reading response

These chapters included a lot of information about implementing an effective integrated curriculum. The backwards design process is something I am not familiar with, but really stuck out to me, and I feel would be effective when planning the curriculum. Asking myself questions about where I want my students to be and the knowledge I want them to gain would be valuable throughout the planning process. In my placements, I have seen many teachers decide on an activity they want to teach first, and then decide on what they want to the students to learn from the lesson. Before planning lessons I feel it is important to realize and understand what you want your students to learn through the lesson.

Another concept that stuck out to me is the BE area being a bridge for the KNOW and the DO. The information our students know and the processes and activities they go through to learn that knowledge helps them be the people they are. As teachers it is important for us to realize we are not just teaching student’s academic knowledge, they are also learning about who they are as a person.

I also liked the idea of curriculum mapping. I feel like it is an effective idea when planning integrated curriculum. I have never seen a curriculum map in use; however, I can see how it would be beneficial and helpful when integrating the curriculum.