Week 15 Reflection

Week 15 Reflections

The semester has finally come to a close, and I am very relieved. It has been one busy semester. I learned a lot, did many assignments, and was enlightened to a great many topics in education. All I have left to do is the final assignment regarding technology. I am looking forward to relaxing this break and then on to internship next semester!

Discussion prompt: This week’s discussion prompt was a little confusing to me because the question did not match what we all did for our microteaching assignment. One of the classmates quickly changed the question into something applicable and we all ran with that idea. The micro-teaching videos themselves were interesting to watch. One was of a teacher actually teaching and the other was about a woman explaining what she did for a history lesson. The first teacher’s classroom was very chaotic, and needed a lot of structure. However, the woman’s lesson seemed to be much more organized and she explained how her use of blocks facilitated the students learning.

Website Recommendation: http://www.funbrain.com/
This website is a great resource for educational games.

Week 14 Reflections

I thought this week’s discussion was very important. I did not realize how many rules and regulations were connected to copyright issues. After looking over some of the rules, and taking the copyright quiz, I was shocked by how many rules I did not know. I found some rules to be absurd, but others I could understand why they were in place. I know it is important to protect the original writers, producers, or makers of products or works, but some rules seem a little extreme.

Module 8

This chapter was entitled, “Media, Aids, and Resources” and was a very good chapter. I thought Figure 8.4 on page 303 was great to use as a quick reference for what is allowed regarding printing material. I know that I would need to keep a copy of regulations with me in my classroom, or have access to a website that details what is allowed and what is not. I would definitely not want to violate any copyright laws no matter how extreme they seem.

Website Recommendation: http://www.copyright.gov/
This site is the main site for information for the US government regarding copyright laws and how to register original work.

Week 13 Reflections

This week was one busy, busy week. So many things are due that I am running around in circles! Even though there was a lot to do, it was a good week. I have begun working on the Lesson Plan and am hoping to finish and submit that soon. I’ve realized if I don’t start early, projects become very stressful.

This week’s discussion was about “Self-Reflection.” Our discussion prompt asked us to consider what aspects of the class we particularly enjoyed and will find useful in the future. I mentioned that I thought that the creation of the Unit Plan was one of the most useful activities we did because it is something I will have to do in my future teaching career. It was interesting to read my classmates’ thoughts on the semester. Some thought the class would have been better in person, but others did not mention their feelings on “location.” I know that if I could take this class again, I would definitely choose to take it in person, but that is probably because I enjoy interacting in real life settings rather than through virtual means.

Module 10

This chapter was about “Self-Assessment of Teaching,” and I thought it was much like a send-off chapter. There were sections that talked about our future student internships, how to behave and dress professionally, and even a section on how to relate to students. I thought this chapter was insightful as it brought up topics that new teachers need to consider. One section I thought was useful was the section on creating a portfolio. I am close to graduating, so this is something I will be doing in the future, and will need to know the best way of organizing one. The chapter gave tips for how to create an effective portfolio.

Website Recommendation: http://www.worldteach.org
This website might be a good place to start if one is wishing to volunteer or work abroad in the teaching field.

Week 12 Reflections

This week’s discussion was about the validity of open-book tests and how to combat cheating. Firstly, although I do not generally like open-book tests, I can now see some merit in them after reading some of my classmates’ responses. Originally, I thought students might have the misconception that open-book tests were easy and then come unprepared for the exam, shocked by how long it was taking to find the answer. However, after reading my classmates’ responses, I can see how some students might dive deeper into the book, familiarizing themselves with it in order to effectively use it in the exam. I found this view to be very valid. In regards to the second prompt about cheating, I thought my classmates’ responses were really good. Some thought that effectively preparing students for exams and reducing the point value for each exam may prompt real study instead of cheating. Others felt that teaching on how cheating was unethical could be an effective method for reducing cheating.

Module 9

This chapter was about “Assessing and Reporting Student Achievement” and was most insightful for me. I particularly liked the section entitled “Using Student Portfolios.” This section was about assessing students through a comprehensive portfolio. I found this subject to be interesting because within the MoST program, they have switched from “comprehensive exams” in the traditional sense to “portfolios.” I like the concept of portfolio’s better in that you take the best of your work and place it into an easy to access portfolio. Teacher and students can quickly see the projects the student has done and how they have improved overtime. Also, the students are judged in a more holistic manner, which tends to be good for students who may not test well, but can show proficiency in a subject through non-traditional methods. I think more programs should consider switching from the summative assessments to a portfolio method.

