Activity 1- Current Issues

The hot topic for this week has been difficult for me to frame, since it is not really a pro or con issue as much as defining the issue itself and seeing where the "line" is.

How much parenting should teachers do in the classroom?

In teacher talk, the issue may sound like this: Is the curriculum responsible for only the academic/the cognitive or are there developmental, social, and emotional responsibilities in the curriculum?

First you will have to decide on exactly what you mean by parenting in the classroom. Are we talking about social behaviors - abusive behaviors, lack of respect? Are we talking about hygiene, body odor, lice? Are we talking about discipline - bullying? Are we talking about homework - unable to do it at home? Are we talking about appropriate language? So first define what you think is meant by parenting in this context.

Secondly, you will have to decide what role the teacher or instructional assistant should play. How much parenting should be handled by the school.

Resources this week may be other teachers or parents. If you can find internet resources, that would be good as well.

In the schools, you may hear some teachers say " I just want to teach." What would you say to that?

In my sister's high school in Connecticut, the principal has declared that they are an academy and that social problems should be left to the community. What do you imagine the impact is on the teachers and the students?

Even though your research may come from teachers and parents, grandparents, still remember to use the Current Issue Discussion Format., Post your responses in Week 5: Hot Topics.

Activity 2 - How to Talk so Kids Can Learn

This week we will be using the ideas in Chapter 3, "Alternatives To Punishment." It can be quite a challenge to react differently to situations where we would ordinarily punish students, but Chapter 3 offers 6 viable alternatives. Most of the research suggests that punishment may stop a behavior at that moment, but that punishment alone does not provide the child with any new skills to use if they run into the same situation again. As a result, we often find children who have been punished regularly yet continue to be "in trouble". I think we'd all rather see children behave appropriately because they have the language and skills to deal with all kinds of situations, rather than out of fear of punishment. The ideas in Chapter 3 show us that there are other ways to handle these tough situations.

This week, try out at least 2 different strategies suggested in Chapter 3 and share what you tried and how the child - or adult-responded. Post your examples in the Week 5: HTTSKCL-Alternatives to Punishment folder. Please read and respond to at least 2 other students' postings.

Activity 3- Teaching as a Profession

To continue our discussion about Teaching as a Profession, I'd like you to select one teacher in your school to interview who is considered to be a very good teacher. You know, the one parents are always requesting and that kids absolutely love. Next week we will be looking at some literature on effective teachers and I want you to compare what you find out in your interviews with what researchers tell us about effective teachers. Please ask the following questions plus one or two of your own.

1. What made you select teaching as a career?

2. Why are you teaching at this particular grade level?

3. What preparation or training did you have that you thought was especially useful?

4. What advice about preparation can you offer me?

5. What do you like most and least about teaching?

Please post a summary of the interview in the Week 5: Teacher Interview conference on WebBoard. Please read and respond to at least 2 other students' postings.

Activity 4 - Journal

For our journals this week, I'd like each of you to consider the questions of readiness and academic ability. Here are some queries to jumpstart your thinking:

• Do all students in your classroom seem to have the same capacity for learning?
• What differences in ability are apparent?
• How does the school provide for such differences?
• And (perhaps most importantly) what are your own beliefs about the statement, "All children can learn."

Please post your thoughts in the Week 5: Journal of WebBoard.

Week 4

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