Cooperative Learning

Cooperative learning is one type of instructional strategy. Students at all levels, K-post secondary, are often engaged in cooperative learning at some time during an academic year. Some students learn best when working with others, while the opposite is true for some. How do you think cooperative learning should be implemented into classrooms? How do you think cooperative learning should be assessed?

Instructional Strategies

"What children learn depends not only on what they are taught but also how they are taught, their development level, and their interests and experiences.... These beliefs require that much closer attention be paid to the methods chosen for presenting material..."
Understanding the Common Essential Learnings,
Saskatchewan Education, 1988. (p.10).

How will you determine the methods in which you will teach your lessons? Why is it important to choose appropriate methods for teaching the material to the students?

Teach for Understanding

According to the Iowa Core Curriculum, Teaching for Understanding is leading students to engage in a variety of thought-provoking activities such as explaining, finding evidence and examples, generalizing, applying, making analogies, and representing the topic in new ways. Teachers assist students in making connections between prior knowledge and new knowledge to develop understanding of a concept. Teachers who teach for understanding 1) make learning a long-term, thinking-centered process, 2) engage students in assessment for learning processes, 3) support learning with representations conceptual models, 4) teach for learner differences 5) induct students into the discipline, and 6) teach for transfer (Perkins, 1993). 

In your opinion, what does it take to teach for understanding? Why is teaching for understanding important? Explain.

Classroom Management

Prevention is often the key to successful classroom management. What are some of the major instructional and procedural prevention strategies that should be implemented in the classroom? How should students, parents, and school administrators be involved in these prevention strategies?

Instructional Strategies

In the late 1990's and early 2000's, research indicated that hands-on learning was a very effective teaching strategy yet teachers seldom used the approach. What could be the reason for the lack of use of this strategy? For approximately the last decade, it has been indicated than an effective teaching strategy in the classroom is hands-on learning. However, some teachers seldom use this type of instructional strategy. What could be the reasons for not implementing this teaching strategy?

Student-Centered Classroom

Brown (2008) states, "By keeping students at the center of one’s classroom, a teacher can encourage and inspire students to seek out knowledge and to strive for understanding at a deeper level. Through this process, students see a greater relevance for and a stronger connection to the subject at hand. Through student-centered instruction, our students can achieve independent minds and the capacity to make educational decisions and value judgments." What is your experience with student-centered classrooms? In your opinion, what does it take to make a student-centered classroom? Why is having a student-centered classroom important? Explain.

Brown, J. (2008). Student-centered instruction: Involving students in their own education. Music Educators Journal. 94(5).

Motivation

Some students are naturally motivated, while others are not. What do you believe is the basis for student motivation in the classroom?

Classroom Management

How does the physical arrangement of the classroom impact management? How do you think adapting student assignments (for those with learning disabilities or those who need enrichment) has an impact on classroom management?

Instructional Strategies

Cooperative learning is one type of instructional strategy. Students at all levels, K-post secondary, are often engaged in cooperative learning at some time during an academic year. Some students learn best when working with others, while the opposite is true for some. How do you think cooperative learning should be implemented into classrooms? How do you think cooperative learning should be assessed?

Instructional Strategies

Strong (2002) states, "Teachers who successfully employ a range of strategies reach more students because they tap into more learning styles and student interest" (p. 43). Has this been your experience as a student? Give an example to either support or refute this statement.

Strong, J.H. (2002). Qualities of effective teachers. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Feedback and Motivation

Respond to this scenario: You have completed a project for a teacher that has taken you almost a month to complete. It was handed in on time, and you have waited more than three weeks to receive a grade on it. You have inquired about the grade, but have not received a response. What role does feedback play in student motivation?

Classroom Management

It has been said that classroom management can be the key to a successful classroom. Why do you think that could be true? Classroom management is used at all levels of instruction. What classroom management techniques have you observed in your university classes? How are these techniques similar to or different from what you experienced in elementary, middle or high school? Have you seen very effective and ineffective techniques used at all levels? What made them effective or ineffective? Explain.

Welcome to Level II

Welcome to your Level II experience at Price Laboratory School! We are looking forward to working with you over the next few weeks in understanding and establishing rapport with our students, developing and teaching two lessons, and answering questions you may have along the way. We invite you to be an active participant in our classrooms and take every opportunity to interact with and assist our students. If you're not sure how to get involved in the classroom, please ask the teacher for suggestions.