Website Recommendation: www.bedycasa.com
This site seems like it might be a good site for finding homestays abroad. This would be helpful for those of us who want to teach abroad for a short time, but haven’t figured out housing.

Week 11 Reflections

This week was a bit of a better week than last week. The work seemed more manageable for some reason. I enjoyed this week’s topic and discussion points entitled, “Teacher Talk” and “Socratic Questioning.” I thought my classmates’ suggestions for how to conduct a Socratic discussion were useful, and I think that this method of discussion would work well in many lessons.

Module 7

After reading Module 7, I understood how complex thinking about, preparing for, and actually speaking in a class can be, and what aspects of speaking I might need to work on before I actually teach. I learned that the speed in which you speak is very important. I know that I tend to speak rather quickly, and I know that I will need to monitor my speed when I speak in front of students. Also, I learned that both informal and formal speech can be used and that there are varying times to use either. For example, when conducting a lecture, the teacher might speak in formal speech, but when having a group discussion with students, the teacher might speak in informal speech. I never realized how complex teacher talk is and how many different aspects there are to consider.

Website Recommendation: http://www.teachingtips.com
This website could be used as an excellent source for struggling teachers. The website provides helpful tips for many different issues that teacher face.

Week 10 Reflections

It seems like the semester is starting to wind down to the end. I am surprised at how quickly it has gone by, but also I am realizing how much more work there is to do! This week’s discussion board prompt about “The Pedagogical Continuum” was very engaging because it is a topic that has been on my mind for a number of months. I exerted my opinion that I tend to like “direct teaching” and “teacher-centered instruction” over “discovery learning” and “student-centered instruction.” I was wary about posting my true opinion because I know it is against the most recent movement in education. Although I do maintain that I personally enjoy “teacher-centered” classrooms, one of my classmates brought up the point that students that are going through the education system now are growing up with “student-lead instruction” methods and it is normal to them. This was a point I had not considered and it was a very relevant point. It made me think about how the way in which a person learns as a child directly effects how they are comfortable learning later in life.

Module 6

This chapter was entitled, “Student-Centered Instructional Strategies” and was a most interesting chapter. Through this chapter I really examined the difference between “delivery mode” and “access mode.” I could clearly see the strengths and weaknesses of both ways of teaching. I also enjoyed reading my classmates’ posts about their college experiences and what level on the ladder (pg. 236, figure 6.4) their experience was positioned.

Website Recommendation: http://www.inspiringteachers.com/index.html
This website is a great general resource for teachers. It contains helpful hints on how to deal with a gamut of issues including irate parents.

Week 9 Reflections

This week’s decision about what “special needs” means to us was very interesting. I had not even considered that students who are “gifted” students could be placed in the category of “special needs.” I enjoyed reading my classmates’ responses to that prompt.

This week has been busy due to planning for Assignment 2. I have found that it was bigger than I expected, but I am certain I will get it done if I just stick to it. I found Module 5 to be helpful in working on Assignment 2.

Module 5

This chapter turned out to be a great resource for the preparation for Assignment 2. I thought the outlines of various units and lesson plans were very helpful. I had been having a difficult time picturing what a unit would look like on paper. It was nice to see a sample of what a unit might be like and what is really included. I am finding that since I have only had one year of teaching experience (which was to adult students), I am lacking the knowledge of how to line up my ideas with Florida Standards, specific instructional objectives, and the general procedure of a k-12 class. I am not sure if that makes sense, but my experience in teaching was in English as a second language, and I worked with Korean college students so Florida standards and all of that was not included in my lesson plans. I am sure that in time I will understand exactly what is expected and will be able to construct a unit plan and a lesson plan with ease.

Website Recommendation

http://www.teach.gov/
This website would be useful for when people are looking for teaching jobs after they graduate.

Week 8 Reflections

This week has been a busy, short week. I am going out of town this weekend and have been trying to make sure I have had time to get everything done. It seems like online classes are more demanding on a regular basis than traditional classes. I am sure I could be wrong about this, but it is how I feel, especially lately when I have been trying to allocate enough time to get all of the discussion posts ect. done. Anyway, I will move on from my complaints to blogging about this week’s discussion and reading.

