Cross-curricular opportunities in the WL classroom Spring TFLTA - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Cross-curricular opportunities in the WL classroom

Spring TFLTA Conference 2014 Abby Eakin French Powell High School

Why?

“Without belaboring the point that teacher isolation has to

end, unless teachers stop departmentalizing their teaching and start teaching knowledge in context of other knowledge, student learning will continue to be stuck at the dam. It is time for teachers to collaborate.”

• Ben Johnson

Deeper Learning: Why Cross-Curricular Teaching is Essential

Objectives:

• Discuss the benefits of cross-curricular interaction
• Navigate potential speed bumps in preparation and

execution of the lesson

• Explore how the lessons connect with

TEAM and Common Core

• Share out of best practices in relation to cross-

curricular activities and the new curriculum

The Benefits:

“There was an improvement in the quality of numerous areas of pupil learning, including: questioning, self and group reflection, sharing of ideas, consensus and awareness of task requirements.”

• Andrew Price

National Teacher Research Panel

What are the Benefits of Teaching and Learning of Cross-Curricular Work Using Thinking Skills, Techniques and Language?

Benefits Continued

• Use prior knowledge of the world and past experiences

with language and text to create relationships among various sources of information: Students build upon their current knowledge base and connect what they know with what they are learning. As new ideas are gleaned from a variety of reading experiences, they become integrated with previously learned information.

MaryEllen Vogt Cross Curricular Thematic Instruction Eduplace

Background Information

French, Art, and Mardi Gras French, Fondue, Spanish, and Shakira

How:

• Keep it simple
• Build yearly
• Establish clear goals
• #PLANALLTHETHINGS
• Student Hook

PLAN ALL THE THINGS!

The Preparations: Student Hook

• Presentation on food
• Classes together
• Listen to song
• Assign Items to bring
• We’re going to wage war
• n the principal

The Preparations:

• Start with the end. How will we know the lesson

was successful? What will it look like?

• Students will create masks representing the

colors, expressions, and overall theme of Mardi Gras integrating elements from around the world.

• Students will compare and contrast the Mardi

Gras traditions of Brazil, Italy, and the US

• Students will make regionally relevant dishes

to share.

Day Of

• Start early
• Remind 101 students of locale
• Final run-through of lesson
• Materials ready and accessible
• HAVE FUN!

The Results: Beautiful! Delicious! Educational!

Are there more opportunities?

Short answer - Yes!

C’est a vous!

In groups of 4-5 organize the following:

• Cross-Curricular Activity (Already Done)
• Goal
• TEAM Relevancy
• New Curriculum Relevancy
• Focus on authenticity

Soyez Creatifs!

Activity - NEW and IMPROVED Goal / Standard TEAM New Curriculum

Merci pour votre attention FIN

Resources:

• National Teacher Research Panel What are the Benefits of Teaching and

Learning of Cross-Curricular Work Using Thinking Skills, Techniques and Language http://www.ntrp.org.uk/sites/all/documents/A.%20Price%20FINAL.pdf

• Edutopia Deeper Learning: Why Cross-Curricular Teaching is Essential

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/cross-curricular-teaching-deeper-learning-ben- johnson

• Cross Curricular Thematic Instruction Eduplace

http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/vogt.html