CHAPTER 2 Teaching Stories Collin College EDUC 1301 Dr. Nita Thomason Female: 70 % Caucasian: 87% Married: 73% Under age 30: 10% Ages 30-39: 21% Ages 40-49: 27% Ages 50 and over: 42% Master’s degree or higher: 60% . Teacher workforce doesn’t match the growing diversity of the student body; More men are teaching than were 5 years ago; More teachers have at least a Masters degree today than they did 5 years ago. Beliefs about what is right and wrong, good and bad Dominant ideas, stories and myths, artistic works Social habits and organizations Language and the ways people use it in relationship to one another Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 24 Intellectual Purposes - “brainwork” and the development of reason Political and Civic Purposes - training responsible, informed citizens Economic Purposes - preparing future workers Social Purposes - “adapt the child to the social milieu” Can you provide examples of these purposes? Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 25 Developmental Assets for Adolescents | Search Institute ©2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Social norms (or “culture”) of your classroom and school taught through: • Your interactions with students • Communication of expectations regarding student achievement & demeanor • Your passion for teaching & learning -Term coined by sociologist Phillip Jackson in 1968 What do you think are the characteristics of schools deemed to be “effective? Class brain-storming session Vote on Top Ideas Compare to Research Findings Copyright by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 28 Who we are influences what we do • A teacher who’s a musician might use music in his lessons in ways you cannot, no matter how much you wish you could; • A teacher who loves sports may use local ball games to make a point in class. Colleagues Mentors (inc. your college professors) Administrators Students Parents Other community members Listen Reflect: Write down what you learn about your school, community in teaching diary • Expectations • Culture • Ways to connect Join mentoring program Goal: Acclimate and help you become a reflective teacher who responds to students’ diverse cultural, social, linguistic backgrounds Program generally offers: • Mentor (trained master teacher) • Weekly participant sharing meetings Globalization affects students & teachers • Changing interests, access to information • Teachers must constantly adapt, ask “what will work best for these students today?” “Learning community”: Classroom(s) or school organized to promote active learning, collaboration between teacher & students, sense that everyone is a learner Lifelong improvement of skills, knowledge • • • • • • $ Advanced formal courses “In-service” experiences Personal reading, reflection, & analysis Conferences Membership in professional organization Informal experiences (museums) incentives for annual continuing education offered in many districts American Federation of Teachers National Education Association National Assoc. for Ed. of Young Children eduScapes National Council for the Social Studies National Council of Teachers of English National Science Teachers Association National Council of Teachers of Mathematics In addition to our earlier thoughts: • Self-reflection • Good analytical skills • Desire to be a lifelong learner • Hard work and preparation • Centered presence in classroom