Teaching Thematically To Increase Academic Learning
Integrating curriculum through thematic teaching not only makes teaching more exiting for the teacher, it makes the learning more meaningful for students! Additionally, teaching thematically makes practicing academic skills to mastery more enjoyable. After all, the typical practice time for a student to acquire a skill is 25 times. For ELL and other learners that number can be as large as 25X25. Thematic teaching takes care of that large equation by allowing for the same game in many different formats and themes.
Thematic instruction is based on the research that people acquire knowledge best when it is presented in a "whole" logical context that is linked to real life. If you haven't tried the thematic style of teaching, maybe it is time to give it a try.
To teach thematically, the first thing to do is to choose a theme. It is best to being with a theme that is connected to your students everyday life. I would suggest starting with a simple theme that has many supporting books and materials such as apples or pumpkins.
Each of our thematic units contains a planning sheet.
Objective: Identifying numerals.
Common Core K.CC. Know number names.
This planner allows you to quickly see the cross-curricular activities that are at your disposal as well as books that you can find to compliment your unit.
The games are scripted for easy use, and can easily be used at independent centers after initial play. Here are a couple of the games you will find in this unit.
Objective: Producing rhyming words.
Common Core Objective RF.K.2.A. Recognize and produce rhyming words.
Each of the songs/fingerplays that are included in the unit come ready for you to print as is, or to print as full-size posters for use in your whole group settings. I love to do these songs as I introduce my students to poetry. We then add some of our favorites to our poetry notebook. You can grab this poster and download it to your desktop to get started now!
You can pick up this unit or any of our other 60+ units at our Teachers Pay Teachers store here.
Or you can get the unit below along with it's companion guided reader packet at our Kindergarten Kiosk Store. (Remember the guided reader mentioned on the planning sheet is included in the unit. The remaining readers will simply round off this great thematic study.
