COURSE 1 Facilitating Magnet Theme Integration

Leveraging Theme-Related Practices Curricular Strengths and Barriers Protocol

Using the Curricular Strengths and Barriers Protocol, school faculty members (with the support of the Curriculum Connections Team) identify content areas, grade levels, and courses where the magnet theme is well integrated into the curriculum and discuss perceived barriers that get in the way of theme integration. Generating this information is critical for establishing a common understanding among the faculty.

Download and share with the Curriculum Connections Team the Curricular Strengths and Barriers Protocol (.doc) to guide faculty through 70 minutes of small-group activities. Some groups will focus on identifying grade levels or content areas in which theme-based instruction currently exists, describing what instruction looks like. Other groups will explore the grade levels or content areas where integration is challenging, uncovering the barriers that seem to prevent it. The outcome of these inquiry-based conversations will inform the Curriculum Connections Team as it focuses on developing an action plan to leverage promising practices and address any perceived barriers.

Why use a protocol A protocol can provide a safe environment and guide group conversations by helping participants focus on the objective. The timed structure of a protocol may feel artificial at first, but the parameters are intended to ensure that all voices are heard and that attention remains on topic without diverging as a natural conversation would.