Education

Stages in Essay Writing

Remember: Essay writing is made much easier if it is tackled in stages, because you aren’t asking your mind to do too much at once. The main stages, together with some advice about each, are as follows:
1. Analyzing the Question to decide what is required.
a. Read and think about the question (and any accompanying advice on how to approach it) very carefully.
b. Underline key words and check their meaning, if necessary. Distinguish between content and process parts of the question, e.g. evaluate, discuss, compare and contrast. Possibly try paraphrasing the question in your own words.
c. If you are in any doubt about the meaning of the question then ask advice, e.g. from your tutor. This is not cheating!
2. Reading/re-reading relevant material, with the question in mind
a. Investigate all likely sources (e.g. with OU set books, articles, radio and TV notes as well as the Units).
b. Make any notes, as necessary – this may simply mean marking useful passages; noting page references etc.
3. Selecting and noting down relevant material to be included.

Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Students

The Art of Mentoring

Introduction:
According to Schemm, R.L. and Bross, T. (1995), the act of mentoring is defined as a process where a younger, fresher individual is paired with an older, more seasoned person for the purpose of attaining guidance and support. Mentoring is becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s work force, and becoming more of a necessity rather than a consideration. This is especially true for those in a more scholarly setting. It is likely that most, if not all, individuals will form one of these mentor-mentee relationships during some point in his or her professional career. There are several advantages, as well as possible disadvantages, to forming one of these relationships. When thinking of mentoring, a one on one mentor-mentee relationship usually comes to mind; however, multiple-mentor relationships make another valid option available. In any mentoring relationship, there does come a great deal of responsibility. Mentoring is a growing trend among working professionals; it has many benefits, and will help individuals achieve success, and provide a fulfilling role for the mentor.

Advantages:

Technology Lesson Paper - Advantages of Technology Such as Smart Boards, Microsoft Power Point and Google in the Classroom

Stopping Censorship: Academics Hold the Key

It was not the first time that it was reported, but it was shocking nonetheless. In May 2005, German journalists working in Iran published an article about the usage of censorship in Iranian schools and universities. It seemed that books were selectively chosen on their pro-Islamic and their anti-western stand. It did not matter if certain books were needed for university education; the only thing important for the Iranian Heads of Education was the fact that their students had to be protected against the so-called wicked ideas of the west.

Obviously, most people already knew that the Iranian regime never cared about unbiased academic education anyway, but the fact that the practice of censorship had increased so much in Iranian educational institutions was unheard of. Unfortunately, there are signals that more countries, under the influence of totalitarian views, have turned to censoring books and academic programs. The phenomenon that all over the world people are getting degrees after following an incompetent academic education must be stopped. Western academics have to rise up against this phenomenon.

The E.L.P.S Theory and Connectionist Approach – Comparing Two Theories on How Children Can Best Learn Mathematics

Overview
There are numerous theories about how children can best learn mathematics. I will compare two of these: the E.L.P.S. theory (1984), and the connectionist approach.

Introduction
Mathematics is widely regarded as an abstract subject (Liebeck, 1984, p.14). To help explain the sequence of abstraction that children need to forgo to truly understand a mathematical concept, Pamela Liebeck (1984, p.16) devised the E.L.P.S theory:

E – Experience with physical objects,
L – spoken Language that describes the experience,
P – pictures that represent the experience,
S – written symbols that generalise the experience.

The connectionist approach, alternately, places its emphasis on pupils making connections from one context of mathematics and, drawing upon that knowledge, applying these to the particular area of maths that they are learning.

Similarities
Experience
Both theories share similarities. Most obviously, both encourage pupils to draw upon their previous experiences when attempting to understand new concepts.

Self-Motivation and Education

Education has been around since long before any of us were even born. It is presented, taught, and learned in many different ways. For some, it is one of the most difficult tools to obtain, but backed with a strong desire to succeed and a lot of self-motivation, the possibilities are endless!
Motivation for knowledge and education comes from our parents, our peers, our teachers and professors. It can also come from the internet, television, books and magazines. We see or hear something that sparks an interest and we want to learn more about it. However, on the flipside there are those of us who don’t have much desire or motivation to learn at all. We simply go through the steps because we are made to. No matter which type of person you may be, the type with the desire to learn or the one without, we all want to learn more about something. Maybe a car that you saw driving down the highway, an actor or actress from your favorite film, or maybe even something a bit more useful like furthering your education. Whatever the case may be we are always learning something, even when we’re not trying to.

The Use of iPads in College

Most students entering college understand today's technologies through everyday use. They are often referred to as the Net Generation and digital natives (Gawelete, Spataro, Komarny 28). Colleges are changing to a more mobile way of teaching, and Apples iPad has changed the way we learn. The use of an iPad increases learning in a college environment with making data more accessible, cutting cost of school supplies, and offers a more interactive way of learning.

