World Changer
Miss Kay’s Mission
Focus on the Big Picture
I am completing my last semester in student teaching at a school that has Spanish language classes for every student everyday, an abundance of resources in technology, science lab twice a week, and teachers who have a great desire to teach and an even greater desire to make students learn. Students focus daily on reading, language arts, and mathematics. But where is the social studies and science? 
When I was in elementary school we learned social studies and science every single day. It may have been boring but it was taught. I hear teachers say, “We are concerned about students passing the CRCT!” Teachers are not teaching social studies and science because they are prepping students for the CRCT. A simple solution to me would be to integrate subjects. Students can still read and learn new words. Teachers can create worksheets for student to practice language skills. Students can learn about the process of elimination by completing science experments. There are so many things teachers can plan that promotes learning in every single subject.
January 10th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
I agree, wouldn’t integrating science and social studies curriculum into Math and Literacy lessons make the Math and Literacy material more appealing to students?
January 24th, 2009 at 8:14 am
I amm glad you brought this to light. I also agree with you and paul. Reading this also gives me new insight into the importance of our thematic unit assignment.
April 26th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I agree that integrating is the best way. At my current placement school they are only focused on reading and math, but I can say that because there isn’t much time devoted to science and social studies they do integrate it during reading time. The only books that are read for read alouds are non-fiction books based on the science or social studies topic they are learning about. I have had the opportunity to really learn how to integrate across subjects by being there.