I enjoyed the discussion prompt about using multiple texts in the classroom. It made me think back to various classes I’ve taken and what the teachers or professors used as a tool for instruction. I specifically remember in high school, my government teacher used the local newspaper as supplemental reading for his classes. I liked reading from the paper because it was more relevant to my real life and the contents related to events in my own community. Also, I did not mind that the newspaper reading was shorter than a chapter in the textbook!

It seems like the internet is becoming another source for teachers to use as a resource for reading material as well. Recently, I took a class on Reading, and how to assist students in learning to love to read. In that class, they mentioned incorporating the internet as an avenue to approach reading. Some of my classmates did presentations on different programs that teachers can use for reading online. I learned that the internet can be an incredible resource for reading via the web; in addition students generally find it more interesting.

Module 4
One particular blurb from module 4 that I found to be interesting was from Activity 4.1 entitled, “Oprah’s National High School Essay Contest.” I learned that Oprah has made a profound impact on reading because of her book club and through the books she has recommended weekly. It struck me as amazing that someone, just one person, could make such a huge impact on the culture of reading in a nation. It gives me hope for the literacy of our nation.

Website Recommendation: http://www.magickeys.com/books/
This site is great for young readers. The books are all illustrated and you click the mouse to change the page. It might be a way of getting young readers interested in reading.

Week 7 Reflections

This week’s theme was about motivating students and teachers. I liked the posts I read about motivating teachers because it is true that many teachers get burned out over time. I think it is vitally important to keep both students and teachers motivated to do their best. I am not sure how I misunderstood what type of article we were supposed to write about this week, but somehow I misread the assignment goals. After reading my classmates blogs, I saw my mistake. I thought that we just needed an article on motivation, not necessarily motivating students or teachers in particular, so I chose an article called “Motivation and Reading.” I actually thought the article was interesting though its findings were not extremely profound. I felt bad that my article was not exactly on topic, but I figured that someone could get some use of it anyway.

I also thought the “sugar, spice, and everything nice” prompt was interesting. It made me think about what teachers do in order to keep students motivated, and I wondered to myself whether those actions were able to sustain the student’s interest. I enjoyed reading my classmates opinion on this subject as well.

Here were my insights from Wong Chapters 21, 22, 24.

Wong 21

This chapter was about the value of what students actually accomplish in class, not the goals that the teacher sets out to teach. I liked this chapter because it gave a step-by-step procedure for creating effective assignments that checks to see if the students are learning. I think this can be a fault in many classrooms; the teacher fails to sincerely look at how much the student understands and what they actually need to do to understand.

Wong Chapter 22

This chapter is revolving around when to give a test and what a test is actually for in the student’s educational process. Teachers are meant to create objectives before their lessons, which contain what will be taught, and directly relates to the content the students will be tested. This chapter also goes over the difference between summative tests (given at the end of unit or semester) vs. formative tests (given throughout the classes to check for comprehension). Summative tests are graded, and many times formative tests are not. I thought this chapter was good because it briefly went over when and how to test and the objective of testing.

Wong Chapter 24

This chapter is about teamwork between teachers and the increased effectiveness that is a result of their collaboration. By working together, teachers can learn strategies from one another and increase their overall effectiveness with their students. The chapter explains the positive elements of collaboration. I know that when I was teaching, it helped immensely to get feedback from my co-workers. I am sure that every teacher needs the assistance of others in order to continue to progress in their profession.

Website Recommendation
https://ycped200.wikispaces.com/Classroom+Layout
This website was great for creating classroom layouts. The page allows you to see different classroom arrangements and you can even alter the arrangement to your liking. I think it would be a good resource for a new teacher who is figuring out how to use his or her classroom space in the most efficient, effective way.

Week 6 Reflection Blog

This week has been a busy week, especially since we have the Classroom Management Plan due Sunday. I did like the discussion from this week and found that reading everyone’s stories on teacher caused misbehavior was interesting. It was a topic that I had not considered in great depth, but now I have a more robust understanding of how the teacher’s role both in and out of the classroom can affect students. Here is my synthesis of the qualities of an effective teacher. I used both my own thoughts and added some of my classmates’ listed qualities.

