National Chinese Language ConferenceApril 12, 2012

Lucy Lee, Carol Chen-Lin, Yu-Lan Lin

Gain knowledge and skills to design and implement a thematic unit

Design a web-format theme Set language functions from novice to pre-advanced level

Design spiraled activities and assessment tasks

Thematic design rooted in the concept of enduring understanding

Essential questions derive from related topics

Sequential steps of building a thematic design

Review samples of a thematic unit Activities/Assessments that are spiraled

1) What is a Thematic Unit?2) How does it help me and my students achieve our goals? 3) How is it different from the traditional instruction? 4) How do I design a thematic unit?

Brainstorm ideas related to topic Identify a common theme Set the end goal ( backward design) Align the theme with standards: a) language functions = “can do” b) content= voc c) linguistic elements= grammar d)

culture=products/practices/perspectives

◦A ‘web’ ◦‘web’ center: the theme ◦subthemes◦topics◦subtopics◦Individual lessons

Individual Mj and Mj

Group Mj

Rights Mjand Mj

Responsibilities Mj

All About MjMe Mj

Well-being Mj Mj Family and MjClan Mj

Citizenship MjRespect Mjand Mj

Tolerance Mj

Good MjDeeds Mj

Community MjService Mj

Chinese MjWay of Mj

Being Fit Mj

Self MjCultivation Mj

Physical Mjand Mental Mj

Health Mj

Birthday Mj

Wedding Mj

Family MjRelation Mj

Family MjStructure Mj

Reunion Mj

Filial MjPiety Mj

Respect MjElderly Mj

Wu-Shu Mj

Aspiration Mj

Interest & MjPreference Mj

Self MjIdentity Mj

Immediate Mj& Mj

Extended Mj

Value and Mjconcept of Mj

Family MjFamily MjActivities Mj

My Role Mjand Mj

Obligation Mj

Appearance Mj

Organized around a “big idea” Standards-based Deepens knowledge, strengthens skills

Connects language/culture/content Integrates four skills in meaningful context

Activates higher order thinking skills

Familiar with: broad-brush knowledge

Important to know: facts, concepts, principles

Important to do: to process, strategize, identify characterize, distinguish, etc.

EU: larger concepts, principals, and processes

Limited voc, isolated grammar elements

Sequential and hierarchical Practice skills without contexts Little flexibility and creativity Teacher-centered Students rarely work cooperatively Rigid test format

“ Why is this theme worth studying?” An “ anchor” of a theme Focus on understanding “ Big” concepts/ideas Use inquiry approach Away from “covering” to “uncovering”

Retain EU after forgotten details

A big idea with enduring valueAt the heart of a discipline Involve “performance”Use higher-order thinking skillsPotential for engaging studentsRequire “un-cover” an abstract concept, a myth, a misunderstood idea

In teaching nutrition: Cover: good eating habit nutritional info food pyramidUncover: Why people don’t act on the knowledge of nutrition?

Does it have many layers and nuances, not obvious to the naïve or inexperienced person?

Does it yield optimal depth and breadth of insight into the subject?

Do you have to dig deep to really understand its meanings and implications even if you have a surface grasp of it?

Is it (therefore) prone to misunderstanding as well as disagreement?

Are you likely to change your mind about its meaning and importance over a lifetime?

Does it reflect the core ideas as judged by experts?

Choose the theme Align the standards Decide what students should know and

be able to do Identify how students will demonstrate

their knowledge Plan instruction Choose resources

In the 21st century, we share responsibilities to create one world and one dream

在二十一世纪 , 分担责任共同创造 “同一个世界，同一个梦想”的和谐社会

Thought provoking questionsOpen ended questions Students need to apply higher order thinking skills

EQ answers directly connect with the enduring understanding

“How” questions“Why” questions

Individual Mj and Mj

Group Mj

Rights Mjand Mj

Responsibilities Mj

All About MjMe Mj

Well-being Mj Mj Family and MjClan Mj

Citizenship MjRespect Mjand Mj

Tolerance Mj

Good MjDeeds Mj

Community MjService Mj

Chinese MjWay of Mj

Being Fit Mj

Self MjCultivation Mj

Physical Mjand Mental Mj

Health Mj

Birthday Mj

Wedding Mj

Family MjRelation Mj

Family MjStructure Mj

Reunion Mj

Filial MjPiety Mj

Respect MjElderly Mj

Wu-Shu Mj

Aspiration Mj

Interest & MjPreference Mj

Self MjIdentity Mj

Immediate Mj& Mj

Extended Mj

Value and Mjconcept of Mj

Family MjFamily MjActivities Mj

My Role Mjand Mj

Obligation Mj

Appearance Mj

Beginning (Novice-Low) Emerging (Novice-Mid/High) Progressing (Novice-High, Intermediate-Low, Intermediate-Mid)

Attaining (Intermediate-High/Pre-Advanced)

Language Functions: List Enumerate Itemize Count Greet and respond to greetings Introduce and respond to introductions

Content /Context: Mostly relevant to one’s immediate environment:

Self/Family Housing Daily Routine Interests School Work Community

Text Type:Single wordWordsSimple sentencesMemorized phrases

Language Control: Highly accurate Comprehensible to highly sympathetic

listeners

Vocabulary Use: High frequency words Limited in number

Communication Strategies: Paraphrase/Repeat words Ask questions/repetition Ask for clarifications Imitate modeled words Use facial expressions and gestures Resort to first language State lack of understanding

