Publication Date
2-1-1993
Abstract
Thematic units are omnipresent in today's elementary classrooms. We theme in our units on bears. We theme in our units on monsters. We even theme when we present a unit of study featuring the children's novels of Beverly Cleary. Or do we? The practice of having children systematically studying a topic, a recurring literary phenomenon, or an author's collective works is worthwhile and laudable. It helps children organize their world by providing experiences that are connected by some central focus. However, I contend that educators are using the term thematic unit too broadly. A majority of thematic units developed and presented by teachers are really not thematic units at all. They are centrally focused, but on something other than a literary theme.
Recommended Citation
Sippola, A. E. (1993). When Thematic Units Are Not Thematic Units. Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts, 33 (3). Retrieved from https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/reading_horizons/vol33/iss3/3
