Transcript Universal Themes - Riverside Unified School District

Universal Themes
A Gate Tune-Up on Best Practices
for Differentiation
Philosophy Behind Universal
Themes
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Gate teachers are to take the core
curriculum and look at ways to get
greater depth.
This means demanding more
sophisticated thinking of your
students.
This is achieved by weaving
connections to get a greater fabric of
understanding.
Developing Greater
Intellectual Depth
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The process to achieve this combines
the use of universal themes, and
knowledge of specific disciplines with
complex thinking strategies.
Simple
Concept
Complex
Concept
Universal
Concept
desert
environment
systems
igloo
shelter
adaptations
flower
structure
plant growth
systems
How is Using a Universal Theme
Different from Traditional
Thematic Instruction?
Thematic Instruction
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In thematic
instruction the
teacher develops a
theme and makes the
connections for the
students.
All this does is ask
students to know the
content and how it is
related.
Plants
Growth
Insects
Community
Interdisciplinary Thematic
Instruction
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Students have a universal
theme and what appear to
disparate parts or pieces.
Language Arts
They must apply knowledge
in order to make connections.
Often, this approach requires
that students begin with the
complex and work backward
to connect to the simple
concept.
Systems
Content Areas
Mathematics
Connections
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When one steps back to view the knowledge,
not from within the discipline, but from
without, one sees that all the parts touch,
overlap, and form a tapestry of interconnection.
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Therein lies meaning for the child seeking
order in a world which appears disjointed
and chaotic.
The true test of an individual’s intellect
may not be in their ability to describe the
uniqueness of a thing, but rather in their
ability to state the commonalities that
binds us all.
Generalizations
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In making connections between seemingly
disparate concepts, students begin to form
generalizations.
Thus, generalizations are the basis of
connections.
Some Universal Themes
and Generalizations
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Patterns
1. Have segments that are repeated
2. Allow for prediction
3. Have eternal order
4. Are enablers
Systems
1. Are many parts arranged into a unified whole
2. A group of elements that work together
3. Are manmade or natural
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Change
1.Can be natural or man-made
2. Different kinds of change
3. Is inevitable
4. Necessary for growth
Conflict
1. Composed of opposing forces
2. Natural or man-made
3. Intentional or unintentional
4. May allow for synthesis and change
A Few Basic Generalizations
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__________are reciprocal and
interdependent.
__________is inevitable.
__________can be natural or imposed.
There are __________within__________.
__________can be positive or negative.
__________have structure and functions.