Language Functions:

Get through survival situations:Ask and answer questionsExpress likes and dislikesMake simple requests

Context and Content: relevant to one’s immediate environment:

Family Housing Daily routine Interest School Work Community

Text Type:Mostly connected sentences and some paragraph-like discourse

-with cohesive devises-multi-clause sentences

Language Control: Control of language may decrease as

language expands across: Topics Functions Time frames

Vocabulary: Evidence of more specialized language

High frequency vocabulary Variety of topical groups Thematic language Expanding number of familiar words and

phrases Limited number of common idiomatic

expressions

Communication Strategies:ParaphraseAsk questionsAsk for clarificationSelf correct when not understood

Language Functions:Adapt learned materials to express new ideas:

Express needsDescribe a concrete situation Indicate emotions

Language Functions:with concrete details:Clarify and ask for clarificationExpress opinionsDescribe a situation in a time frame

State issues

Language Functions:Deal with abstract and unfamiliar situations Hypothesize Explore other alternatives Give advice and suggestions Initiate, engage in, and close a

conversation Explain Compare and contrast

Society Mjand Mj

Environment Mj

Social MjConscious Mj

ness Mj Mj

Education/ MjSchool Mj

Daily MjLife Mj

Government Mj

Go MjGreen Mj

Service MjLearning Mj

Recycling Mj

Save MjResources Mj

Community Mj

Clothing Mj

Food Mj

Travel Mj

School MjActivities Mj

Role of MjTeacher Mj

School Mjand Mj

Education Mj

School MjBuilding Mj

Public MjService Mj

Local Mjofficial Mj

Business Mj

Local MjTownship Mj

Festival/ MjCelebration Mj

MjAssembly Mj

Ritual Mj

Art Mj and Mj

Humanities Mj

Philosophy Mj Literature Mj

Arts Mj Music Mj

Confucianism MjDaoism Mj

Buddhism Mj

Others Mj

Folk Art Mj

Calligraphy Mj

Paintings Mj

Architecture Mj

Classical/ MjModern Mj

Literature Mj

Folk Tales/ MjStories Mj

Myths Mjand Mj

Legends Mj

Poems Mj

Songs Mj

Musical MjInstruments MjRegional Mj

Performing MjArt Mj

Chinese MjMusic Mj

Temple Mj

Palace MjGarden Mj

Subject Mj

medium Mj

Methods Mj

Change Mj over MjTime Mj

Social MjStatus Mj

History Mj

Language MjLife Mj

Style Mj

Dynasties / MjMordern Mj

China Mj

Tea MjRoad Mj

zhenghe Mj

Silk MjRoad Mj

Ancestor MjWorship MjQingming Mj

Tomb Mj

Toys Mj

Games Mj

Chinese MjNew Year Mj

Moon MjFestival Mj

Famous MjPeople Mj

Contribution Mjto Mj

The world Mj

Significant Mjevent Mj

Love and MjMarriage Mj

Women's MjRole Mj

Family MjStructure Mj

Professio- Mjnal Mj

Role Mj

Social MjLinguistics Mj

Wen fang Mj

Si MjBao Mj

Reading Mjand Mj

Characters MjEvolution Mj

of MjCharacters Mj

Entertainm Mjent Mj Pop Mj

Culture Mjand Youth Mj

Custom/ MjRites Mj

Holidays/ MjFestivities Mj

Nature Mj and Mj

Science Mj

Nature MjExploration Mj

Climate Mjand Mj

Weather Mj

Technology MjEarth Mj

Environmental MjScience Mj

Astronomy Mj

Space MjExploration Mj

Undersea MjExploration Mj

Computer Mj

Media Mj

World-wide MjCommunication Mj

Geology Mj

Archaeology Mj

MjBiology Mj

Earth MjScience Mj

Earth MjQuick Mj

rocks Mj

Fossil Mj

PeiKing MjMan Mj

Telescope Mj Solar MjSystem Mj

Stars Mj

MjBanpo Mj

Bing Mj Ma MjYong Mj Mj

Mjiphone MjE-mail Mj

TV Mj

Movie Mj

Internet Mj

Seasons MjWeather Mj

Climate MjChange Mj

Preservation Mj

A Mjnimals Mj MjTrees Mj

Global MjEngagement Mj

World MjPeace Mj

The World Mj

Global MjIssues Mj Save the Mj

Earth Mj

Pursue Mjof Mj

Dream Mj

World Mj without MjBorder Mj

Stop MjNuclear Mj

Proliferation Mj

Shi Mj MjJie MjDa Tong Mj

Food and MjHunger Mj

Prevention Mjof Mj

Epidemics Mj

Global MjFinancial Mj

Crisis Mj

Climate MjChange Mj

Religious MjTolerance Mj

Cross MjCultural Mj

Understanding Mj

Diversity Mjand Mj

Respect Mj

Communica Mjtion Mj Skills Mj

Alternative MjEnergy Mj

Reduce MjCarbon Mj

Emission Mj

Save Rain MjForest Mj

Re- Mjforestation Mj

Set the end goals first Pose essential questions Decide language functions Set the content in its context Collect authentic materials Design student-centered activities Design a culminating activity

Title Functional objectives Learning scenarios Materials and Resources Assessment tasks Rubrics

Visual Audio Multi-media/technology Speaking Writing Projects Demonstrations Research

Holistic -exceeds expectations

-meets expectations - needs improvement - does not meet expectations Analytic

- various assessment elements- various weight distributions