Week 12- Instructional Methods

Research shows that teachers need to vary the methods of instruction. This week reflect upon the following questions to determine the quality of your cooperating teacher’s instruction.
Does the teacher:
• Rely too heavily on “tell” forms of instruction?

• Include “show” methods of instruction to demonstrate the meanings of the material being taught?

• Include “do” activities where students apply, or learn, the skills of the lesson?

• Vary instructional methods to ensure meeting the needs of all students?

Don't forget to bring all of your practicum documents and anything else that you still need to turn in next week.

oops

I just realized I posted the same blog topic.  Check back tonight for an updated posting.

Week 11 - Teacher-Student Rapport

Just a reminder that we do have class on Tuesday, May 4th. All practicum documents are due along with all class assignments. Unless you have to take the final, this will be the last time I will see you.
I believe that the art of teaching is shown in the teacher's ability to have a positive rapport with students. According to Webster's Dictionary, the word rapport means "relation; connection, esp. harmonious or sympathetic relation: a teacher trying to establish close rapport with." Hopefully, your cooperating teacher has a good rapport with the students. Watch your cooperating teacher this week in order to answer the following questions:
What strategies does the teacher use to build and maintain rapport with students? How are opportunities for success provided for each student? Do the students have a positive connection with the teacher?

Week 11 - Teacher-Student Rapport

Just a reminder that we do have class next Tuesday, April 27th. Please check your syllabus to remind you what you need to bring.  If you have not already turned in your foliotek receipt and signed disposition, please bring to class next week.


I believe that the art of teaching is shown in the teacher's ability to have a positive rapport with students.  According to Webster's Dictionary, the word rapport means "relation; connection, esp. harmonious or sympathetic relation: a teacher trying to establish close rapport with."  Hopefully, your cooperating teacher has a good rapport with the students.  Watch your cooperating teacher this week in order to answer the following questions:

What strategies does the teacher use to build and maintain rapport with students?  How are opportunities for success provided for each student?  Do the students have a positive connection with the teacher?

Week 10 - Meeting the needs of the individual learner

Observe this week how your cooperating teacher effectively (or ineffectively) teaches the students with special needs in the classroom. Reflect upon the following questions as you post your blog entry.

What modifications or adoptions are made wtihin the course content or curriculum to meet the needs of the individual learner? How does the teacher utilize large group, small group, and/or individualized instruction to meet the learning needs of students? How are student interests and student choice incorporated in to the students' learning opportunities?

Week 9 - Management and Student Behavior

Many first year teachers struggle with student discipline. By answering the following questions, recognize the behavior strategies used by your cooperating teacher that work or do not work in the classroom. 

How are expectations for behavior, routines, and learning explained?  What are the guidelines for classroom behavior?  How is appropriate behavior encouraged?  How does the teacher react to inappropriate behavior?  What techniques both verbal and nonverbal are used to cue appropriate behavior?  What strategies does the teacher use to prevent problems?

Week 8 - Classroom Routines

Students feel safe and secure when there is a set of classroom routines. Please reflect upon what classroom routines your cooperating teacher uses in the classroom.


What are the established procedures in the classroom such as attendance, beginning class, ending class, clean up, etc? What is the physical arrangement of the classroom, tables, desks, positioning, etc? How does the teacher transition the students from one activity to another? Reflect upon the classroom routines - Are the routines providing a positive, safe, and secure plan to ensure student learning? do you agree with the routines that the techer uses? Why or why not?

Week 7 - Effective Assessment

Post 7 – Effective Assessments
Most of you have already begun your classroom observation. The next few blog entries will be based upon what you see in the classroom in which you are observing. If you have not started your observation, answer the questions by observing the assessment practices of one or more of your Lindenwood professors. Please do not use names of teachers, professors or students.
How does the teacher assess the progression of the students’ learning? How does the teacher determine a need for further instruction? How does the teacher determine and document when a student reaches mastery of a learning objective?
I have posted a youtube presentation by Rick Stiggins about Assessment For Learning. Take 6 minutes and watch the youtube - it will help you know what to look for in your classroom.

Week 6 - Education around the globe

After watching 2 Million Minutes, what are your thoughts about how American education differs from other parts of the world?  In your opinion, how does education in other parts of the world compare and contrast to education in America?  Do you think American education should be more like education in China and/or India?  Why or why not?

