Most of you have probably heard about No Child Left Behind. This federal mandate has put a lot of pressure on schools to be accountable for student achievement. It has encouraged districts to realign their curriculum with the state standards. The curriculum is not a guide that sits on the teacher’s shelf. It consists of the course content. You will learn a lot more about curriculum in your program here at LU. However, you should be able to observe the following from your cooperating teacher regarding curriculum and content.
Does the teacher:
• Have a course plan which identifies the units, topics, tasks and skills which will be covered during a specified period of time?
• Have a daily plan or structure which identifies the skills and supportive facts, concepts and principles needed for the lesson?
• Begin the lesson with a review of what was covered during the last session?
• Provide exercise activities or skills practice where students can practice and apply the material learned?
• End the class with a summary of what was covered and “learned” during the class period?
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1. My teacher did in fact have a very organized course plan. She thought everything out very well and had concluded how much time should be spent on certain things. Everything in there was on a timed schedule.
ReplyDelete2. Anything she would tell the students to do something there would always be a organized structure on the dry erase board, on the paper, or on the smartboard. This really helped the students be able to focus on what they were supposed to be doing.
3. Due to me showing up later than when the class started, because of my high school schedule, I was never really able to see if she reviewed at the beginning of the class period.
4. My teacher and I did create some activities for students to do in order to help them remember certain things. These usually not only were fun for the students, but also increased productivity of the class time.
5. Most class periods ended with students finishing up there own work. Once they finish up we would allow them to relax a little bit and help them get ready for their next class, as some of them had some trouble getting to class on time.
1. My teacher as well had a good course plan and she kept to it as well. she had designated times for different lessons and usually covered all the material within the time frame
ReplyDelete2. Most of the time before the kids walked into the class room she had her daily plan written on the promethian board and once the students came into class they began their activities.
3. She always reviewed the lesson from the day before. she even keeps time in the beginning of class for them to make up work if they are behind which is nice for the first graders.
4. In the first grade class, after they learned new material, it usually ended with cutting and pasting projects that used key terms from their lesson.
5. I have not stayed any later in her classroom than noon so i am really not too sure how she concludes the class.
Ben- your five points seemed quite similar to mine. Are you observing a high school class yourself or an elementary class? Mine is first grade which making sure you have a clear lesson plan and follow it is crucial. On the other hand, it may take more time for each lesson plan because the children are all different in how fast they gather this knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI believe she did have a course plan (I didnt actually see one) but Im guessing every teacher has some sort of plan that expectations are written out on. I did not see a plan book either that my teacher actually used. I know she has been in the building along time and actually works along side of her husband who is the other gym teacher. I guess she knew what the students needed to accomplish, but personally I feel as though even as a PE teacher I would use a plan book of some sort.- After stretches and a warm up jog she did review with her students what they did the day before and what they would be learning today. (Many of the days I observed they went outsise to play flag football so each day consisted of the same instructions.I feel as though in a PE class it would be impossible not to have the students show what they have learned. They do this when they are actaully participating in a "real" game situation. Since my class was mainly playing fleetball outside the teacher did not go over what they learned from the day, probably because it was the same as the day before.
ReplyDeleteBen and Chris,
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting how my PE teacher and your regular classroom teacher differ. I feel as though your teachers both were very thorough with their planning processes and I feel especially Chris you were talking about how the age of the students might need a more detailed plan which I can agree with. I feel as though PE teachers know they only have a a certain time period to do everything they want so they do not necessarily need a minute by minute plan whereas in a regular classroom they have so many subjects to cover in a days period so they need to really plan their time wisely.
Chris, I was observing a Middle School class at that particular time. Also, I agree it does take a while to make a lesson plan that works due to the differentiation of each student. Every student is good and not so good at certain things and we have to figure out what those are and make a lesson plan around them.
ReplyDelete1. The teacher that I am observing is very organized, each morning she takes her laminated magnet subjects and puts them in order she will do them. She has certain time limit for each subject.
ReplyDelete2. When she is ready to start a new subject she has each student put the supplies they were using away and get out supplies they will be needing for the next. During math they each had their own dry erase boards to do each problem on. If at any time they have a question she addresses it. The students also get to use any resources they might need to help solve the problem or question.
3. Yes she reviews before each subject and makes sure there are not any questions before they add more information.
4. The students takes ten minutes before the new subject is started to use flashcards or play the games that the teacher came up with.
5. With my school schedule I am unable to stay for a summary of the day.
By the way I am observing third grade
3.
