Current Trends in the Subject Fields

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Chapter 13 Current Trends in the Subject Fields

• What are the trends and issues in English and
  language arts?
• ongoing debate regarding best practices
• influences of standards
• increasing attention to assessment and student
  results
• four significant developments
• --interest in composing process and diversity in
  writing
• --more comprehensive and diversified view of
  students response to literature
• --attention to teaching critical thinking
• --renewed interest in integration of English
  language arts

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• significant publications
• --Three Language-Arts Curriculum
• --A Guide for Developing an English Curriculum
  for the Eighties
• --Standards for the English Language Arts The
  12 Standards
• differentiating curriculum
• --Wiggins Backward Curriculum Design Process
• --McTighes Understanding by Design Process
• --circle writing
• --sketch to sketch

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• --differentiated roles
• --literature circles
• critical literacy
• --immersion of students rich, provocative
  literature

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• What are the trends and issues in reading?
• highly quality classroom instruction and
  targeted, small-group interventions
• variety of instructional approaches highly
  beneficial
• renewed interest in brain research
• technology and reading improvement
• --enhance student participation and achievement
• --The International Reading Association-www.readi
  ng.org
• --Education Commission of the States- www.ecs
  .org/html/issue.asp?issueid97
• --Council for Learning Disabilities-www.cldintern
  atinal.org

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• recommendations for curriculum leaders
• --help students become familiar with rich,
  well-written language
• --help students associate reading with pleasure
• --support the development of a library of
  recorded books
• --provide recorded textbooks and tape dubber in
  media center
• --become familiar with a variety of reading
  materials
• --encourage teachers to allow students choices
• --make skill practice fun

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• What are the trends and issues in social studies?
• focus on engaging students
• --concept mapping, clustering, brainstorming,
  mind maps and other graphic organizers
• focus on learning how to think in a different and
  deeper way
• --opportunities to question, to investigate, and
  to make personal connections to lives of people
  being studied
• historical thinking skills
• --point of view, credibility of evidence,
  historical context, causality, and multiple
  perspectives

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• building understanding major factor in teaching
• role of technology important
• --WebQuest-inquiry-oriented activity

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• What are the trends and issues in mathematics?
• trends strongly influenced by professional
  organizations
• Standards 2000 Project-NCTM
• --Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School
  Mathematics, 1989
• --Professional Standards for Teaching
  Mathematics, 1991
• --Assessment Standards for School Mathematics,
  1995
• The Equity Principle
• --excellence in mathematics education high
  expectations and strong support for all
  students

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• What are the trends and issues in science?
• three important sources
• --National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
• --NSTAs Search for Excellence in Science
  Education
• --National Science Education Standard-physical
  science, life science, earth and space science,
  science and technology
• emphasis on constructivism and inquiry-based
  learning

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• What are the trends and issues in foreign
  language?
• curricular approaches
• --problem-posing education
• --functional-notional syllabus
• --proficiency approach
• instructional approaches
• --immersion programs
• --suggestopedia
• national assessment initiativestop-down approach
• local assessment initiatives-bottom-up approach

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• use of alternative assessments
• internet-valuable tool in aiding assessment and
  instruction

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• What are the trends and issues in the arts?
• attempt to broaden the field of the arts
• attempt to formulate and promulgate a new
  rationale for the arts
• resurgence of interest in interdisciplinary
  humanities courses
• curriculum leaders urging teaching of art along
  three board avenues
• --universals
• --community
• --individual
• new trends favoring aesthetics, art history, and
  art criticism

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• What are the trends and issues in physical
  education and health?
• trends in programs
• --encourage students to add physical activity to
  their daily lives
• --establishes self-esteem and set and achieve
  goals
• --providing knowledge and skills to prevent
  health- impairing behaviors
• quality programs should
• --increase physical competence
• --increase health-related fitness

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--increase self-esteem --increase enjoyment of
physical activity --better equip students for
lifetime physical fitness