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.
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My teacher is pretty good at varying her introduction methods. Sometimes she will simply spend the entire class having them write notes, then other times she will have them have conversations in front of the class encouraging them to speak Spanish, and other times she will give them games and activities that utilize the vocabulary. I do however, think that she could improve a little bit on her "tell" introduction because the kids always look around confused, although she is very good at making herself easy to be asked questions.
ReplyDeleteDue to the nature of the subject, choir, its very show, tell and do. One example is when there are hard rhythms, she will speak the rhythm and have the repeat it.
ReplyDeleteto Dana...
ReplyDeleteI think its good that she makes them speak in Spanish in conversation and notes. The Spanish teacher I had didn't really make us do anything so I didn't learn much. I think its great that she makes them apply it as if it was everyday use.
The teachers that I observed used a lot of "show" and "do" instruction. For example on "show" instruction is when the students were learning about vegetables, and the teacher would show them how to do the project and artwork first. Also, on the "do" instruction the teacher would always have activities for them to do. The students are four year olds it's important that the teachers would use the "do" instruction to spark their students creativity.
ReplyDeleteTo Danny,
ReplyDeleteI definitely hear you when you say that choir classes are basically all do and "show". The class would practically be impossible to understand if there was not doing and showing.
The teacher I observed was very aware of how successful her lessons were each class period. She would teach a class, and if she felt that the girls really didn't participate as much as she hoped, she would change how she would teach it for the next set of girls in the next class period. She never had a class that was taught the same way. And if the students knew that, they would appreciate her more.
ReplyDeleteChelsey,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is important that the students, especially that young, need to be shown to get their imagination and interest engaged.
My teacher, as a band teacher was very "show and tell" by nature. In the music field we are constantly modeling things for our students. Whether it be musical phrases, Instrument or voice technique, or some other miscellaneous musical thing. My teacher constantly engaged the learner and didn't give each player too much "down time" in which the student didn't play. He kept the classroom about music and made sure students got as much time out of the period as possible to play.
ReplyDeleteKatie,
ReplyDeleteThe teacher you had sounds like a true professional, and it's great that a teacher is constantly adapting to the strifes and troubles that impact lessons throughout the day. This is great because they will be better able to teach the students.
I think the teacher I am observing is extremely well-rounded when it comes to different forms of instruction. When giving an assignment, she informs, or tells, them what the assignment is, what it should consist of, when it is due, and other important information about it.
ReplyDeleteShe then shows them an example of what she would like their final copy to look like. The example she shows is usually from one of her prior students, so it shows her current students that the project or assignment will not be too challenging or too easy for them, since someone their age had done it before.
She almost always gives some sort of activity for the students to do so they can apply and review the information they just went over. Sometimes the activities are activity sheets or further research, and sometimes they are just class discussions.
She is very good at varying instructional methods to ensure meeting the needs of all students. She is extremely patient and always answers every question the student may have. When she gives assignments, she usually has a couple different options for the students so they can complete it according to their strengths.
In response to Danny Zammit...
ReplyDeleteI was in choir in high school, and I think it was extremely helpful when the teacher would play the notes/rhythms on the piano and then sing them back for us to repeat. I'm glad to hear that your teacher is doing that as well.
The teacher I observed used a lot of show and do instruction. For example if they were going to paint a picture she would paint one first to show them how to do it and then have them paint. Or she would read a poem and then write a poem and then have her students write a poem. They also made lots of charts especially in their science lessons, for example she helped them make a chart of everyone's eye color.
ReplyDeleteTo Chelsey,
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is important at that age for "do" instruction.
My teacher does use a lot of tell forms of instruction. She will sit in front of the class and lecture them with notes. Although she does use a show form with the slides. The only down fall to the slides are that they are black and white, very plain. As a student it is much easier to pay attention to lectures and notes when they are colorful slides with pictures that relate to the subject.
ReplyDeleteShe does use "do" forms of instruction with math time rolls around. Each student will get a whiteboard and marker. The teacher will give them a problem and they perform the task on the white board. After they are done they bring the whiteboard but to her. If the answer is incorrect they must go back and try again. My teacher does a good job of varying her ways of instruction. The only think I feel that she needs to improve on is her show methods. Especially during note taking.
In response to Katie P.
ReplyDeleteI like that fact that your teacher changed her way of instruction and teaching for each class. This way the students are doing something new everyday. This will help to keep them interested and involved in the classroom because they won't know what to expect next.
In response to Lisa,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like our teachers are very similiar. I think it's great that teachers give their students an example, but also let the students have fun with their own creativity.
My teacher uses alot of the show and do methods, and while he does tell the students somethings it's not a major part of his lesson. He shows the students examples, such as today he brought in chain metal armor to show the kids how heavy a knight's armor was in the middle ages. He has the kids do a lot of hands on activities, such as right now he is having the kids in groups make a project of building a castle and naming it etc. I notice the kids really get more into the lesson when he uses the show and do method. He does make sure that all the kids' needs are met and is fair among all the kids in all his show and do methods of teaching.
