RUNNING HEAD: Final Paper
Phelan 1
Final Paper
EDUC 302
Liberty University
RUNNING HEAD: Final Paper
Phelan 2
1. Compare and contrast the bottom-up curriculum and the top-down curriculum.
Discuss instructional objectives, materials, learning environment, instructional
strategies, and assessment.
Both the bottom-up and the top-down curriculum have the same objective, which
is to teach students to understand the text. However, they use different approaches when
teaching each curricula. The term bottom-up curricula refers to a reading model that
assumes the process of translating print to meaning begins with children learning the
parts of language (letters) to understanding whole text (meaning) (Vacca, et al., 2015).
The top-down model of teaching assumes that the construction of textual meaning
depends on the reader’s prior knowledge and experiences (Vacca, et al., 2015).
Materials used in the bottom-up model should help students decode symbols into
sounds. Since the bottom-up model teaches the alphabet first, followed by vowels, then
consonants, I would use materials like flashcards or drill practice computer software to
journals and e-books. In the top-up model a teacher uses materials to foster reading and
writing meaning (Vacca, et al., 2015). Having meaningful books in your students reading
selection and letting student’s select books for the teacher to read is another great way to
use this approach. Trade books, blogs, and journals are other materials suggested in our
text book(Vacca, et al., 2015).
The learning environment for the bottom-up model is one that is concerned with
complete mastery of phonological and phonetic principles (Vacca, et al., 2015). Word
accuracy and mastering word identification is critical. The environment of the top-down
model is relaxed and should invite children to experiment with language without out fear
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