Eastern Illinois University Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Level Education MLE4000: Practicum in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Middle Level Component Fall:2007 Instructor: Linda Loy Phone: 217-581-7862 (O) 217-536-5269 (H) Office: Buzzard Hall, Room 2208 Home E-Mail : [email protected] University E-Mail: [email protected] CEPS Theme Educator as creator of effective educational environments, integrating diverse students, subjects, strategies and societies Course Description: MLE4000: Supervised middle school clinical experiences with emphasis on the curriculum and instructional aspects of social studies, science and diagnostic/prescriptive reading. Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in MLE3110, MLE3280 or MLE3150, MLE4280, MLE4760 or permission of dept. chair. Course Purpose: The goal of this course is to provide prospective teachers with experiential support for planning and teaching in the core, exploratory, academic enrichment and advisory areas in the middle school. Course Rationale: This course 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 division practicum mandated by the Illinois State Teacher Certification Board. Standards Addressed in this course: IPTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Outcomes Specific to MLE4000: 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 andcommunity 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, product assessment, oral assessment and criterion reference assessment. Course Outline: As a result of taking this course, the student will participate successfully in the following topics: I. Planning to Teach A. Goals and objectives: student, teacher, state, national B. Classroom environment C. Management D. Individual differences II. Participation in the Practicum A. Responsibility B. Planning activities and units of instruction C. Individual, small groups and cooperative learning D. Study skills E. Evaluation/assessment III. Evaluation A. Mastery, diagnosis, remediation B. Self-evaluation C. Record keeping D. Goal setting IV. Live Text assignments must be submitted V. Professional portfolio must be submitted Requirements Specific guidelines for the lesson plans and supervisor’s observation will be provided as the semester progresses. 1. On-site Observation: (Lesson plan for the day = 10 points, and teaching performance = 10 points and class room management = 10 Pts)…… ………………………………...30 Points 2. Practicum Log which must be signed by the teacher: Basic overview of time (hours)spent and brief description of day’s activities…………….5 Points 3. Teacher Evaluation which must be signed!!! ………………………………………..40 Points 4. The Notebook: Keep thoughtful documentation. Write at least one notebook page per day for at least 4 days a week, then please print out your journals and DATE and turn in weekly to my office on each Monday. A box with folders will be in my office for you to put your journals and to pick up the old journals. Reflect upon the children, the supervising teacher, how the class discipline is handled, classroom management techniques used, and yourexperiences (what worked and what did not work). DO NOT just list what was done with no reflections of impressions. This is a WORKING notebook. Keep lesson plans (EIU/Hunter model), materials created (photos), children’s work or copies of their work, manual pages, evaluation sheets, log possible teaching strategies/ideas, rubrics used, testing and keys as well as what you did for special populations in it. Xerox copies of samples, highlight and make notes (to make clear) on these pages. Provide a TABLE OF CONTENTS in the front. And turn in a three ring notebook. PLANS – Your cooperating teacher will need to see your lesson plans in advance. 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 EIU model for your lesson plans where appropriate. Live Text will be discussed. The practicum notebook………………………..………….40 Points 4. Turning in journal writing on time…………………… 5 Points 5. Participation……………………………………………..….30 Points a. Discussion Board on WebCT(pending IRB Approval): In the beginning of the semester, for six weeks, all the students will be participating in a discussion board that will be set up on WebCT. The class will be divided into two groups. At the beginning of each week, each group will see a new prompt. You will need to respond to the prompt (at least 100 words) and then also comment on another student’s posting about the prompt. So in total, to get the total points for the discussion board, you need to have at least two postings per week – one of which must be at least 100 words and the other must be in response to a classmate’s posting. These are the minimum requirements, but I would encourage you to do more than the minimum and get involved in a conversation with others in the discussion group to learn more about what it means to be a teacher. All this will be demonstrated in the second week on August 31st in a meeting for all 4000 sections. After the demonstration, if you need any further help, you may contact Ms. Kiran Padmaraju at 581-7879 or [email protected]. b. Participation in class discussions c. Working well with your coop. teacher d. Professional attendance every class period you are assigned for practicum Note: Attendance is mandatory. (Any practicum hours that are missed must be rescheduled.) In case of an emergency