[MOSAIC] themes in kindergarten

[MetzoSue at aol.com]

Michele,
 
Perhaps the questions is not "why aren't you teaching through themes?" But,  
"what are your themes, because they aren't visible to us."  If you are  
weaving the strategies throughout your curriculum, then they are serving as  themes. 
They just aren't familiar to parents or perhaps even  colleagues.   If that 
is the confusion, perhaps you could design a  poster or bulletin board 
highlighting the comprehension strategy being studied,  thereby announcing your 
current strategy theme for all to see. (There is a  distinction between true 
thematic teaching and those you listed, apples,  harvest...)
 
The two kindergartens in our school run an integrated, theme based program  
based on our social studies and science curriculum.  It isn't easy, but I  have 
been successful in meshing the books that I choose for strategy  instruction, 
and writing workshop models with my themes.  For example, I  teach 
determining importance while teaching a unit on Australia and  questioning/non fiction 
writing while teaching a unit on dinosaurs.   Making connections and writing 
small moments occurs during our  self/family/friends unit. 
 
I am no fan of the cutesy art project, or center made material that takes a  
teacher hours to prep and a student 5 minutes to complete. I definitely  went 
through that stage though, as a newer teacher. Like you, I now believe  in 
authentic activities.  ( I was very happy that our schools "Apple  Day" was 
canceled so I didn't have to spend a day making the requisite apple  prints and 
reading about Johnny Appleseed.) My co-teacher does enjoy those  cutesy 
activities/projects.  Yet we each teach the same themes, in our own  way.  Since 
parents see the same basic theme running through both rooms,  and the children in 
both classrooms are successful, they have always been Ok. 
 
Sorry, but I don't know of any article that you can read.  It seems to  be 
more a reflection of your educational philosophy. You may want to read  Reading 
Aloud Across the Curriculum: How to Build Bridges  in Language Arts, Math, 
Science, and Social Studies by Lester Laminack  which is about thematic teaching. 
  
 
 I recommend sticking to your guns and let the results in June  speak for 
themselves. 
 
Suzanne, a kindergarten old timer
 



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