In August 2010, Oklahoma State University and Arizona State University conducted a pilot program where they replaced printed handouts and readings with the iPad. The students felt that it had a positive impact on learning, and believe it will be a better replacement for printed course materials. Students at Oklahoma State University were able to purchase two digital text books for the price of a single printed text book (“Schools” 60). The iPad could lead to cost savings for the school with less use of paper, and decrease cost for students with the use of e-texts and digital textbooks, and learn in a more interactive way.

Dropping Out of School: The Influences of Teachers, Families and Friends

The choice should be easy: finish high school, go to college, get a great job, and lead a better life than their parents. This should be the easiest decision for a student to make. And yet, for so many, even finishing high school poses too difficult a challenge. These students, even knowing that life has little to offer without a high school education, choose the hard road of struggle and strife when they choose to drop out of school and make their way without that high school diploma. This decision to drop out is many times the result of teachers who offer a detrimental education, families who need their children at home, and peers who offer the wrong kind of support.

Do Students in China Spend too Much Time and Energy Attempting to Achieve High Grades?

One of the definitions of education is the imparting of culture from generation to generation. it is true that a Chinese student of our time faces the problem of spending too much time and energy attempting to achieve high grades. The endless testing and the great quantity of homework become the characteristics of China's education. More and more people believe that China should reform its education system so that it allows the future generations to be competitive in the fast-pace(d) world. The system needs to change so that it does not solely focus on standardized tests and routine homework. Instead the system should mainly support EQ testing and hands on learning.

Paper on What Makes a Good School - Staff, Student and Parents at the Aspiration School Celebrating Their Recent OFSTED Report

The staff, student and parents at the aspiration school celebrated their recent OFSTED report, with tea and cakes in the school hall on Friday the 25th November. Ofsted reported the school to be a much more effective school than it was 2 years ago. Through a determined and purposeful leadership and management the school is now effectively promoting good behaviour and positive attitudes and relationships. It is beginning to see the benefit of this approach in the standards achieved by students. Improved teaching has led to better attitudes and higher achievement.

The Ofsted report went on to describe what the school was now doing well:
Students’ attitudes to learning are good and standards are improving, assessment data are used well to identify priorities and meet students’ needs. Provision for social and educational inclusion is good.

The Theory of Experiential Learning

For a long time, a great number of educators have devoted themselves to improving teaching methods in order to encourage students to learn actively. However, the teacher-centered education system impedes the ability of educators to achieve this goal (Wurdinger & Carlson, 2010). According to Wurdinger et al (2010), students who lack the freedom to express their ideas are bored by listening to teachers all the time. In contrast, students are happy when they are able to actively engage in their learning. The theory of experiential learning emerged in order to address the negative effects of teacher-centered education and passive students learning. Experiential learning theory also aims to help students deal with flexible life situations by equipping them with a range of abilities, rather than concentrating solely on the learning of academic knowledge (McClure, Cook and Thompson, 1977).

This essay will firstly explain Experiential Learning Theory (ELT); it will then provide several applications of ELT; and finally, it will indicate the significant contributions which ELT makes to the teaching and learning process.

Types of Differentiated Instruction

According to Tomlinson & Kalbfleisch (1998) differentiated classrooms are "responsive to students’ varying readiness levels, varying interests, and varying learning profiles” (p. 54). Teachers focus on differentiating instruction to help motivate and interest students in learning. In the article DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION: INCLUSIVE STRATEGIES FOR STANDARDS-BASED LEARNING THAT BENEFIT THE WHOLE CLASS looked at a strategy that was used to help students with special needs and regular students achieve higher.
Types of differentiated instruction

Let us be clear on something: there are, without a doubt a significant amount of bright people in the world; people who perhaps may be considered smarter than a teacher. However, I firmly believe that a person cannot be a teacher simply because he or she is a bright person. Having knowledge of a Subject Matter is important, but knowing the art of imparting that knowledge is imperative, almost indispensable to a teacher.
An essential aspect of the art of imparting knowledge is the teacher’s ability to get to know her students; consequently, she develops a professional relationship with them. This knowledge is important for the development of the teacher-student rapport. The connection between student and teacher is the key to the students’ success. When a teacher knows her students, when she knows their likes, dislikes, what motivates them, what turns them off, etc., a teacher finds a way to extract talent from the students. This is exactly the situation with the Sports PowerPoint Presentation students in my A.P. Spanish Language class were assigned to create.

The Impact of Positive Behavior Strategies in Promoting Positive Behavior in Kindergarten Students

Introduction

Learning a Second Language at an Early Age

The knowledge acquisition of a foreign language is a prerequisite nowadays in the modern society, therefore, it is suitable to present the language to a child at an age that he/she is more susceptible to acquire new knowledge naturally. Being bilingual has numerous positive factors for an individual. Researches show that children who learn two languages develop skills to construct positive influences on their educational process.

