Scaling the “Dinosaur Effect”: Topic vs. Theme in Elementary Classrooms

In this article, we want to explore how different English language arts (ELA) curricula—some organized by topics, many others organized by themes—succeed in harnessing this “dinosaur effect.” Which organizational structure best exploits the expanding body of research about domain-specific knowledge so that students can know more words and become better and more knowledgeable readers in the process?

Best Practices