Teach the Way the Brain Learns: Curriculum Themes Build Neuron Networks

✍ Scribed by Madlon T. Laster

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Education
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 221
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Teach the Way the Brain Learns discusses organizing learning experiences under themes. Once the brain has stored basic concepts in the curriculum, the storing-by-association system of the brain attaches new information to those basic concepts, building new ones as students have learning experiences that involve them in integrated subject matter. Thematic teaching has been around for quite a while, stemming from John Dewey and 'learning by doing.' Teachers need to return to it in view of the effects of narrowed curricula resulting from nationwide emphasis on testing and on rating schools based on student achievement. This book provides ways for teachers to link subjects and areas of learning for various teaching situations and takes readers from simple correlation through using published thematic units now available and on to developing their own interdisciplinary themes or in team efforts with other colleagues.

✦ Table of Contents

CONTENTS......Page 6
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......Page 8
FOREWORD......Page 10
PREFACE: THE TIME IS RIGHT......Page 14
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 22
INTRODUCTION: THE BRAIN IS WIREDTO FILE BY ASSOCIATION......Page 26
Ch01. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GOWHOLE HOG AT THE BEGINNING......Page 34
Ch02. COORDINATE AND CORRELATE:SCHEDULE AND SHARE......Page 46
Ch03. INTEGRATINGINTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES......Page 54
Ch04. SOCIAL STUDIES CAN RULE THE DAY:THEMES TO LESSON PLANS......Page 62
Ch05. THEME-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES......Page 80
Ch06. SIMULATIONS: DO-IT-YOURSELFAND READY-MADE......Page 104
Ch07. SOME SUCCESSFULEXAMPLES FROM THE PAST......Page 118
Ch08. DEVELOPING GEOGRAPHY AND FRIENDS......Page 140
EPILOGUE: LAST THOUGHTS......Page 188
APPENDIX ONE: EIGHTH GRADETHEMES AND ACTIVITIES CHART......Page 194
APPENDIX TWO: ABCs OF STUDENT PROJECTS......Page 198
APPENDIX THREE: A SAMPLING OF CLASSICAL MUSIC INSPIREDBY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS......Page 204
APPENDIX FOUR: THEMES DISCUSSED IN THE BOOK......Page 208
REFERENCES......Page 212
ABOUT THE AUTHOR......Page 220