What are the steps to include thematic approach in pre-primary education?
Before delving deep into thematic approach of teaching in pre-primary education we must shed some light on what thematic approach or instruction is. By definition it is the process of curriculum coordination centred on the context of “whole”. This includes the basics of reading, science, math etc with broader idea of each of the disciplines.
Teacher training institutes must be thorough regarding letting the aspirants know about this. It relates basic ideas of geography with communities, hills and valleys etc. as you teach the learners science, mathematics, reading and writing, as a part of thematic approach you make them associate with the reality.
When you go through teacher training courses you will be skilled in this. You learn how to enable the learners explore the practical world with more creativity while keeping at par with the bookish knowledge they just received in class. This treaty is the basic of thematic approach.
When in a class thematic instruction is practiced, it is done in the broad sense of the entire class or the entire grade for that matter. All the teachers involved in teaching various subjects to the students of that grade are vested with the responsibility.
The teachers altogether cooperate with each other and work as a team for chalking out curriculum plan so that it matches the thematic instruction. The themes are selected prior to the lesson plan and teaching methods and evaluation policies are developed accordingly.
How is thematic approach designed?
Several steps are included in the whole process. From choosing an appropriate theme to designing the curriculum in alignment to it, everything is a part of the step-wise process of thematic approach. The steps are as follows:
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Which theme will be appropriate?
Theme can be integrated (a whole ecosystem for example) or based on a broad concept (weather for example). It must be kept in mind that the theme should relate to the students’ learning. Teaching personnel should link the theme with daily life activities of the children.
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How to design the integrated curriculum?
This step involves a lot of the actual task. The curriculum should be inclusive of skill processing and boosting the knowledge learnt from content.
When the class is being taught about rivers and basins, you can give sums to calculate water volume. In reading, the children can learn poems with river. In science they will learn how floods and droughts are formed.
Thus, you can see this step requires much of your efforts. You should relate the core curriculum and the learning objectives to one another. This way you can attain the central idea of the theme.
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How to design the instructions?
This is an even more integrated step. You need to change class schedules. You may need to combine classes and hours together to deliver knowledge about a common topic instead of devoting time to individual topics.
In designing instructions, you will need to incorporate field visits, teamwork towards a particular problem solving etc. It would also include inviting outside experts to deliver knowledge on the particular theme topic.
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How to present the theme?
Thematic approach is mostly dependent on project orientation. Children, after learning a theme and the associated ideas, would submit projects and presentations along with others of the whole grade. This way, evaluation becomes an easier task also.
Having a teacher training degree is all that will enable you to perform each step perfectly. Possessing an international teaching diploma will make the work easier. Follow the steps as mentioned and you will certainly ace the skill of thematic instruction in your class.
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