MLE 4000-Practicum in Middle School Curriculum and Instruction Instructor: Lockart Course Description: Supervised middle school clinical experiences with emphasis on curriculum and instruction. Must be taken twice. Minimum 45 clock hours each time. Prerequisites: Current enrollment in MLE 3110, MLE 3150, MLE 4280, MLE 4760, ELE 4880, or permission of department chair. Course Purpose: The purpose of this course is to provide prospective teachers with experiential support for planning and teaching in the core, exploratory, academic, enrichment/extracurricular activities, and advisory areas in the middle school. The practicum is an integral part of the courses with which it is associated, under direct supervision of the university instructor, and is in partial fulfillment of the pre-student teaching practica experiences. EIU CEPS Theme: Educator as creator of effective education environments, integrating diverse students, subject, strategies, and societies. CEPS Outcomes for ALL ECE/ELE/MLE Classes: 1 Foster students’ desire for lifelong learning and model one’s own desire for lifelong learning, including self-evaluation. 2 Demonstrate effective communication skills. 3 Strive for positive development of students’ intellectual, social/emotional, and physiological skills and behaviors. 4 Demonstrate knowledge of facts and an understanding of fundamental principles, ideas, and relationships among various knowledge domains. 5 Demonstrate knowledge of past and present developments, issues, research, and social influences in the field of education. Outcomes Specific to MLE 4000: 1 Provide for the uniqueness of individuals, recognizing the characteristics of those who are culturally diverse and those who are at-risk and fostering appreciation for individual differences by demonstrating alternative methods of achieving similar learning outcomes. 2 Manage the classroom to optimize academically engaged time. 3 Help to positively enhance students’ intellectual, social, and moral behaviors. 4 Perform successfully within the social and political contexts of the school and community. 5 Model appropriate professional behaviors. 6 Promote healthy self-concepts for students. 7 Emphasize higher order, critical thinking by promoting a problem-solving environment. 8 Provide alternative assessment measurement tools in the classroom utilizing portfolio assessment, oral assessment, and criterion reference assessment. Course Outline: As a result of taking this course, students will perform successfully in the following topics: I. Planning and Teaching A. Goals & objectives: student, teacher, state, nationalB. Classroom environment C. Management D. Individual differences II. Participation in the Practicum A. Responsibility B. Planning activities and units of instruction C. Individual, small group, and cooperative learning D. Study skills E. Evaluation/assessment III. Evaluation A. Diagnosis, mastery, and remediation B. Self-evaluation C. Record keeping D. Goal setting Practicum begins Monday, October 25, 1999 and ends Friday, November 19. You are required to be in class all five days for 4 weeks from 8-12. Practicum Procedures: 1 Contact your cooperating teacher in advance. Arrange a meeting in which you can share what you are prepared to offer this class. 2 Give the teacher the necessary 4000 documents, letter of introduction from Dr. Lockart, evaluation sheet, and explain what your assignments are. 3 Request school and classroom guidelines for professional and student behavior (things like no gum, no hats, quiet when in halls, etc.) Request a class list and a class schedule. 4 Know the school calendar (upcoming events) 5 Express your wish to teach as much as possible after the initial orientation to the classroom. Schedule your teaching periods with your cooperating teacher. 6 Use ALL time on site for instructional and/or professional purposes, even if the children must be out of the classroom. 7 Plan ahead. Over plan. Plan off-site, on your own time, in advance. Save complete records and writing of your plans for the 4000 notebook. 8 Let your enthusiasm, initiative, and professional attitudes be reflected in your teaching and your relationships in your school. 9 Keep a daily log and date each entry. Grade points for MLE 4000: 1 Class meetings: Participate. Let your voice be heard. Ten points for each meeting. (30 pts. total) 2 Practicum log: Log hours from 8 a.m. to 12 noon for 4 weeks. (MLE4000, MLE3150, ELE4880, MLE4760, MLE4280, or MLE3110) In case of emergency absence, the cooperating teacher and the university supervisor MUST be contacted in ADVANCE. Arrange for your plans and materials to be in the classroom if you are absent. Arrange to make up the time. (10 pts.) 3 On-site observation: 30 pts. (lesson plan for the day=10 pts., notebook to date=10 pts., and teaching performance=10 pts.) 4 The notebook: Keep thoughtful documentation. Write at least one notebook page a day. DATE each notebook page. Reflect upon the children, the supervising teacher, how the class discipline is handled, classroom management techniques used, your teaching experience (what worked and what didn't work).5 Plans: Your cooperating teacher will need to see your plans in advance. Good plans give evidence of relation to the students' previous learning and prior knowledge as well as specific objectives and procedures. Write your plans like a script. Use the Madeline Hunter model for yourlesson plans where appropriate. Be sure the evaluation form and the log form are signed by thecooperating teacher. Be sure to have your cooperating teacher enter his/her Social Security number for waiver purposes. Xerox copies of samples of the children's work to include in the notebook. Xeroxmanual pages from which you work. Have your highlights and notes on these pages. This is a WORKING notebook. Keep lesson plans, materials created, children's work, manual pages, evaluation sheet, log, etc. ALL NOTEBOOK PAGES MUST BE DATED! Provide a table of contents in the front of the notebook. Include any class handouts from the 4000 class.The practicum notebook is worth 30 points. due at the final class meeting.Total Points: Attendance/participation 30 pts. Practicum log 10 pts. On-site observation30 pts. Notebook (complete) 30 pts. Total 100 pts. A=94%B=86%