Theme Immersion: Inquiry-Based Curriculum in Elementary and Middle Schools

Personable and practical, Theme Immersion is invaluable for classroom teachers who want to make their teaching so exciting and relevant that their students will become lifelong learners. The book shows how themes should emerge from the experiences and current needs of students, rather than adhere to the seasons or follow prepackaged models. While basing theme immersion on a sound theoretical framework provided by Dewey, Piaget, Vygotsky, and Wells, the authors always translate that theory into practice, carefully illustrating aspects of theme immersion with teacher profiles, interviews, and classroom vignettes.

GARY MANNING has been at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for more than twenty years, studying the literacy development of children. Gary is also Teaching Editor of Teaching K-8.MARYANN MANNING was an elementary classroom teacher for 12 years and has been at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for more than 20, specializing in the literacy development of children. She is also a Teaching Editor of Teaching K-8. An advocate of child-centered learning, Maryann believes there is no time in educational history when the cause of classroom autonomy has been more threatened. She urges individuals and literacy organizations to protect children and teachers from scripted single cueing system programs and unconstitutional governmental intervention in the teaching of reading.ROBERTA LONG has been at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for more than twenty years, studying the literacy development of children.