Practicum Page Two

PROFESSIONALISM

Professionalism: Optional or Absolute Necessity?

View presentation

Discussion Complete by: Tuesday, 16th February, 2016

Is Professionalism an option or an absolute necessity?

Can Professionalism be taught or should it be acquired?

Professional Attire Complete by: Tuesday, 16th February, 2016

Do you think that your attire contributes to your effectiveness as a teacher?

Check below for an article that identifies factors to be considered when selecting your professional wardrobe.

Do you support the views posited there?

Comment in your personal blog

Comments Complete by: Tuesday, 16th February, 2016

Complete the tasks listed below

TASK 1: Discussion: Do you support the statements below? Justify your response

I would never wear my weekend clothes to the classroom. And my “school clothes” rarely see the light of day in my personal life.

Teachers don’t have a formal uniform, but our appearance really sends a message to our students, their parents, our colleagues, and the community.

Wouldn't everyone prefer to wear sweatshirts and flip-flops to work?

When you are a school teacher, such luxuries are completely out of the question. Our young students, their parents, our administrators, and the greater community all need to trust us to be mature, professional, capable, and competent.

Like it or not, our outer appearance is their first indicator of these inner characteristics.

TASK 2: Post your comments on the following issues:

• As a practicing teacher, what factors should you take into consideration when getting dressed for work ?
• Have you ever been appalled by the on-the-job fashion choices of some members of the teaching profession? What caused this concern?
• Should the fact that you are a teacher influence your selection of ‘casual’ attire?

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR Complete by: Tuesday, 16th February, 2016

After viewing the video, comment on the lack of professionalism / inappropriate behaviours displayed

Personal Reflection - "Dress-Down Fridays" Complete by: Tuesday, 16th February, 2016

Do you support the concept of switching to casual attire on Fridays?

Follow the link below to access the article.

What is the main point being emphasized?

How to dress for Casual Friday

Post your response in your blog

Professional Reputation Complete by: Tuesday, 16th February, 2016

Personal Reflection

Read the article entitled 'Consequences' listed among the files below

Make the following posts in your personal blog:

• Comment on the teacher's decision.
• What message does this incident have for you, as a prospective member of the teaching profession?

THE TEACHING SERVICE COMMISSION

Click Here for access to the page with the relevant information

RECORD KEEPING

Think / Share Activity

• Why should records be maintained?
• What are the characteristics of a well-maintained record?
• How can the maintenance of the Pupils' Attendance Register support the instructional process?

Plenary Session

• School Log Book
• Class Log / Markbook
• Teachers' Attendance Register
• Pupils' Attendance Register
• Record of Work
• Curriculum Guides
• Scheme of Work

Article: Records and Record-keeping

• Scroll down the page until you reach the file entitled 'Record-Keeping'
• Click on the downward arrow at the right of the article to download the article
• The article provides some insight into the type of records to which you will be exposed during your practice.

TASK: Maintaining the Pupils' Attendance Register

Using the replica of an attendance register you have purchased:

• Paper your register. Affix a label on the front cover
• Compile a register list comprising the names of 20 boys and 20 girls
• Complete the front page data for all learners
• Enter learners' data for Term 1
• Enter dates for Term 1(Start from first Monday of January 20==)
• Mark the register for Term 1 - Present and Absent.
• Insert 2 National Holidays and 1 Manager's Holiday
• Compile weekly, monthly totals for Term 1
• Balance register for the term

BLOG POST - REFLECTIONS

Think about the register that you have just prepared.

Explain the process you went theough to produce the finished document. List the steps.

Mention what you learnt as you worked on the document. What / Who supported your learning?

What challenges affected your learning? How did you overcome them?

TASK Complete by: Tuesday, 1st March, 2016

• I am a teacher, not a record-keeper

Do you agree that teachers should be responsible for maintaining class records?

TASK Complete by: Tuesday, 1st March, 2016

Whose is responsible for learners' success?

PARENTS?

TEACHERS?

LEARNERS?

Let's take a break

THE TEACHING ACT

Classroom teaching is the most visible part of the job of the teacher.

What are the invisible foundations, the hidden elements of the teacher's expertise that underpin actual classroom practice?

NEW PERSPECTIVES

Plenary discussion based on presentation 'Embracing Change'

LESSON PLANNING

• Why is lesson planning important?
• How is lesson planning important for the teacher? For the learners?
• What do you take into account when you design a lesson plan?
• What constant components are there in your lesson plan?

Lesson Planning: Factors to be considered

Article

This article, to be found below - discusses the factors that must be taken into consideration when preparing your lesson plans.

Read each section carefully and come prepared to contribute to class discussions on each factor

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to know all those details about the learners?
2. Why should the teacher be in control of the content of the lesson?
3. What role do resources / material play in the learning process?
4. Why is the objective regarded as the hub / central feature of a lesson?
5. Identify features of a meaningful instructional objective
6. What should happen during the introduction segment of the lesson?
7. Is practice important?
8. Is closure necessary?
9. What is meant by the term 'Accommodations' in lesson planning?

Negative Affective Factors

• Go to Page Three of this site by clicking on the relevant link in the sidebar, for more directions on this topic

Deriving / Formulating Specific Objectives

The Specific Objective is the hub of the Lesson Plan.

It directly impacts on / controls the selection of the details needed for the completion the other elements

DISCUSSION

GROUP TASK

Identify specific objectives and relevant resources for planning to teach the following areas:

• Stating your birthday
• Describing family members

PLENARY DISCUSSION

Lists of the Specific Objectives and the Resources are to be prepared for inclusion in your e-portfolio

THE RESOURCE UNIT

The mind-map below depicts the relationship between the Resource Unit and the Lesson Plan

In order to view the image in full-screen mode, right-click on image then select the option for viewing it in a new window

Components and Format

Please check in the list of files attached below for the relevant information

SAMPLES

Check in the list of files below for two samples.

One is a work-in-progress with guidelines for its completion.

The other is a completed one.

Pay attention to the manner in which each Specific Objective is dealt with in its own row across the table

Personal Reflection Complete by: Thursday, 8th April, 2016

Lesson-planning takes up a lot of time. Why should I waste time on that? After all, I know what I have to teach and that is enough.

Comment on this teacher's view of the lesson-planning process in your personal blog.