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prbastaHi! Paul, central MA, 8th gr. World History I #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@prbasta Welcome! It's great to see you here tonight! #inquirychat
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joetabhistory#inquirychat Hi all, Joe from PA. I suppose we may be competing w/ fireworks this evening. #sschat
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GryczewskiBeth from DC. I teach 7-8 History. Am currently rewriting World Cultures curriculum-fun summer! #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@joetabhistory Hey Joe! That's tomorrow! Well unless in the hurricane zone. #inquirychat
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classroomtoolsHi #inquirychat, this is Bill Chapman, checking in from Berkeley, CA. I'll be in & out tonight; probably mostly lurking.
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GryczewskiTonight we're chatting about thematic curriculum planning and teaching. Be prepared to share! #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@classroomtools Hey Bill! Lurking, in or out, welcome. #inquirychat
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classroomtools@Gryczewski Thanks Beth. #inquirychat
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GryczewskiQuestion one coming up! #inquirychat
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joetabhistoryRT @Gryczewski: Tonight we're chatting about thematic curriculum planning and teaching. Be prepared to share! #inquirychat
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craigyenHi all, Craig from Berkeley, CA Waves at @classroomtools #inquirychat
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GryczewskiQ1) As always, let’s start with a common understanding and definitions: #inquirychat Q coming up....
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GryczewskiSome Ts are moving to teaching thematically. What is thematic unit planning in a nutshell? #inquirychat
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classroomtools@craigyen Hello Craig! #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen @classroomtools Welcome Craig! #inquirychat
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GryczewskiA1) Thematic unit planning: planning to teach not chronologically, but grouping material by themes: justice, equality, freedom #inquirychat
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GryczewskiQ1) RT @Gryczewski: Some Ts are moving to teaching thematically. What is thematic unit planning in a nutshell? #inquirychat
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joetabhistoryA1- I see a theme as a unifying idea, a way to connect classroom exp. A T can teach WWI, as series of details. Not thematic. #inquirychat
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craigyenA1) Activities across the curricula share a larger theme that provides a structure for the learning activities. #inquirychat
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craigyenHere's a definition from schoolwise press#inquirychat http://t.co/HEQJSnxfDl
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GryczewskiRT @craigyen: Here's a definition from schoolwise press#inquirychat http://t.co/HEQJSnxfDl
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craigyen@Gryczewski I like what you're saying about grouping...justice, equality, and freedom. Very timely. (Happy 4th!) #inquirychat
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joetabhistoryA1- Teaching WWI thematic would involve tying it 2 lrgr concepts: confl, nationa, for ex. These themes connect to other topics. #inquirychat
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prbastaThematic teaching drives questioning of historical change and continuity #inquirychat
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GryczewskiSome of my colleagues are wary of thematic curriculum planning. Anyone have experience with this? Q2 coming up.... #inquirychat
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craigyen@nathan_stevens @HTheijsmeijer We're over in "Inquiry Chat" where we're chatting thematic curriculum planning and teaching #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen Yep-It's on my mind, especially with some current events happening... #inquirychat
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prbasta@Gryczewski Some wary that middle schoolers will get it. Understandable but if done right should be engaging #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@prbasta Yes, and patterns, cycles. I love allowing the ss to discover this, esp w/in different cultures, time periods. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@prbasta Agreed. It must be done right, or it can be confusing. To me, thematic makes so much more sense, tho #inquirychat
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Gryczewski
RT @craigyen: @nathan_stevens @HTheijsmeijer We're over in "Inquiry Chat" where we're chatting thematic curriculum planning and teaching #i…
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GryczewskiQ2) What are some advantages, disadvantages of teaching and planning thematically? #inquirychat
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joetabhistoryI feel like @BackStoryRadio models hist through a thematic lens. Topics are viewed from perspective of 18,19th,20th centuries. #inquirychat
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craigyenA2) Can take time to plan a thematic unit and may be difficult to have all the resources to accomplish what you want. #inquirychat
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joetabhistory@BackStoryRadio The themes are more disciplinary, though. Continuites, tensions, and contradictions are explored. #inquirychat
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prbastaA2) Adv: connections between civs, seeing common successes and struggles, finding same occurs today #inquirychat
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GryczewskiA2) Sometimes content is skipped when planning thematically; also can be diff to teach some subjs out of context #inquirychat
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craigyenA2) Thematic units often time lead to higher student engagement. stronger connections, and increased learning. #inquirychat
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prbastaA2) Time needed and organization of student inquiry can be overwhelming #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen Yes, and some themes are diff to cover when content is skipped, or some material taught at a later time #inquirychat
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craigyenAgree here @Gryczewski Must consider the big picture as well and map out the curriculum. #inquirychat
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joetabhistoryAs an ex, I am planning around this historical thinking theme: https://t.co/isgAGhyZnR #inquirychat Has feel of DBQ. 1 of core course Qs.
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prbastaA2) More engaging for Ts and Ss. #inquirychat
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joetabhistoryA2- It's more challenging (and meaningful) than using tbook as guide, than using ppts and handouts tha focus on content regurg. #inquirychat
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prbasta@joetabhistory Agree, looks good. #inquirychat
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GryczewskiA2) Advantages: students see connections between eras, generations; cause and effect is apparent #inquirychat (instead of sep facts.)
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joetabhistory@Gryczewski Content is *always* skipped regardless of approach. But I agree that's sometimes an objection. #inquirychat
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prbastaA2) Adv: Ss focus on human similarity rather than differences determined by border #inquirychat
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GryczewskiA2) Most of disadvantage comes from the time needed to put in the front, but so worth it. If done right, mostly advantageous? #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@joetabhistory True, but if themes done wrong, SS may feel like T is haphazardly skipping around in history & can get lost. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@prbasta This is a great advantage, of which we need more SS to understand this! #inquirychat
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GryczewskiAs we segue to Q3...#inquirychat
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GryczewskiQ3) Planning thematic units is tricky. What are the top 5 things to keep in mind for an effective thematic history class? #inquirychat
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joetabhistoryI am not convinced that thematic and chronological can't go hand in hand. #inquirychat Check out @BackStoryRadio when time.
