Wednesday, March 24, 2010

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?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

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?

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

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.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

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.