1. Middle School Curriculum Integrated and Exploratory

2. Overview • What is integrated curriculum • Roles of teachers, students and faculty • Exploration curriculum and Programs

3. Integrative Integrated Interdisciplinary/ Multidisciplinary Team Self-Contained

4. Rational • Application vs. Memorization • Patterns and Connections • Coherence over Fragmentation • Right Answer vs. Finding the Solution

5. Components of Integrated Curriculum • Central Problems or issue is Identified • Issue is of personal significance • Issue becomes central focus of curriculum • Students acquire the ability to solve the problem or issue.

6. Intersection of Personal Concerns

7. Roles, Resources and Rubrics

8. Roles of the Teacher • Demonstrate an Understanding of Adolescents Concerns • Setting the Stage and Environment • Structuring and Guiding the Explorations

9. Roles of the Learner • Involved in curriculum • Assume some responsibility for learning • Active participants in both process and products of learning

10. Resources • Library • Partnership • Technology

11. General Specific Learning Materials

12. Assessment • Student Demonstrated Knowledge • Real World Scenario/ Demonstration • Projects • Authentic Assessment

13. Other Perspectives • Scores on Standardized Tests • Focus on subject matter • Time in Planning • Need for Administration Support • Community Involvement

14. Exploratory Curriculum

15. Exploratory Curriculum/ Programs • Definition • A Class Designed to Help Students Explore Their Interests • Mini-course • Length of Classes • Semester • 6-8 weeks

16. Reasons for a Exploratory Curriculum • Provides Opportunity for Students • Appeals to Diverse Learners • Self Discovery

17. Teachers’ Roles • Pique Students Interest in a Topic • Guide the Students • Be a Resource • Monitor Progress and Participation

18. Topics for Mini-Course • Home Economics • Foods for Independent living • Personal Finance • Arts • Ceramics • Photography • Language • Industrial Technology • Shop Class • Horticulture

19. Essentials for Exploratory • Developmentally Responsive • Enhances Motivation • Interesting and Useful • Provide Opportunity to Learn about Specific Topics • Reflect Core Curriculum

20. Considerations for Developing Curriculum • Be Unique • Reflect Developmental Responsive Perspectives • Be Relevant to Learners to learners Experiences

21. Considerations for Developing Curriculum • Adopt Student-Centered Perspective • Achieve a Balance Between Cognitive and Affective • Provide for Cultural and Gender Diversity • Reflect the Relationship • Between Learner’s Image of Success and School Curriculum