LET Tips: Integrative Teaching Strategies

1. Which is not a characteristic of integrative teaching?
A. Recognizes learning around areas
B. Links ideas to action
C. Array of lessons is built around individual ideas
D. Enhances concept development

2. The focus of this strategy is the topic or subject matter wherein learners are focused on learning about something by the use of the content of another subject.
A. Content Based Instruction
B. Thematic Teaching
C. Generic Competency Model
D. Focusing Inquiry

3. According to the DepEd Manual of the BEC Primer, it helps the learners see the meaningful connection across the discipline or skill areas.
A. Content Based Instruction
B. Thematic Teaching
C. Focusing Inquiry
D. Generic Competency Model

4. Teacher O started the lesson by identifying preliminary questions and information. Which strategy did he employ?
A. Content Based Instruction
B. Thematic Teaching
C. Generic Competency Model
D. Focusing Inquiry

5. Learners are enrolled in three to four limited courses that will lead to the culminating performance.
A. Generic Competency Model
B. Content Based Instruction
C. Thematic Teaching
D. Focusing Inquiry

Answer Key: 1. C; 2. A; 3. B; 4. D; 5. A

Focusing Inquiry

This integrative teaching strategy uses questions in which the teachers guide the learners in discovering the answers. It emphasizes inquiry, the investigative process that must be developed among learners rather than on the content.

This strategy is said to be in cycle. Cycle in a sense that as learners search for answers, they generate questions as well. This process will enable learners to develop higher ordered thinking skills that they can use in real life situations.

The process of focusing inquiry is more of asking and asking questions. Take note however, that it is the role of the teacher to guide the learners for them to arrive to the correct answer.

The steps include the following:

1. Frame focusing questions. These include drawing out prior knowledge.

2. Present information. What, Where, When, Why, How, etc

3. Connect or relate information. Evaluate, predict, infer, interpret, give meaning, etc

4. Guide learners for generalization or conclusion

5. Help learners find answers

Thematic Teaching

Thematic Teaching is a strategy that connects all subject areas using a common "theme". This theme serves as the focus or the binding idea in which the objectives and activities of different learning areas will be based. This provides a purpose, a link that makes learning integrated thus meaningful.

For this strategy to be effective, teachers must collaborate in order to decide a central theme that can be used to teach a lesson or a unit. Then they can decide what activities that can be included visavis with the theme.

Let us have a concrete example. Supposing the theme would be, "Philippines, A Spanish Experience". Using this theme, the following objectives can be formulated on each subject:

Science: Evaluate the technological advancements in the Philippines from Spanish Era up to the present

Mathematics: Develop a pictograph on the duration of Spanish regime in relation to other foreign colonizers who controlled the Philippines.

English: Identify infinitives by reading a selection entitled, "Philippines: 0n the Hands of Spain"

Filipino: Matukoy ang mga gamit ng pangngalan sa pagbasa ng kwentong, "Ang Buhay ni Andres"

MAPEH: Maawit ang ilan sa mga kundimang umusbong sa panahon ng himagsikan

Araling Panlipunan: Masuri ang pagbabagong naidulot ng pagsakop ng Kastila sa Pilipinas

HELE: Makapagluto ng putaheng impluwensya ng Kastila

Values Education: Express the value of freedom by writing a short credo for the country

May I reiterate that this is just an example. I just don't know which topics are taught in line with each other at a certain period of time. Nevertheless, I hope this gave you a concrete idea about thematic teaching.