QCR523 Blog Post 2 (TG1)

What is good writing in literature? How are the criteria for “good writing”different and similar for your other core subject (CS)?

Readings

1. Cohen, B. (1963) Writing about literature (chapters 2 & 3). Wichita: Scott Foresman.

2. Sample examination papers & Cambridge Reports.

QCR523 Blog Post 2 (TG2)

What is good writing in literature? How are the criteria for “good writing” different and similar for your other core subject (CS)?

Readings

1.        Cohen, B. (1963) Writing about literature (chapters 2 & 3). Wichita: Scott Foresman.

2.        Sample examination papers & Cambridge Reports.

QCR523 Blog Post 1 (TG02)

Describe briefly the literature and assessment culture in your Practicum school. What did you learn during Practicum?

1.        Read Shepard, L. A. (2000) The role of assessment in a learning culture. Educational Researcher 29(7): 4-14.*

2.        Earl, L. (2005) Thinking about purpose in classroom assessment. ACSA.

QCR523 Blog Post 1 (TG01)

Describe briefly the literature and assessment culture in your Practicum school. What did you learn during Practicum?

1.        Read Shepard, L. A. (2000) The role of assessment in a learning culture. Educational Researcher 29(7): 4-14.*

2.        Earl, L. (2005) Thinking about purpose in classroom assessment. ACSA.

Questions to ponder for the reflective essay

Some questions to reflect on for micro-teaching (and teaching in general):

1. How easy/difficult was it to translate the script (i.e. lesson plan) into a live performance (i.e. the lesson)?
2. To what extent did my “stage persona” influence the success of my performance as a teacher?
3. Did I pitch my lesson tasks/activities at a level that was appropriate for some or most - or even all - of my students?
4. To what extent did I achieve my stated learning outcomes with (most of) my students?
5. What unstated or unexpected learning outcomes did my lesson achieve?
6. Could I have achieved more with less in this lesson?
7. How do I ensure that the learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, and dispositions) of my lesson endure or are “internalized”?
8. What did I find particularly challenging about facilitating classroom discussions?
9. Were my questions effective in eliciting students’ higher-order thinking (i.e. analysis, application, synthesis, evaluation)?
10. Was my questioning technique effective in eliciting students’ higher-order thinking?
11. Did I provide (most of) my students sufficient wait time to come up with thoughtful answers to my questions?
12. To what extent did I try to provide students with feedback that was both encouraging and challenging?
13. How would I better prepare my students to develop habits of higher-order thinking?
14. Were students given opportunities to evaluate each other’s thoughts, opinions, and answers? 
15. Why were some of my students disengaged with the lesson? Were these reasons within my “locus of control”?

Here are some web resources that provide ideas for teaching literature in your classroom:

The English Teacher - http://teacher2b.com/

Some teaching techniques from Merry Bee - http://merrybee.info/techniques/recip.html

Techniques for Teaching Literature - http://www.teachingliterature.org/teachingliterature/chapter1/activities.htm

Teaching persuasive techniques in writing about literature - http://www.ehow.com/info_12196721_teaching-persuasive-techniques-literature.html

How to make a classroom storyboard - http://www.ehow.com/how_12115384_make-own-classroom-storyboard.html

Techniques for teaching literature in a language classroom - http://www.ehow.com/info_7921057_techniques-teaching-literature-language-classroom.html

Using journals in teaching - http://www.ehow.com/how_7801945_use-journals-teaching-methods.html

How to use classical conditioning (behaviorist theories) in the classroom - http://www.ehow.com/how_8012206_can-classical-conditioning-used-classroom.html

English Language Institute of Singapore (ELIS) - http://www.elis.edu.sg/

Romeo and Juliet: What's your take?

For those of you who attended the Wildrice production, what's your take? Btw, SRT is putting up Twelfth night at Fort Canning next month. For those of you who want more Shakespeare.