Cross Curricular Planning
Follow a Primary example!
Now this post isn’t likely to be earth-shattering to many teaching in Primary schools, but it’s something that Secondary teachers often lament the lack of in Secondary schools.
Cross Curricular Planning
In a nutshell it’s about collaboration. Perhaps in more detail it’s about understanding where schemes of work from two subjects can interact/overlap to provide deeper understanding and deeper more lasting learning experiences.
It’s hopefully best illustrated in these two ways, one a model diagram, the other a short video (coming as soon as Apple sorts its Keynote Export issue!) explaining the model and how schools can apply it to develop deeper learning across curriculum.
The Model concept
It’s like most good ideas, it’s simple. Working on your own, either as a teacher or a department means you’re missing opportunities that might provide you with new innovations for delivering your own content and for your learners to progress.
As an example; image you are given time in your year to work with an elected department, eg; History & ICT/Computing. In your planning time you examine KS3 curricular in both subjects and are looking for opportunities where one subject can support another.
This goes far deeper than simply using ICT skills to develop a presentation on a History topic, this is about sharing your approach to teaching both subject as much as the content. It’s learning about pedagogy as well as the content of a scheme of work.
Note to SLT
This isn’t a sticking plaster approach to deepening learning, it needs real backing and a cultural buy in. As an organisation you have to set time aside for staff to plan, work together and see for themselves the value of applying this model of teaching and learning.
Do let me know what you think about this approach! DO you already do this? Is it effective if you do? Do see the value?
