What is a Spine?

[mommysanders]

Total Newbie question, but I don't know what people mean when they refer to a "spine" in their curriculum. Anyone care to clarify for me?

 

Thanks!

Sarah

Edited February 20, 2016 by mommysanders

[regentrude]

A main textbook that constitutes the backbone of the studies, and to which you add other resources, like books, workbooks, documentaries, web based materials etc.

You use the spine text to orient your self and get scope and sequence of topics, but then to enrich the work with other stuff instead of only working through the book.

[mommysanders]

A main textbook that constitutes the backbone of the studies, and to which you add other resources, like books, workbooks, documentaries, web based materials etc.

You use the spine text to orient your self and get scope and sequence of topics, but then to enrich the work with other stuff instead of only working through the book.

 

 

Thanks! So, what would be an example of a spine?

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

Story of the World is often considered a spine.  Then people might add projects, picture books, historical fiction, documentaries, etc, to flesh it out a bit more.  

 

For science, an example:

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding- setting a pace of one lesson every two weeks, but adding in nature study and sketching, museum visits, nature shows, etc.

 

For a foreign language:  One main program is the spine, then add in DVDs, audio CDs, easy readers, etc.  

 

And so on...  

 

Some people choose a "theme" for a year, such as Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc.  All their studies are then sort of oriented around that literature theme.  This is sort like a spine as well.  

[Miss Tick]

Our science text (BFSU) is a good example. They have lessons and a rough order. I usually add something to the lessons, worksheets, demonstrations, videos, or books. Sometimes we veer off for a while to spend more time on a subject. Recently we added a variety of resources to plump up the chemistry section in response to student interest.

 

I know I want to get through all the lessons in the book in the next year or so, but that leaves plenty of time for us to investigate topics in as much depth as we like. So the book will guide topics, but I will add interesting extras as I find them.

[mommysanders]

Thanks!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[regentrude]

Thanks! So, what would be an example of a spine?

 

A history textbook. I may work through it with my student, and we would add audio lectures and documentaries and writing assignments and internet research and field trips and read other books to flesh it out.

 

 

[Corraleno]

Just wanted to add that a "spine" doesn't have to be a text, or even a book. I actually prefer to use lecture series (such as Great Courses, Modern Scholar, and various MOOCs) as spines for history, literature, and even some science courses. Then I add readings, discussion, documentaries, writing assignments, etc.