When I think about all that I want to do with integration and integrated studies, I remember that building community is an essential piece of the puzzle. In the Andrews article, she discusses that when students feel supported, they try harder and achieve more. She mentioned that it is not only teachers who need to support students but other students as well. such an atmosphere is created when you have done the leg work of building a strong classroom community.
Taking the time for students to get to know each other and to do team building activities enhances relationships and is well worth the time spent. I know that by making connections with each other through such games students are gaining insight into other students' lives and learning to work with all classmates at different times. As a team, we talk through things when they go wrong and celebrate when things go well. We become a family and I see students act differently than other 6th graders who have not had that same opportunity to truly get to know each other and their teachers. When you are a family you have a supportive structure in place where students feel connected and encouraged to take risks and to try new things. With integrated studies, we need students to feel comfortable and safe to step outside of the box in their thinking.
When I reflect on integration after reading, I know I am not where I want to be on the continuum, but I realize that at least some of the important structures that need to be in place for a successful integrated unit, are there. Now I need to work on getting to the next step where we actually question and plan together. A caring, safe foundation is there, it is time to build upon it.
Excellent points about community, collaboration, and connectedness. All are critical for any group of people to work together. I think you are ready to go with some student planning and the rest...but don't overthink it! Just pick a way to try it out and go for it. (Maybe a good thing to try out before the holidays...when something different is always welcome?)
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the year we spent quite a bit of time with team building. We even went to a National Guard R.O.P.E.S. course to help the students build relationships with each other. We are already looking to next year to how we can implement the Beane model more. We have learned that working together as a team/family is something that always needs to be re-visited with middle school kids. The last two weeks our team has had all 45 students in my room for a good chunk of the day working on an integrated project and it is a great learning experience for the kids and all the teachers involved!
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