After the age of three, the child’s perception enlarge, so, he/she is ready to learn more and get many stimulus, among them, learning a second language. Researchers in neurology say that the childhood is the perfect period for a second language acquisition. Every child between the age of zero and twelve who is being exposed to real situation where there is human interaction, will acquire more naturally everything in this environment, especially the language, which is the more developed skill during this period.

California Teaching Performance Assessment

As of 1998 California required for all teacher candidates attending a teacher preparation program in California to pass a Teaching Performance Assessment also known as a TPA. The assessment gives future teachers an opportunity to develop, refine, and demonstrate their teaching knowledge, skills and abilities (CalTPA handbook, 2009). The assessment is aligned with the state content standards and with the state frameworks. The assessment consists of four performance tasks, subject-specific pedagogy, designing instruction, assessing learning, and culminating teaching experience. All four tasks will allow a person to demonstrate knowledge in implementing assessment activities and appropriate subject-specific instruction. The four performance task are then measured and scored by trained assessors with rubrics that describe the levels of performance relative to each task/activity.

The Implementation Process for California Teacher Candidates

Mini Case Study

Clinical Observation Log
Noah is a 6 ½ year-old boy in Barbara Parker’s 1st grade class. According to Ms. Parker, Noah performs in the “middle” reading ability group. She indicated that Noah would probably be a good candidate for this case study.Over the course of eight two-hour visits (between September 23rd and October 28th), I was able to observe Noah in a Literacy class setting. Since Noah seemed unaware that I was paying special attention to him during my visits, I was able to inconspicuously observe him in his natural environment.

Disposition
During the whole group Literacy instruction time (i.e. as students sat on the carpet, and Ms. Parker taught Literacy to all of them simultaneously), Noah often looked tired, bored, and/or distracted. When he yawned and wiggled in his seat sometimes, it seemed like he was having a difficult time focusing on the lesson.

Making Words (Includes examples and tips)

The Strategy

“Making Words” is an innovative word-building activity introduced by Pat and Jim Cunningham. The objective is for children to create various words from a given set of letters, which make up the “secret” word. After making 15-20 words, the teacher and children sort the words based on patterns and rhymes. This phonics strategy is a multilevel, hands-on approach to teaching phonics and spelling.

Adhering to the basic principles of the constructivist paradigm, “Making Words” allows students to “do the work of the learning.” Throughout the lesson, students use concrete manipulatives in order to learn about and create various words. Each student is given his/her own miniature pocket chart, as well as cards with individual letters written on them. This allows students to physically hold and actively manipulate letters in their pocket charts. The consonants and vowels are written on different colored cards, which is primarily to emphasize the distinction.

Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers - Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont in the New South

Since I am not a native North Carolinian, I found the “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” exhibition to be so enlightening. Before visiting the Levine Museum of the New South, I was not very knowledgeable about Charlotte’s post-Civil War history. My desire is to teach 1st grade someday. The museum tour guide mentioned that the “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” exhibition was created for an 8th grade level, although 1st graders could still greatly benefit from visiting the museum. I agree that some of the content is too mature and complex for younger grade levels. However, because of the hands-on nature of the exhibit, I feel it would still be a valuable experience to take a 1st grade class to the Levine Museum.

Differentiated Literacy Instruction for Gifted Readers - Assessing, Modifying, and Integrating Literacy Instruction

Identifying Characteristics of Gifted Readers

The first step to effectively differentiate instruction for young, gifted readers is to properly identify these students. Early identification and intervention are essential to the growth and development of high ability readers. To identify gifted readers, teachers should obtain qualitative data, through careful observations, rather than to rely solely on standardized tests. The process of determining the reading talents of students is a long-term process, in which parents, teachers, and the students themselves work together to develop their talents (Feldhusen, 2001). Vosslamber (2002) emphasizes that identification is a vital aspect of serving the gifted child, but not an end in itself. “The main purpose of identification is not so we can label children, but so we can effectively match children to appropriate learning tasks—both in the pace of learning and the level at which tasks are set” (Vosslamber, 2002, 17).

Clinical Journal - Literacy Observations

Ms. Parker / 1st Grade / Olde Providence Elementary / 8 + hours

In celebration of the 100th day of school, Ms. Parker wore a self-decorated sweatshirt, which she called the “Walking Word Wall.” She used colored paints to write 100 different words all over her shirt. Students enjoyed reading many high-frequency words, familiar words from her shirt.
Writer’s Workshop

Ms. Parker gave the class a writing assignment related to the 100th day of school. She asked the students to write about what they would do if they were given $100, and why they would choose to use the money that way. The teacher reviewed the “Writer’s Workshop Checklist” with the students before they began writing. The students were meant to keep the following elements in mind as they wrote:
Writer’s Workshop Checklist
C - Capital Letters
O - Overall Appearance
P - Punctuation (?, !, . , ‘ )
S - Sequence (Beginning, Middle, End)

Special Education and NCLB

Chapter 1

Introduction