Thank you so much for your helpful reply. I do have one question about your last line, which I guess leads back to my original questioning of thematic units. You stated that content areas are the right place for students to apply reading and writing, and with that I fully agree. But my question is, are thematic units the best way to LEARN reading and writing? Where I think thematic units are harmful is when they are meant to FULLY integrate social studies/science with language arts. Perhaps is reading and writing is taught through a workshop approach and social studies is brought into reading and writing, it might make more sense. But what I see are teachers who bring "teaching" reading into social studies and their "teaching" consists of reading a class novel, usually historical fiction, and answering comprehension questions. There is no strategy instruction, no independent reading a book of choice, no reading conferences.
I still might be missing something here that I should be seeing. Thanks for helping me work through this. Andrea "Storti, Donna" <[email protected]> wrote: >Hi, >I do think that thematic teaching does include reading and writing while >teaching social studies/science concepts as well. The reading strategies >are reflected in guided reading group or mini lesson, and the strategy is >also incorporated in their writing. For example during our butterfly unit >in science, we read trade books on various levels of butterflies and >discuss the strategy of important ideas as well as questions when reading >the non-fiction texts. The writing related to the reading is non-fiction >informational writing as well. So when the students are not in guided >reading group, the are working on other stations that include, writing, >reading other books on butterflies, puzzles about life cycles, and word >work relating to butterflies. The theme continues using other strategies >and writing when we read fiction, poetry, etc. It opens up time in the >day while covering strategies. I think it helps primary students to be >immersed in the topic/theme so that they have the time, exploration, >materials etc. to understand not only the concepts of science/social >studies but to apply reading and writing in content areas. > >________________________________ > >From: [email protected] on behalf of Andrea Jenkins >Sent: Sun 4/26/2009 4:02 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: [MOSAIC] Thematic Units or Reading Across the Curriculum > > > >Hello friends. I am leading a Mosaic book study with teachers at my >school. >Many, if not all, of the teachers say they "integrate reading and writing >and teach it across the curriculum". I believe this is code for not >specifically teaching reading and writing, but rather assigning reading >and >writing assignments/activities, and calling that their instruction of >reading/writing. What they are actually teaching is social studies or >science, with throwing in reading and writing assignments with no >instruction on how to read or write strategically. > >Personally, I believe in the workshop framework for both reading and >writing, and believe in directly teaching reading and writing strategies >through mini-lessons. They believe, wholeheartedly, that their thematic, >integrated approach to teaching is working and best practice. I believe >differently. > >How do I combat this response of "integrated" instruction? >Am I missing a crucial piece? Perhaps I am wrong here and many of you also >use thematic units and content areas to teach strategies. How do other >teachers of workshop model classrooms handle the balance between reading >and >social studies? > >Many thanks! > >Andrea Jenkins > > > >_______________________________________________ >Mosaic mailing list >[email protected] >To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > >Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Mosaic mailing list >[email protected] >To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > >Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