Student-Centered Classrooms

Brown (2008) states, "By keeping students at the center of one’s classroom, a teacher can encourage and inspire students to seek out knowledge and to strive for understanding at a deeper level. Through this process, students see a greater relevance for and a stronger connection to the subject at hand. Through student-centered instruction, our students can achieve independent minds and the capacity to make educational decisions and value judgments." What is your experience with student-centered classrooms? In your opinion, what does it take to make a student-centered classroom? Why is having a student-centered classroom important? Explain.

Brown, J. (2008). Student-centered instruction: Involving students in their own education. Music Educators Journal. 94(5).

Instructional Strategies

Strong (2002) states, “Teachers who successfully employ a range of strategies reach more students because they tap into more learning styles and student interests” (p. 43). Has this been your experience as a student? Give an example to either support or refute this statement.
Strong, J.H. (2002). Qualities of effective teachers. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Motivation Strategies

Looking back on your education, what strategies or techniques did teachers use to motivate student learning? Explain. Would those techniques be effective in classrooms today?

Classroom Management

How does the physical arrangement of the classroom impact management? How do you think adapting student assignments (for those with learning disabilities or those who need enrichment) has an impact on classroom management?

Instructional Strategies

Cooperative learning is one type of instructional strategy. Students at all levels, K-post secondary, are often engaged in cooperative learning at some time during an academic year. Some students learn best when working with others, while the opposite is true for some. How do you think cooperative learning should be implemented into classrooms? How do you think cooperative learning should be assessed?

Instructional Strategies

In the late 1990's and early 2000's, research indicated that hands-on learning was a very effective teaching strategy yet teachers seldom used the approach. What could be the reason for the lack of use of this strategy? For approximately the last decade, it has been indicated than an effective teaching strategy in the classroom is hands-on learning. However, some teachers seldom use this type of instructional strategy. What could be the reasons for not implementing this teaching strategy?

Motivation

Respond to this scenario: You have completed a project for a teacher that has taken you almost a month to complete. It was handed in on time, and you have waited more than three weeks to receive a grade on it. You have inquired about the grade, but have not received a response. What role does feedback play in student motivation?

Classroom Managment

Through your experiences as a student in elementary, middle, or high school, describe a classroom management technique that a teacher used (don't worry about the name of the technique, just describe it). How did you feel about the management technique as a student? If you were the teacher would you use the same technique? Why or why not?

Instructional Strategies

Think back to when you were an elementary, middle or high school student. Describe the most memorable experience you had as a learner. Describe the instructional strategy the teacher used to make the experience and learning come to life for you.

Instructional Strategies

Strong (2002) states, "Teachers who successfully employ a range of strategies reach more students because they tap into more learning styles and student interest" (p. 43). Has this been your experience as a student? Give an example to either support or refute this statement.

Strong, J.H. (2002). Qualities of effective teachers. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Classroom Management

It has been said that classroom management can be the key to a successful classroom. Why do you think that could be true? Classroom management is used at all levels of instruction. What classroom management techniques have you observed in your university classes? How are these techniques similar to or different from what you experienced in elementary, middle or high school? Have you seen very effective and ineffective techniques used at all levels? What made them effective or ineffective? Explain.

Article about engaging students

Thanks for all of your posts about motivation!
Check out this article (Why Every Student Needs Critical Friends) about engaging students through constructive feedback from peers (You will need to copy and paste in order to get to the article). This article is from the November edition of Educational Leadership.


http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=104&sid=e8f53592-41d4-4fdd-9451-b3c5cb85fe60%40sessionmgr115&vid=6

If you can't get the article, let me know and I will email it to you! Thanks! amy.griswold@uni.edu

Student Motivation

Some students are naturally motivated, while others are not. What do you believe is the basis for student motivation in the classroom?

Welcome to Level II

Welcome to your Level II experience at Price Laboratory School! We are looking forward to working with you over the next few weeks in understanding and establishing rapport with our students, developing and teaching two lessons, and answering questions you may have along the way. We invite you to be an active participant in our classrooms and take every opportunity to interact with and assist our students. If you're not sure how to get involved in the classroom, please ask the teacher for suggestions.