1. Disciplined
2. Flexible
3. Organized
4. Prepared
5. Enthusiastic
6. Kind
7. Considerate
8. Patient
9. Timely
10. Engaging
11. Encouraging
12. Creative
13. Proactive
14. Accepting of constructive criticism.
15. Effective use of teaching strategies
16. Effective communicator
17. Reflective about their own strengths and weaknesses
18. Knowledgeable about content
19. Knowledgeable about cultural differences
20. Knowledgeable about teaching methodologies


Kellough & Carjuzaa Module 3: Page 93-110

I thought that the scenarios in this chapter were very insightful. I particularly like the scenario about the new teacher Lily and her interaction with her class. I learned that there has to be a balance between friendly and seeming overly stern. Lily really did love her students and enjoyed teaching, but she was perceived as strict and unhappy. I know that in the past, I have been too friendly with my students, and I learned that I must be a little sterner. In the case of Lily, she needed to relax a little and learn that students need to see her smile in order to know that she is not upset with them, but is enjoying teaching.

Wong Chapters: 6, 18, 19, 20

Wong Chapter 6
The key idea was stated on page 37, “Your expectations of your students will greatly influence their achievement in your class and in their lives.” I would have to agree with this statement. Students sense their teacher’s expectations of them, and will act accordingly. Students will even create a negative perspective about themselves that may stay with them for the rest of their lives if their teachers had low expectations. I thought it was interesting how on page 39, the authors gave examples of negative vs. positive expectations given by parents, teachers, and the students themselves. Although I knew teacher and parent expectations were important, this chapter further solidified that for me.

Wong Chapter 18

This chapter was excellent for the use with the Classroom Management Plan project. I liked how it gave examples of classroom rules and a plan for disciplinary action in the classroom. I can see that the use of rewards can be useful and can give students something to work towards. In general it was an excellent chapter for new teachers who do not know how to deal with discipline problems.

Wong Chapter 19

This chapter was about creating routines and procedures in the classroom that prevent discipline problems. When students are on a regular schedule, and the classroom time is used effectively, there is less time to misbehave and students feel safe and secure in their scheduled environment. I liked how on page 169, the author makes the distinction from a “rule” vs. a “procedure: “A rule is DARE to be broken, whereas a procedure is not. A procedure is a DO, a step to be learned.” I know that I will try my best to implement excellent procedures in order to minimize misbehavior and increase student involvement.

Wong Chapter 20

In this chapter, I learned that a well-organized and procedural classroom promotes a learning environment for students. When I think back to my education growing up, I realize that I learned the most and was engaged more frequently in classes that were well organized. This chapter provides helpful methods for using time efficiently and effectively completing activities.

Week 5 Reflection Blog

I found this week's discussion topics to be very interesting. I enjoyed reading everyone's response to the two prompts. It seems like most people in the class felt that laying out the rules and conducting a "getting to know you" exercise was pretty standard for the first day. I did read one post that stated that he would immediately start teaching on the first day. I thought this was definitely a different way to begin the school year, but he was right, I am sure he would have the student's attention. I know that on my first day of teaching, I was very nervous. Looking back, I think I would have prepared more and taken the time to run through the rules of my class. I am glad that this class is engaging me in the subject of preparation. I realize now that I need to take the time to fully prepare for the first day. I also know that the first day and week really impact how the rest of the school year will go.

In regards to the prompt about the definition of “discipline,” everyone either took one stance or the other. People either thought that “discipline” was a negative thing and that it referred to inflicting punishment on students or people thought that “discipline” was connected to managing one’s own behavior. I liked the prompt because it provided an arena for discussing the way to define discipline in the classroom.

In general this week went pretty well. The only thing that stressed me out was the fear that assignment 1 was due today. I panicked for a moment because I thought I somehow missed the fact that it was due today, but thankfully it is not due until next week! I am still getting used to online classes and worry at times that I will miss something very important.

Website Recommendation
http://feaweb.org/
This week I had to join the FEA (Florida Education Association) which cost $31.00 in order to obtain liability insurance. I needed liability insurance to go into Leon County Schools and in order to participate in my student teaching internship. I thought this website might be of some use to those of you looking to find a way to purchase liability insurance.

Week 4 Reflections

Now that we are approaching the end of Week 4, I was glad that I had read Module 3 and Wong Chapters 11-14 and blogged about them last week because this week was very busy. It seems like the semester is picking up and everything is getting more intense.