Don't forget your homework - Blog and write 6 things learned from Chapters 4 & 5 (3 from each chapter.)  And many of you still need to turn in a copy of your background check, signed Disposition, 4 year plan, and foliotek registration.

Week 5 - Your LU Program

One of my goals for you this semester is that you become familiar with the Lindenwood School of Education and what you can expect over the next 4 years of your life. In order to do this, you need to be very familiar with the Lindenwood website, and in particular, the School of Education section of the website. The following link should take you to the School of Education section of the website. http://www.lindenwood.edu/academics/education/ Please browse the site and find something new that you either didn't know before or that you didn't know was on the website. You only have to post one reply this week. It is not necessary that you reply to a classmate. HOWEVER, you must find something on the website that is different than what the previous posts have indicated. Here are a few things to remember while you are looking for information: 1. It must be related to either Education or your Secondary Field of Study. 2. It can be a form you found on the Guide to Undergraduate Teacher Education, but you must specify what the form is about and when you would use it. 3. It can be something about Student Teaching, but be specific about what you learned. 4. It can be something about Foliotek, but be specific about what you learned. 5. It can be something about CBASE or Praxis, but be specific about what you learned. 6. You will not submit information about a form that another student has already posted.
You may also find something that will help you with your LU program on PCCommon in the School of Education Folder. You can either use something found on PCCommon or on the LU website for your blog comment.
The education Advisor Contact Sheet can be found in the School of Education Folder on PCCommon. It is a word document that is found on the first screen after selecting the School of Education Folder. I can't place a direct link from the blog because it is a word document so you will to navigate yourself there.

See you guys next week!

Week 4 - Professionalism in Teaching

Now that you have read chapter 2 about the professionalization of teaching and we discussed a few of the issues in class, I would like for you to reflect upon your 13+ years of schooling and the examples your teachers have set for you. You need to think of a time, experience, or memory of a teacher doing or saying something that exemplified that he/she was truly a well-respected professional. OR you can write about a time, experience, or memory of a teacher doing or saying something that was not professional. Do not use names when you are talking about this teacher. It can be a simple issue like "One of my high school teachers always wore shorts to school." Or it can be a complex issue such as "One of the high school teachers used to go to student parties on the weekend and drink alcohol in front of the students." After you state the issue, type a few sentences about why you thought it was professional or unprofessional and how it affected your learning. Please be sensitive to the fact that this topic is very subjective. Something you might think is unprofessional another person might think is not a big deal. Let's be aware of people's differing opinions. We need to make sure we keep this post PROFESSIONAL:-)

Week 3 - Technology in the Classroom

Watch the Technology youtubes on the right. We viewed some of these videos in class but some of them we did not. Please make sure that you have viewed each video either in class or through the blog. Reflect upon what you saw. What are your thoughts about technology in the classroom? How could the Amazon Kindle change typical textbooks in the future? Please share an example of how a teacher effectively or ineffectively utilized technology in the classroom.

Week 2 - Effective Teaching

I've posted many actions of an effective teacher on the side of the blog. Take a look at this list that my Tuesday 9:30 class collected and think about the value of each characteristic. After you've reviewed the list carefully, please post your response to the following question...
Congratulations! You've just landed the teaching position of your dreams. You begin packing your things to fly to the new school district and realize, due to the increased costs of gasoline, you can bring with you only three suitcases. Each suitcase can hold only ONE action of an effective teacher...which three would you take with you and why? Please feel free to choose another action if you do not see the one you want on the list.
Don't forget to also post a response to at least one of your peers. Happy Writing!

Week1 - Welcome to the field of education!

Welcome to Orientation to Education! Your growth and learning is the most important thing in this course. The purpose of the blog is to communicate your thoughts and ideas with your classmates. You are expected to submit at least one blog each week in response to the question(s) given. you will also reply to at least one of your classmate's blog entries.

On or before Monday, Feb.1, try your first blog entry. Post your name and answer the following question. 
How did you come to be here?  Mention one event or person that played a big part in why you find yourself sitting in an education course.


Don't forget to sign in by using your name. Happy blogging!