Renee, The enduring understandings are the big ideas that have lasting value beyond the classroom. It is like taking a topic about Newton's Laws and developing an essential understanding of what we what them to understand about the laws. H Lynn Erickson's book Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction is an excellent PD book about this subject. She outlines what a unit theme is and how to design it. She says, "You can state you unit focus as a topical theme, but for higher-level integration, you will also want to identify a conceptual lens for the unit." I may choose a theme like Change, but add how we face change with integrity. My topic may be the Depression Era or WWII. An understanding I may write: "Students will understand that when change is faced with integrity there is often a positive result." My essential questions may be, "What does it mean to face change with integrity? What does it take to face change with integrity?" Because I teach Reading, I then would look at my indicators and write, "How does an individual's point of view affect change? We would then do a unit study with our novels--perhaps WWII on the home front. I could then integrate fiction and nonfiction texts. Kim -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Renee Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:32 AM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] themes
Joy, I don't think I understand your question about themes and thematic teaching. What is it that you want to actually do? I'm so confused. I never thought that a theme needed to be a whole sentence. That sounds like a silly rule to me. In my opinion, teaching thematically simply means that all aspects of the curriculum (as is possible) are tied together with a major thread in order to create deeper meaning and understanding. Can you expand on what it is that you want to do? Renee On Jun 19, 2009, at 3:50 AM, Joy wrote: > > Beverlee, > If there is a group that can help me push my thinking, this is it. I'm > pondering your suggestion that sentences are needed to describe > themes. That is an interesting idea. Does the sentence narrow the > concept, or does it broaden it? _______________________________________________ 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.
