Chapter 7a

            This section of Chapter 7 discusses keeping records on student achievement. This was on the checklist for my midterm evaluation, and it really got me thinking. I admire the way my cooperating teacher keeps records and uses them to prepare for the future. She keeps records on behavior, grades, progress, and more. She has checklists everywhere. Keeping records helps to prepare effective lessons and also helps the teacher to stay organized.

Chapter 6c

            This section of Chapter 6 discussed the elements of a lesson plan. Throughout my time at Bradley, I have completed extensive amounts of work on lesson plans. The authors took a different approach at explaining a few things, which I really enjoyed to read about. For example, they suggested splitting the objectives into three categories, cognitive, affective and psychomotor. I have never done this, but I like that it gives objective writing some direction. I never know where to begin when writing my objectives for a lesson.

            This section of the chapter also talked about putting time increments. I have done this on a few lessons before, but I am noticing how helpful it really is throughout my student teaching experience. It helps to put suggested times on the lesson plans because it creates the lesson plan into a schedule, as well. If something goes over, it is easy to take a look at what can be shortened or taken out that is coming up next in the lesson.

Chapter 6b

            This section discussed more about planning and the importance of it. The section about interdisciplinary thematic units was informational, too. I created a thematic unit in one of my classes at Bradley before, and that was great practice. Connecting themes and ideas throughout many subjects will help the students learn. Creating thematic units based on unique interests that the students may have can be fun and educational for everyone.

Chapter 6a

            I enjoyed reading this part of the chapter, particularly the part about the different learning styles. Not to say younger children in the primary grades all learn the same, but they are learning basic things that only can be taught so many ways. As students get older, the material they are learning becomes more complex, and many people need different accommodations. I have already started doing this in my student teaching, but when I am a teacher, I want to mix up the way I teach. It is important to have different activities and lessons all the time so that one student who cannot learn as well in that specific way is not stuck. It is hard to teach a class full of very different people.

Chapter 5c

I loved the part of this chapter that talked about the use of syllabi. I found this especially interesting because even before I started really taking education courses, I knew I wanted to incorporate a syllabus in my classroom, no matter the grade. I did not start seeing syllabi until late high school, and throughout college. I will use a syllabus, even if I am in an early elementary grade. A syllabus will help to guide and outline the school year, or semester. I think teachers can use one at all levels, so that the students and parents are aware of what is in store for them. As long as it is tentative, it can only benefit!

Chapter 5b

In this section of the chapter, the authors talked more about textbooks, objectives (which can be associated with planning), and controversial topics and how to go about teaching them. I found these main points interesting. Textbooks are such a huge issue in the education field, but I personally think they are beneficial when used correctly. I have always been an old-school kind of person who likes to flip the pages of a real book. I think textbooks can definitely still be used in the classroom as long as there are other forms of instruction present. Relying completely on an outdated textbook would not make for effective learning, but using them as a resource is still a great idea. I also enjoyed the list of words not to use in objectives. At Bradley, we have learned so specifically how to write a good objective, and I feel confident in doing this now. When we are teachers and are not writing extensive lesson plans for each subject, objectives are always something that stay. Before every lesson, it is important to know what you want your students to get out of what you're teaching. Last, I thought the talk of controversial topics was intriguing. There are so many touchy topics out there, and most of them are things that our students definitely need to learn about. I think the best way to go about teaching any topic that may be controversial, is to be completely unbiased. Teach the information as it is stated and do not incorporate any opinions or personal beliefs.