First Advisor

Camelio, Michael

College

College for Professional Studies

Degree Name

Master of Education

School

School of Education and Counseling

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Comments

Education

Number of Pages

53 pages

Abstract

Integrated curriculum has been a method of teaching towards student interest and success for over 50 years (Beane, 1992). Research has shown that integrated curriculum positively effects students' test scores and content area grades, and for this reason has become a widely promoted curriculum reform strategy. Parker (2007) observes that the real world does not fragment problems into specifically designated content areas, yet students are taught to engage in their "math brain or social studies brain" (p. 1) for fragmented periods of time and then switch their thinking skills in jolted one hour blocks of time. Instead, Parker (2007) addresses the benefit of integrated curriculum to teach students how to utilize their brains in an integrative matter during their formative K-12 years. In addition to Parker's finding, in this paper, I identify the leading research in integrated curriculum and the reasons it is beneficial for middle school learners. Also in this paper is a complete four subject, three trimester integrated curriculum pacing chart for grades six through eight to be easily adopted by the middle school teachers of the Adams 12 Five Star School District in order to begin the implementation of integrated curriculum in local schools.

Date of Award

Fall 2008

Location (Creation)

Colorado (state); Denver (county); Denver (inhabited place)

Rights Statement

All content in this Collection is owned by and subject to the exclusive control of Regis University and the authors of the materials. It is available only for research purposes and may not be used in violation of copyright laws or for unlawful purposes. The materials may not be downloaded in whole or in part without permission of the copyright holder or as otherwise authorized in the “fair use” standards of the U.S. copyright laws and regulations.

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