I was surprised that our discussion this week was to find an article. To be honest, I am not overly fond of articles because it always seems like the researchers are out to prove something, but end up with little real results. I am learning though, that articles must be read and even though I feel at times that they do not really "say" much, I try to glean something from them. (I hesitate even saying that, but that is how I feel). If anyone had any suggestions as to where to find more interesting articles, I would be much obliged. My article this week was about a study done with over 300 pre-service teachers in Canada. What I mentioned in my discussion post was that some of the teachers in the article felt that they were unprepared for teaching even after their training. They wanted more real experiences, and I guess I feel the same. I wonder if I will be ready to teach when I finish the program, but I do take solace in the fact that most teachers basically use the "sink or swim" method as they begin teaching. I know that when I first started teaching in Korea, it was much like that. I really was thrown in with seemingly little preparation, but the truth is, you figure out how to do it. So, that is what I will rely on, the ability to learn as you go, and to just go with the flow.


Website Recommendation:
http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/ideas/subj_classroom_management.htm
This website is great for creative ideas for teaching in general.

Week 3 Reflection Blog

Week 3: General Reflection
I thought that the articles that we were required to read this week were intriguing. The Dotger article was the most interesting because it detailed the parent-teacher simulation and how the prospective teachers handled each situation. I thought the simulation was an interesting way to engage pre-service teachers in conversations with “parents” that all have differing problems and perspectives about their children.

Kellough Module 3: Page 70-93

Module 3 entitled, “Establishing and Maintaining a Safe and Supportive Classroom Learning Environment” described how historically the concept of classroom management has changed over the years and also explained how teachers can effectively manage their classrooms. The idea of classroom management has greatly changed in the last century. On page 72, the authors explain how teachers used to approach classroom management which in the early 1800’s meant classroom discipline and punishment. Much has changed as time progressed and now modern teachers view classroom management as classroom control where the teacher is in control of the classroom, but not actively disciplining the student. The idea now is to take preventative measures by planning and effectively communicating to students what is expected in the classroom. One portion of this chapter that I found particularly interesting was the “Guidelines for developing withitness.” Although I found the term, “withitness” to be humorous, I did like the components found in the guidelines. New teachers could use this guideline for a quick reference on how to be aware at all times about what is going on in the classroom. For example, “move around the room,” though this concept seems simple, new teachers may feel most comfortable in the front of the room and fail to move around the room thus allowing students to occupy themselves with non-classroom related material and/or conversations. Overall, I thought this chapter was very useful for understanding the importance of classroom management in general as well as explain how to step-by-step create a classroom that is management efficiently and successfully.

Wong Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14

Chapter 11 was a reinforcement of Module 3 in the Kellough book. It explicitly stated that “classroom management overarches everything in curriculum” (Wong, 80). It is easy to see from both books that classroom management is essential for aiding students learning process. In chapter 11, it explains how consistency is extremely important for students and if the teacher has prepared a through classroom management plan before the start of the first day of class and then establishes the plan as the norm for the classroom on the first day, the students will understand the parameters of the classroom and will act accordingly.

Chapter 12 expounded on the importance on preparation. Teachers must be ready for their students on the first day. One component of this chapter that I found interesting was how on page 93 under the title “Before You Move a Single Desk” the teacher must establish the classroom management plan. I liked how the book explained that it is more important to have your plan ready than your classroom perfect. I do not think it had occurred to me that the room can wait for the sake of the creation of an effective management plan.

Chapter 13 was about introducing yourself to your class and their parents. The focus of this chapter was on how to communicate with parents before the start of the school year and why this simple act can make a lasting impression with the parents of your future students. The chapter also outlines how to greet your students on their first day. I liked the tips for what to include in an email to each parent. A picture of the teacher was on the list and I can see why this would be a useful to the parents. I know that once I have a face to connect with a name, I feel more connected to the person.

Chapter 14 is entitled “How to Arrange and Assign Seating.” I found this chapter to be interesting because it explained that if the teacher greets each student before the student enters the classroom and the student feels welcomed, this will set the stage for a great year. Also, when each student is given a seat assignment, the students feel that they belong and will quickly adjust to their new environment. The chapter talks about seat assignments and how each way of arranging the desks can facilitate a different activity. For the first day, however it is important that all the desks are facing the front and that all the students can see the teacher.

Website Recommendation: http://www.daveseslcafe.com/

This website is great for educators who are looking to teach English in another country. It posts job opportunities in numerous countries and can aid in the successful apprehension of an English teaching position.

