robin Fogarty offers ten models that allow teams of teachers to work together to group elements from various content areas into a coherent curriculum that effectively meets standards. The discussion of each model includes: A description of the model How the model can be applied in the classroom Benefits and challenges of the model for teaching and learning Guidelines for when and how to implement the model in the classroom A wealth of reproducibles to aid implementation How to Integrate the Curricula offers the support educators need to integrate concepts, skills, and attitudes and immerse students in content through self-selected, personally relevant learning experiences.


Curriculum Integration

Curriculum Integration

Author: James A. Beane

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 1997

Total Pages: 195

ISBN-13: 0807775169

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The quintessential resource on the important topic of curriculum integration! Going well beyond other books on this subject, James Beane details the history of curriculum integration and analyzes current critiques to provide a complete theory of curriculum integration. He defines curriculum integration as a comprehensive approach rather than simply “rearranging subjects.” Using many classroom examples, he explains the relationship between curriculum integration and the disciplines of knowledge. The approach set forth in this groundbreaking volume translates into a democratic vision of general education that transcends the current standards movement. “Offers clear and understandable examples of what curriculum integration means, how it can work, and how it fits a model of democratic education.” —Choice “In this time of conservative attacks on progressive education, it is crucial that we defend and extend democratic policies and practices. James Beane has been one of the most important figures in articulating democratic possibilities in schools. Curriculum Integration shows why he so deserves our respect. It provides a clear and insightful picture of the arguments and realities of democratic curriculum development and teaching.” —Michael W. Apple, University of Wisconsin–Madison “Jim Beane urges us to completely rethink how we pursue intellectual inquiry, as well as who makes the decisions in the classroom and what our ultimate goals are. Taken seriously, as it ought to be, [his] approach could revolutionize American education.” —Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards and Beyond Discipline “Beane writes directly with a passion that reflects long-in-the-making and deeply rooted convictions about education, youth, and democracy.... This book is a critically important resource . . . and it will remain so for years to come.” —John H. Lounsbury, National Middle School Association


Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Author: Heidi Hayes Jacobs

Publisher:

Published: 1989

Total Pages: 97

ISBN-13: 9781741012521

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Demystifies curriculum integration describing a variety of curriculum integration options ranging from concurrent teaching of related subjects to fusion of curriculum focus to residential study focusing on daily living, from two-week units to year-long courses.


Meeting Standards Through Integrated Curriculum

Meeting Standards Through Integrated Curriculum

Author: Susan M. Drake

Publisher: ASCD

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 191

ISBN-13: 0871208407

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If you've ever thought that standards-based teaching and required content prevent you from integrating subject areas, then here's a book that will change the way you think and alert you to exciting new possibilities in your approach to teaching. Learn how to identify the connections in your standards that provide the basis for interdisciplinary units. Explore all types of integrated curriculum and how they bridge content standards to authentic, relevant learning experiences. And understand how to create interdisciplinary units that provide data-based evidence of student learning. A planning template and detailed examples of successful integrated curriculums are included to help you implement integrated curriculum in practice. Discover how you can make learning more exciting for students--and rewarding for you.


Integrated Approaches to STEM Education

Integrated Approaches to STEM Education

Author: Judy Anderson

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-12-23

Total Pages: 569

ISBN-13: 3030522296

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This book provides a platform for international scholars to share evidence for effective practices in integrated STEM education and contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge gained from the diversity of approaches. Many publications on STEM education focus on one or two of the separate STEM disciplines without considering the potential for delivering STEM curriculum as an integrated approach.This publication analyzes the efficacy of an integrated STEM curriculum and instruction, providing evidence to examine and support various integrations. The volume focuses on the problems seen by academics working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and provides valuable, high quality research outcomes and a set of valued practices which have demonstrated their use and viability to improve the quality of integrated STEM education.


Dimensions of Thinking and Cognitive Instruction

Dimensions of Thinking and Cognitive Instruction

Author: Beau Fly Jones

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-05-13

Total Pages: 591

ISBN-13: 113474613X

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By establishing a conceptual framework and a common language for educators to work together, this volume attempts to answer the challenge facing all teachers -- how can students improve the quality of their thinking? Methods of strengthening the thought process include: helping students learn to monitor their attention and commitments; asking questions that require students to organize, analyze, and integrate information; setting tasks that involve complex processes such as problem solving and research; and modeling and reinforcing fair-mindedness.