Sonia Q. Cabell on Breaking Down Silos: The Key to an Effective Learning Experience

In a recent video with AIM Institute, Sonia Cabell highlighted a significant issue in the education system: the fragmented approach to instruction. Cabell, an expert in early childhood education, emphasizes the need for a more integrated and interdisciplinary method of teaching to provide a coherent learning experience for children. In this post, we discuss how breaking down silos is the key to providing an effective learning experience for young children. 

The Problem with Silos in Education

One of the biggest challenges facing educators today is the compartmentalized approach to instruction. Schools often adopt separate language arts, science, and social studies programs that operate independently of each other. This disjointed method results in students receiving fragmented knowledge that does not seamlessly connect across subjects or over time.

Children thrive on systematic and coherent learning experiences. When their education is fragmented, they struggle to see connections between different subjects, which can hinder their ability to build skills in a structured way. Cabell argues that an integrated approach can help students develop a more profound and cohesive understanding of the material.

The Power of Integrated Learning

Cabell suggests that educators should adopt a more integrated and interdisciplinary teaching approach. For example, when selecting books to read aloud to children, teachers should consider using text sets that not only enhance reading skills but also build knowledge in other areas, such as science and social studies. This approach helps children acquire advanced knowledge that they might not be able to read on their own, while simultaneously developing their language skills.

Increasingly, curriculum products are embracing this integrated approach. Teachers in various subject areas can incorporate reading and writing into their lessons more deeply at all grade levels. By doing so, they help students see the connections between different subjects and develop a more holistic understanding of the material.

Early Education: A Critical Starting Point

Cabell points out that the earliest grades are crucial for implementing integrated learning. In preschool through second grade, there is often a misconception that children should first learn to read before being introduced to science and social studies. However, Cabell advocates for a simultaneous approach where language, knowledge, and code-related skills are developed together.

Not only does the starting point of a child's literacy journey matter, but the rate of development in early skills plays a pivotal role as well. Accelerating the growth of foundational language and literacy skills enables children to capitalize on further learning opportunities more effectively.

How Educators and Parents Can Support an Integrated Approach

To create a more effective education system, we need to move away from the silos of separate subjects and towards a more integrated and interdisciplinary approach. This change requires collaboration among educators, parents, and curriculum developers to ensure that children's learning experiences are coherent and comprehensive.

Educators can start by:

• Selecting Integrated Text Sets: Choose books that build knowledge across subjects.
• Collaborating Across Disciplines: Work with colleagues in different content areas to create cohesive lesson plans.
• Engaging in Meaningful Conversations: Foster language development through rich conversations with children.

Parents can support this effort by:

• Reading Aloud: Choose books that introduce new concepts and vocabulary.
• Talking About Learning: Discuss what children are learning in school and relate it to real-world experiences.
• Encouraging Curiosity: Support children's interests in various subjects and explore them together.

By adopting these strategies, we can provide children with a more coherent and enriching educational experience, setting them up for long-term success. Integrated and interdisciplinary learning is not just a trend but a necessary shift towards a more effective and holistic education system.

Evidence-Based Early Literacy Instruction with AIM Institute

Are you looking to delve deeper into building effective structured literacy systems?

If you'd like to discover more about equipping all your staff members, from leaders and teachers to specialists and paraeducators, with effective learning opportunities, let’s start a conversation. 

You can also join AIM experts for a three-part conversation about the book Strive-For-Five Conversations by Sonia Q. Cabell and Tricia A. Zucker. The online book study will kick off with a session led by the authors and include follow up conversations in an interactive setting with AIM's Dr. Megan Gierka and Nicole Ormandy. Sign up here.

About AIM Institute: The AIM Institute for Learning & Research® is a non-profit center for educational excellence and professional development, providing educators with the latest research, technology, and  evidence-based practices in the fields of literacy and language-based learning disabilities.