Michele, Perhaps the questions is not "why aren't you teaching through themes?" But, "what are your themes, because they aren't visible to us." If you are weaving the strategies throughout your curriculum, then they are serving as themes. They just aren't familiar to parents or perhaps even colleagues. If that is the confusion, perhaps you could design a poster or bulletin board highlighting the comprehension strategy being studied, thereby announcing your current strategy theme for all to see. (There is a distinction between true thematic teaching and those you listed, apples, harvest...) The two kindergartens in our school run an integrated, theme based program based on our social studies and science curriculum. It isn't easy, but I have been successful in meshing the books that I choose for strategy instruction, and writing workshop models with my themes. For example, I teach determining importance while teaching a unit on Australia and questioning/non fiction writing while teaching a unit on dinosaurs. Making connections and writing small moments occurs during our self/family/friends unit. I am no fan of the cutesy art project, or center made material that takes a teacher hours to prep and a student 5 minutes to complete. I definitely went through that stage though, as a newer teacher. Like you, I now believe in authentic activities. ( I was very happy that our schools "Apple Day" was canceled so I didn't have to spend a day making the requisite apple prints and reading about Johnny Appleseed.) My co-teacher does enjoy those cutesy activities/projects. Yet we each teach the same themes, in our own way. Since parents see the same basic theme running through both rooms, and the children in both classrooms are successful, they have always been Ok. Sorry, but I don't know of any article that you can read. It seems to be more a reflection of your educational philosophy. You may want to read Reading Aloud Across the Curriculum: How to Build Bridges in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies by Lester Laminack which is about thematic teaching. I recommend sticking to your guns and let the results in June speak for themselves. Suzanne, a kindergarten old timer
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