I only have positive things to say this week... yeah! My host teacher always has a list of what they are covering that day up on the white board. It includes the topic, any activities, and any homework. Because she has been teaching for several years, she knows about how long it will take her students to learn a particular topic. I've seen her planning book, but its more of a general guideline for her. She does start the class by quickly going over what they covered the day before (often goes through the answers to the homework and discusses any questions the students had) and transitions into how that relates to that day's topic. There is usually some kind of hands-on activity or worksheet to practice their knowledge. Any review usually takes place as she is describing that night's homework.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher that I am observing is very organized and well put together with her lesson plans and class structure. The questions asked above she does all of the following very well and to a T. It is a high school class so students all have a rubric of what they are going to be doing for the whole semester. So they get a broad outline of the units and chapters being covered, when tests and quizzes are and when large assignments such as papers are due. At the beginning of each new unit students are given "the plan" they are told what chapters or lessons are going to be covered and what days they will be taught. She reviews at the beginning of every lesson what was taught before and reminds students of a few key terms or words. She provides them with cues if necessary. She uses a variety of exercises to implement her lesson. Board work, partner work, group work, and homework are just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteDebbie- Yeah for only positive things this week!! Glad your observing is going well. One thing my teacher doesnt do if review homework.. it is taken for a correct grade not a completion grade. However, I think that asking questions about the homework right after they turn it in would be beneficial to a lot of students.
ReplyDelete. My teacher does have a course plan. She doesn't always follow it because if the students do not understanding the lesson then she stay on what they are learning until they seem to understand the lesson. The teacher I was observing writes what they are doing by what time on a board next to the chalkboard so it is in clear view of the students. It says exactly what they are going to learn for the day and what times, but if they fall behind they will pick up on tomorrow. The teacher does review what they learn the day before and makes sure everyone understands what they were asked to do. The teacher then starts the lesson with any questions about what they learned last time and heads straight into the information they need to learn for that particular day. I am never at the school when the day is over, but I am sure she goes over everything with the students and makes sure they understand the information so they can complete their homework with their parents.
ReplyDeleteKaitlynn--My teacher is the complete opposite; she is unorganized with everything in her room and lesson, but she is a really good teacher. My teacher creates new lessons everyday it is very interesting to know that everyday will be different.
ReplyDelete1. My teacher has a very detailed course plan of what she is going to be teaching each day. She really likes to stay very organized and on top of things and make sire that her students know what is going on during the day.
ReplyDelete2. She has a technology classroom so her students know that for a lot of the lessons they are going to be able to complete material with the computer. She asks students to put away what they have out and bring out what they need for the new subject.
3. Usually there is so little time to even move to the next subject that I find that I am sometimes lost. The students however just jump right into it and can tell my teacher what they were doing in tje previous class period and relay it for her pretty quickly.
4. I've noticed that she always tries to have an activity ready that follows what she just taught, but I see this mostly following math lessons. She will go over exactly what is on the worksheets before hand and give examples.
5. The day ends very quickly with planners being signed and different kids leaving that is kind of crazy. I don't really see any review.
Denah- I love the idea of flashcatds with the kids. I really think it will help them to remember their lesson if they are learning something fun.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher I am observing will have a schedule on the left side of the board of what they are doing that day which is usually pretty similar to the day before unless there is an assembly or something of that nature. She also begins each lesson with a review of the day before to kind of touch on the day before and also to relate the two lessons. She has activities where the kids will apply what they learned and it will give her a chance to address individual questions. I dont notice any review at the end of the lessons.
ReplyDeletethe teacher i observe i am not sure that she has a real lesson plan, but she is well organized. but in the morning the kids start off by talking about the date and day of the week. she also has one child take a attendance and figure out the guy/girl ratio. when they learn something new, she does kind of go over the previous things. the kids are sometimes broken up into groups to reinforce what they learned. i think she does a really good job with the kids.
ReplyDeletenow the kindergarten teacher i observed has a pretty set schedule for each day! i only observed her for about forty five minutes but the kids always knew what to do at the end of the day!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like everyone has organized teachers. I could not imagine walking into the classroom not knowing what was going to happen for the day.
ReplyDeleteLauren-the flashcards were a huge hit with the kids. They seemed to really enjoy them.
Ashley I would have to agree in saying that a PE teacher does not have to have a play by play because I feel that PE is a place for the kids to be "free" and have a great time. I do feel that the PE teacher should have some kind of plan for the week because they still have to cover certin things with their kids.
ReplyDeleteLindsey- it seems like your kindergarten teacher has a handle on the kids which is amazing. I know of a teacher and she has a bad class and has to keep reminding them. I am really surprised to hear that the students take attendance. What grade level is that?
ReplyDelete1. My teacher is very well organized when it comes to her lesson plans, but dealing with a first grade class I have learned that you can be very organized and ready to go but that does not mean it is always going to happen. My teacher always has to switch her plans around based on behavior and the kids moods because she has a pretty rough class.
ReplyDelete2. My teacher does everything on the computer and smart board. So when she creates her power points she outlines what the lesson is about and what the kids should get out of the lesson. Which I feel is a great idea.
3. Well I have never been there in the beginning of class because I always have class. So I never have seen what is going on in the beginning of class. Wish I could though!
