| What I Know | What I've Learned | |
| Thematic Approach | Connecting content and skills to a thematic unit. The unit relates to the students interest and cultural background. Thematic unit usually incorporates all content areas. |
-Incorporate multiple content areas -Allows all learning experiences to be interrelated and more meaningful to students. -Incorporates higher order thinking, open ended activities, cooperative learning,writing, individualized learning. -Build from prior knowledge and cultural backgrounds that relates to the new knowledge and text. |
| Role of Culture in Science and Math | No prior knowledge or experience | -Ovando & Combs(2012) states that ethnomathematics and ethnoscience enables us to see mathematics and scientific systems within their cultural contexts. -Different cultures have different processes. -Both Ethnomathematics and Ethnoscience provide interdisciplinary approach. |
| Approaches in teaching Social Studies | No prior knowledge or experience | -Social studies instruction should be meaningful, value-based, active, and integrative. -Instruction should be in L1 for non English students. -Multiple purposes of teaching social studies. |
Thematic Approach-
When it comes to thematic approach, I already knew a few things. I know that thematic units incorporates all content areas. Students interests and background knowledge are used to gear the thematic unit. After reading Ovando & Combs(2012), I can say that I learned a little more. I learned that thematic units enhances student learning and comprehension including the bilingual learners. I also learned that cultural backgrounds can have a great impact on the bilingual learners. Incorporating their cultural backgrounds into the thematic unit will engage more students and they will learn more in depth about a topic within the unit.
Role of Culture in Science and Math-
I came into this class not knowing a lot about culture and the role it plays in science and math. After reading the chapters on math and science, I got a better idea about how to use the culture into my math and science lessons. I learned that different cultures process differently than others. Teachers can use the cultural references to build positive classroom environment. I also learned that using examples of different cultures for a specific concept in math and science will have a better impact on students learning.
Approaches in teaching Social Studies-
I also came into this class not knowing about the different approaching to teaching social studies to bilingual and ESL students. I learned that social studies instruction should be meaningful, active, value based, and integrates across the curriculum. Teachers can actively engage students in the lesson by role playing which will help content knowledge. Critical thinking skills are also highly important to gain understanding of the content. The instruction should be in the first language for non English proficient students. Teachers teach social studies for multiple purposes and focuses on multiple concepts such as social science, citizenship, and critical thinking. These concepts or traditions can be seen used in today's classrooms.
Ovando, C. J., & Combs, M. C. (2012). Bilingual and ESL classrooms: Teaching in multicultural contexts (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