Week 2 Reflection

General reflections

This week's discussion I found to be very interesting. I enjoyed reading about everyone's experiences with good and bad teachers. I think the general consensus is that a teacher needs to be organized, energetic, caring and challenging to be a good teacher. Some teachers that people disliked were the teachers who were too friendly and very relaxed-these teachers were generally not respected and the students did not seem to learn a lot from them.

Wang Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10

Although I have not taught in a k-12 US school, I felt that the information in Chapter 7 was intuitive, and did not need to be explicitly taught in a book. I can’t imagine a school not celebrating the first day of school. Again, I may be naive in my opinion, but I would imagine most schools would have proper signs indicating where to go, have people welcoming the students, and might even have an open house before the start of school to make the families and students feel welcome.

Chapter 8 focuses on dressing appropriately for the classroom. Although this seems like a basic concept, I do think teachers need to be reminded to dress professionally. I am sure that the more comfortable a teacher becomes the less they feel the need to impress and might therefore wear relaxed clothing.

Chapter 9 I thought was an interesting chapter. I liked what Haim Ginott (pg. 61) had to say about the power that the teacher has in the classroom. Haim explained how the teacher’s mood directly affects the classroom attitude. I found this to be true in my teaching experience. I realized that if wasn’t feeling well that day, my students reacted to my negative mood and the general classroom attitude and productiveness was bad.

In Chapter 10, it basically overviews the importance of using people’s names, of saying “please” and “thank you” and how a loving attitude and a smile can make a huge difference. This chapter also seemed like information that was obvious for any teacher that cares about making a difference in student’s lives. It was good information, but probably did not need to be addressed.

Kellough / Carjuzaa book: Module 2

This chapter seemed very useful as a brief overview of the definition of the various groups of students and how to work with them. I liked how it included the names of people who are well known for working with particular groups of students. This chapter seemed like a great resource for new teachers.

Website Recommendation: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
This website is great for use with English Language Learners (ELLs). It basically takes modern news articles and adapts them to ELLs. It simplifies the sentence structure and makes the news comprehensible for ELLs. It’s great for listening and reading exercises.

Reflection 1: Wang Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5

When I first opened the Wang textbook, I was pleasantly surprised to find a resource that looked like it could be used as a tool to learn the practical aspects of teaching, not just the theoretical history of educating. I thought it was interesting how in Chapter 3 the authors explain how teacher educations programs, student teaching, and districts may not have prepared you for your first few days of teaching. There seemed to be a lack of preparation for those real moments in the classroom, the management plan needed, and the organization of it all. I completely related to this because although I had completed a TESOL certificate with a semester long internship, I was not prepared for teaching, but yes, I was expected to perform. I did want to blame someone, or something for my inadequacy because I felt like I should have been taught the practical steps that every teacher needs to know. However, I liked how the book encouraged us not to blame the educational system, the internship director, or the district, but to be pro-active about learning what to do. It also mentioned in Chapter 3 that new teachers need to beg, borrow, and steal from other teachers. Basically to ask questions, collaborate with fellow teachers, and just continue learning about the steps needed to succeed.

I noticed that the authors stress that the first days are essential for how well the classroom functions, how much the students learn, and how effective the teacher will be for the school year. The teachers that explained their management plan to their class the very first day of class experienced great success (Wang 5). The students have a need to understand the objective of the class. They do better overall when the teachers are organized, explain what is expected, and believe in them to succeed. The authors explain in Chapter 2 how teachers must have positive expectations of their students, maintain great classroom management, and have excellent mastery of the lesson in order to have a successful classroom with students learning the given material. In Chapter 1, the authors list four stages of teaching: fantasy, survival, mastery, and impact. I know that in my first year of teaching, I lived in the survival stage. I was constantly scrambling to keep the students busy, only hoping that they obtained some content knowledge. These few chapters outlined how new teachers can transition out of the survival stage to the mastery stage and finally into the desired stage of impact. I knew that being prepared was important, but these chapters highlighted how essential preparation and organization are and how it can make the classroom a better environment, one in which the students are truly learning.

Website Recommendation:
http://www.exemplars.com/index.php
This website was mentioned in my classroom assessment class and appears to be a useful source for standards-based assessment and instruction. It contains lesson plans in general and focuses specifically on math, science, and also contains a section on developing writers. It seems like a helpful tool.