The curriculum should be integrated, interdisciplinary, meaningful, and student-centered. It should include issues and topics related to the students' background and culture. It should challenge the students to develop higher-order knowledge and skills (Villegas, 1991).

Integrating the various disciplines of a curriculum facilitates the acquisition of new knowledge (Hollins, 1996). Students' strengths in one subject area will support new learning in another. Likewise, by using the students' personal experiences to develop new skills and knowledge, teachers make meaningful connections between school and real-life situations (Padron, Waxman, & Rivera, 2002).

1. Use resources other than textbooks for study
   • Have students research aspects of a topic within their community
   • Encourage students to interview members of their community who have knowledge of the topic they are studying
   • Provide information to the students on alternative viewpoints or beliefs of a topic
2. Develop learning activities that are more reflective of students' backgrounds
   • Include cooperative learning strategies
   • Allow students the choice of working alone or in groups on certain projects
3. Develop integrated units around universal themes