This week will be an opportunity to summarize some of the ideas we have covered over the term. Please note that the due date for all assignments is June 9th at 4:00 P.M. This will allow me time to read your work and complete the grading process. Final grades for Chemeketa students will be posted on Campus Pipeline sometime during the week following finals week. Host students need to check with their local colleges for grade notification.

Activity 1- Current Issues

There is no hot topic discussion this week.However, I would like to know what was your favorite hot topic this term. Just name your favorite in Wk 10 Hot Topic Favorites.

I would like to share with you a little booklet that I recently found that is excellent on the topic of bullies.

Bye-Bye,Bully A kids' guide for dealing with bullies by J.S. Jackson. This text has a definition of bullying, four steps for dealing with bullies and a Pledge for stopping bullying.

This little book is only $6.95 or as little as $4 used on Amazon. I would highly recommend that every school library get a copy of this very powerful and helpful booklet.

Also, Mark Rediske found a new link on How to Become an Oregon Teacher. He describes this site as "a one-stop-shop for accurate
information and general advising." You might want to bookmark this for future reference.

Activity 2 - How to Talk so Kids Can Learn

This week is the time for synthesis and closure. You will not have a formal final exam. Instead we will review and synthesize where we have come from and what we have learned.

Please review each of the strategies that we have learned about as we worked our way through How to Talk So Kids Can Learn. Share with the group

• the strategy(s) that you find yourself using most often.
• Then identify at least 1 strategy that you want to remember to use more often and tell us how you will remember to use it in the future.

Post your response in the "Week 10: The Best of HTTSKCL" conference. To give you an opportunity to browse the ideas of others, we will not be looking for peer responses this week (though it's perfectly OK to do this; you're probably in the habit by now...).

Activity 3- Teaching as a Profession

Throughout the term we have discussed a variety of issues related to the teaching profession. As a way of summarizing your thoughts about these issues, please answer the following 3 questions:

1. What has surprised you about the teaching profession that you hadn't realized in your role as an Instructional Assistant or preservice educator?

2. What topic would you like to explore further?

3. What questions do you have about the teaching profession that were not discussed in this seminar?

Please post your answers in Week 10: Teaching as a Profession. Again, to give you a chance to browse as much as possible, no peer responses are required this week.

Activity 4 - Journal

For many of you, the field experience this term was probably the most valuable part of the course. This is as it should be. No teacher preparation program can teach you "how to teach"; only experience can do this. If you are working toward teacher licensure, this classroom experience was only one of many that you will have along the way. Each one is important, because the sounds, sights and rhythms of an effective classroom imprint themselves on your brain and become part of your personal teaching style.

It is time to think about how you will say goodbye to this teacher and to the students in his/her classroom. If you haven't already done so, please discuss this with the teacher. You may decide to continue through finals week just to be part of the closure experience at the end of the year. If you plan to make this week your last week, there should probably be some sort of opportunity for you to say goodbye to students and explain that you have final exams next week and so forth. At any rate, be sure your teacher is clear about the last day you will be able to attend.

In your final journal entry, please address the following questions:

1. How do you plan to say "thank you" to your cooperating teacher? This should be honest and heartfelt, but it is also an important element of networking. You want this person to remember you in a favorable light. A thank you note and a personal conversation would certainly be appropriate; if you decide to give a gift (this is not expected, by the way), keep it very small. Most teachers probably have enough mugs...

2. What are your specific plans for saying goodbye to students? What you don't want is for students to be expecting you. . .and you don't come. This can provoke considerable anxiety and contributes to the sense that the world is a scary and unpredictable place. Again, discuss this with your CT and develop a specific plan.

3. Of all the things you learned in this practicum classroom, what is the one thing that is most significant? (By the way, it is perfectly acceptable to decide, based on this experience, that you do not want to pursue a career in this field. This is important knowledge!) What will you do to remember this thing so that you will have it when you need it?

Please post your thoughts in the Week 10: Journal-Saying Goodbye conference of WebBoard.

Course Evaluation

This term we will use the online course evaluation, which is anonymous. Secondly, I will not be able to view these comments until after the grades are posted. So you can feel free to add your honest comments. The most helpful part of the evaluation for me is your comments, especially since they will help me make the course better for future students.

In closing, let me say that it has been a wonderful to work with you in this class. I have been so impressed with your insights and caring as well as your commitment to children and to the profession. I wish you every success as you move closer to realizing your own dreams. May you touch the lives of many through your teaching. :)

Lucy

Week 9

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