4. My teacher normally involves some kind of story to go along with the lesson plan. For example for a math lesson she read the story Six Dinner Sid, and then created a math lesson around the story so the kids could use the story to remind and review with them.
5. Well the end of the day is pretty crazy in a first grade class so with trying to get the kids ready to go and picking everything up she normally does not have time to review.
1. Everything that will be done during the class period is written on the board. The students know exactly what is expected of them that class period. it is also shown on the smartboard on the beginning of class to get a warm up and turn in homework.
ReplyDelete2. In math every lesson is added on to what the students learned the day before. so the objective of what the students will learn and understand is shown on the board also rev. before the lesson begins.
3. The students have a warm-up each day for a grade. sometimes it is a times test or interger for the older kids. Or there will just be prob. on a wkst of what went on the day before.
4. At the end of the lesson homework is givin out for them to practice what they learned. A problem for each section is done in class together and the students get to pick it, unless the teacher knows one that will need to covered or a lot of questions asked about. They have at least 15 or 20 min. in class to do the homework and ask questions.
5. There usually is not enough time at the end of class to rev. bc that time is spent asking questions on the homework that is due tom. or them quitely working on it.
This week I have been in an 8th grade and 6th grade classrooms. They are both totally different. And a lot of things have changed since we were all in middle school.
1.She has a daily plan on the board of what they are going to do for the whole day.
ReplyDelete2.Everyday they have the same schedule for math,scence,reading,spelling and social studies.
3.Usually the next day they grade their math assignment as a class, and review problems they may have had questions on.
4.They always are practicing thier times tables and spelling words. Also with a friend in the class they are aloud to review their vocab words for the week.
5.Everyday at the end of class they write down what thye did that day in their "red homework/lesson folder".
Lauren- my teacher is the same way she always has an activity ready after a lesson. I find the end of the day and putting away papers from the last assignment also to be very crazy.
ReplyDeleteMy main teachers and the other teachers, I have observed have all had a great course plan. They have their plans on the board in the back of the room, and daily they have days plan written on the side of their board or on the smart board. My main teacher starts off with a small quiz, to remind people of what they did last time. Then he does a good review and ties in the previous lesson with the lesson he wants to teach that day. With math that is quite easy to do. Each hour they have enough time to review, teach new things and assign practice problems and homework which can be completed in class if the students use their time.
ReplyDeleteJamie - Our teachers tend to have the same teaching pattern. Which seems to be a really productive way..I know I liked be able to work on my homework in the class cause it was fresh on my mind and I had the teacher right there to ask any questions.
I feel that my teacher could try a little harder to make the course plan clearer. Sometimes when I'm observing the class the students forget what they did the class before and the teacher doesnt always go over the assignments. The teacher is very good about helping the students out with any questions they have about they're assignments and if they have free time he helps them during class.
ReplyDeleteAlex- I think that the way your main teacher starts off the class with quizes about what they did the class before is a great idea and can help students remember the last lesson easier.
ReplyDeleteOne part of class a favorite teacher in high school always made the same was the opening quiz. She wold have daily quizzes over the last class to check the students understanding. This seemed to be a very good thing for the kids and really helped her recognize when they needed more time on something.
ReplyDeleteAnna-
ReplyDeleteI like how your teacher uses the smart board to plan out the day. It seems like it would be a good and easy tool to help the kids.
Chris-
ReplyDeleteI have also had teachers who have done the same thing. I used to think it was boring to do everytime, but those were the classes that I got my best grades in.
the teacher i observe has a very organized plan about wat she has to teach through out the semester and each day she has a plan of wat she will teach that day and students know as well because she puts the daily plan on the white board in the front of the class room each day she also begins with quick recap of what the students learned the last time they ahd class and usually she always has some sort of activity for the studnets to do while learning the new inoformation and because they have block schedualing they usually take a quiz on wat they learned the last class.
ReplyDeleteAlex- I like the idea of a quiz to start off the hour. It would be a great review for the previous day's lesson, even if it was only a couple of questions. It wouldn't even have to be graded in the book, but would give you a chance to see what needs reviewing or explained in a different way to ensure understanding.
ReplyDeleteMrs B- sorry for the late second post. We had a busy weekend and I forgot all about needing to do another post.
Because I am not doing my observation right now I just was thinking about my old teachers in elementary school. Most of them always made everything so clear and always did a summary or review of what had gone on that day. Everything was always on the board and I really liked that because you always knew exactly what the day was going to be like. When I become a teacher I want to be very organized and I want to be able to make sure the students are very organized. I think that organization, clear directions and daily review can really impact the success of a student.
ReplyDeleteKayla, your teacher sounds really great. She seems like she has it all together and knows exactly what she is doing and when. I think that students pick up on when teachers are a little behind and don't have everything completely planned out.
ReplyDelete