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Gryczewski@joetabhistory @BackStoryRadio I could be sold on the idea, but going chronologically seems to exclude teaching thematically. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@joetabhistory @BackStoryRadio Unless there is a lot of going back and forth in time using themes...#inquirychat
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prbasta@Gryczewski #inquirychat @joetabhistory Start by recognizing this with Ss and offer ways to track chonologically (timeline)
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Gryczewski@prbasta Yes, this is a wonderful way to keep the whole class on track; I always have a timeline in the room! #inquirychat
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GryczewskiA3)One of the most imp things to remember is Goal, purpose. Keep a small list of Essential Questions that each them addresses #inquirychat
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prbasta@Gryczewski I keep an interactive timeline on my class blog. http://t.co/b0HoZIciE0 #inquirychat
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joetabhistory
@Gryczewski So, for example, my thematic Q might be: What is propaganda and how is it used during times of war? times of peace? #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@prbasta This is a great idea too, especially if the SS are exposed to it often so they can continue to reference timelines #inquirychat
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joetabhistory@Gryczewski I could then teach the French Rev conceptually and chronologically, constantly going back to thematic Q. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@joetabhistory Nice. This is a huge question! Could take a whole year to do this inquiry! #inquirychat
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prbastaA3) Detailed walk through inquiry process, loads of questioning practice #inquirychat
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joetabhistory@Gryczewski That's what I am thinking. The biggest Qs crafted into thematic Qs. #inquirychat
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craigyen@Gryczewski @joetabhistory Here it says to not go too broad with a thematic unit #inquirychat says to "limit the scope" #inquirychat
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craigyenThematic Unit Planning in Social Studies: Make It Focused and Meaningful - http://t.co/WizH0IJ4x1#inquirychat
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joetabhistory
@Gryczewski @BackStoryRadio So, maybe, some thematic Qs keep appea, as content advances. Could start w/ that days newspaper. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen This is great! Quite well articulated to remind us what is important is est. the EQs #inquirychat
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craigyenSeeing #sstlap going on ... perhaps this is a Q that they can answer *smile* #inquirychat Make the learning relevant and memorable.
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craigyenRT @Gryczewski: Q3) Planning thematic units is tricky. What are the top 5 things to keep in mind for an effective thematic history class? #…
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Gryczewski@joetabhistory @BackStoryRadio True. A good thematic class will always intro new Questions, hopefully from the SS too. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen HA! That #sstlap is on at the same time as #inquirychat is always a source of frustration! I want to do both too!
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craigyen@Gryczewski @joetabhistory For sure. Thematic units tend to be used more at an elem level #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen @joetabhistory Really? I would have thought the opposite! #inquirychat Thinking of a Jr or Sr seminar on Justice or propaganda
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Gryczewski@dashthebook @craigyen Same, even worse when I supposed to be moderating one. ooops #inquirychat #sstlap
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craigyen@Gryczewski @joetabhistory Hmm... I suppose I did not think about it through that sort of lens #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen Yeah-Holiday. We should revisit this topic later in the year... @joetabhistory #inquirychat
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GryczewskiQ4) Is teaching thematically more predisposed to engaging inquiry in the classroom? How can we make it so? #inquirychat
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prbasta@Gryczewski @craigyen @joetabhistory I'd like to see them throughout grades, should spiral through curriculum, needs dept org #inquirychat
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historytechieLiz from CA catching the tail end of #inquirychat
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GryczewskiA4) I am biased towards thematic so I would say it IS more disposed to inquiry, but I have done both, always w/inquiry #inquirychat
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joetabhistory@craigyen If you choose hist thinking thematic Qs, they will remain througho course: How do perspective and truth intertwine? #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@historytechie Welcome! We're talking about planning and teaching thematic units. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@prbasta @craigyen @joetabhistory This would be ideal! Esp. the departments working together through the grades-great idea. #inquirychat
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craigyen@Gryczewski @prbasta @joetabhistory I think my brain is in summer mode... these are hard concepts to grasp. #inquirychat
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prbastaA4) If done right, should be more thought provoking, have to connect to what affects them, stir emotion, Qs their assumptions #inquirychat
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joetabhistory@Gryczewski I agree. I think @historyfriend's writings illustrated this throughout the year. #inquirychat
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prbasta@Gryczewski @craigyen @joetabhistory As a dept head, easier said than done. #inquirychat
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classroomtools
@prbasta Do you think Common Core will encourage more collaboration among departments? @Gryczewski @craigyen @joetabhistory #inquirychat
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GryczewskiA4) Thematic encourages SS 2 make connections, see paterns, tackle underlying causes and issues. I see it as easier for inquiry #inquirychat
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craigyenA4) Teaching thematically leads to better discourse among students which is a critical part of inquiry learning. #inquirychat
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historytechie@prbasta @Gryczewski @craigyen @joetabhistory Yes- we have trouble agreeing on common focus for our data team at times #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@classroomtools @prbasta @craigyen @joetabhistory It has the potential to do so; depends how departments respond. #inquirychat
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joetabhistory@historytechie Is history more than just a mirror and a canvas? That might be course long. #inquirychat
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Gryczewski@craigyen Yes, questioning, reflecting, critical analysis. Agreed. #inquirychat
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craigyen@classroomtools @prbasta @Gryczewski @joetabhistory Not sure. Not always easy to plan together. Especially with many voices. #inquirychat