ReplyDelete@ sierra
ReplyDeleteThats sad about how the teacher mainly uses the tell form of teaching...especially when the powerpoints he or she uses have no pictures or colors...that is so much harder for the kids to sit through.
The teacher that I observed did well in all areas. He was very direct in telling the class waht it was that was expected out of them. He would always show examples of how he wanted something done or how it should have been done, and he would always give the students different exercises and a few projects that required them to use all of the skills that they had learned throughout the semester.
ReplyDeleteKatie P,
ReplyDeleteI think that is very cool that the teacher you observed was always aware of how effective she was in class and would make immediate adjustments that she felt would be more effective.
My teacher does a great job with doing all the methods of instructions. But in a PE class you do alot of "Do' activities. Because your always moving your always doing something that is active. At the same time my teacher I observed demonstrated everything he did throughly before he let the students do it. Since they were only in Elementary so I believe it is very important to show them before you give them the green light to go for it. They don't understand until you see it down in front of you.
ReplyDeleteAt Melanie Rottger
ReplyDeleteI think that is neat he bring in items and does alot of activities. It shows that he thinks outside of the box. I would learn from that. The kids do get more involved when the teacher ALSO gets involved.
The class I'm observing is a computer class. The teacher mainly demonstrates how to do the programs on the computer. The teacher does not really vary her instructional methods. I think the teacher is effective with helping students learn.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher is really good at this I believe. She writes down the notes for the students and at the same time explains then in ways that relate to the student so that they understand the material better. Also she has the students get involved by having them write the homework on a white board to present it to the class.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Katie P.,
ReplyDeleteI think that is a great way to teach, Your teacher understands that each class is different and makes sure that she accommodates each class it seems like.
My teacher did all of these. The one she did the most was the "do". This is a foreign language class so the students demonstrate what they are learning all the time. They pretty much learn out loud. The teacher does the "tell" when she is giving instructions in French or Spanish then she has then "do" it. I think that is the best way to learn when learning to speak another language.
ReplyDeleteTo Dana
ReplyDeleteMy teacher does a combo of all of them too. When she does the "tell" she does make sure her students understand her though...she doesn't have them looking around confused, but maybe that's because she teaches middle school, u might be secondary edu...
Both of the teachers I observed utilized methods of tell, and do. Since I observed in a math class, a lot of what the teachers did was lecture while the kids took notes, but then, in order to get the kids involved, they'd have them do problems on the board, race to see which of them could solve an equation the quickest for bonus points, and have students explain to the rest of the class how they came to their answer. (As it was a middle school math class, I think it was important that they weren't showing the kids the proofs of why these formulas worked. That type of math is advanced enough that it would scare the students.)
ReplyDeleteTo Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that your teacher does so many things that are hands on. It's important to get the students engaged!
My teacher does use tell documents a lot. There is so much to cover and not enough time. She does incorporate other activities as well. For instance, the class is learning about the American Revolution, and each day they hold mock trial. Each student represents an important individual during the time period and either a neutralist, federalist, or a loyalist. Very neat activity
ReplyDeleteto Chris..
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that the teacher is effective, but in my opinion instructional methods should vary from time to time to prevent boredom.
My host teacher is very good at combining all of the types of teaching into his day. He incorporates them into the different lessons by letting the students do small projects, work in groups, and much more. I really like that he doesnt just do it here and there but he does the different methods every single day. I plan to do all of the methods in my class room because I believe it helps the students learn the material.
ReplyDeleteto Danny,
ReplyDeleteWhat are some interesting ways to teach students in choir?
My teacher combines most of the types of teaching in his class. He has class presentations, group projects, powerpoint notes or he wives us notes to study and videos. He is very good at incorporating all of those types of learning methods in our class room. it is always interesting and keeps us alert and most importantly of all we learn.
ReplyDeleteTo Danielle i think that your teacher is doing a great job. Mixing it up with different methods of teaching keeps the students awake and alert. it keeps them from being bored.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher does a great job of explaining and showing the students what they are learning and what she expects of them. She is a kindergarten teacher so she has to at this age. When she reads a book to them, she makes sure it is something that they will use and apply everyday. She explains it thoroughly and shows them. They are quick learners so once she explains it to them, the majority of them get it. At this age, everything is something they will use everyday. She is my inspration and I hope to be like her someday. The kids look up to her and know they can go to her for anything. She exemplifies what she expects from them. She lives as an example.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Katie,
ReplyDeleteThat is really good that she actually checks and cares how the students understand or are taking the information. Some teachers aren't like this and don't really know when their students understand. I don't understand it but it still happens!