Table of Contents
(W) indicates a feature found exclusively on the FlexChoice Website.)
I. THE TEACHING PROFESSION.
1. Teaching: Your Chosen Profession.
Why Do You Want to Teach?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Should psychological assessments be used to identify students who should not become teachers?
(W) Professional Reflection: Assessing Your Reasons for Choosing to Teach.
What Are the Challenges of Teaching?
(W) Technology Highlights: Will I Be Prepared to Teach in a Digital Age?
What Is Teaching Really Like?
What Does Society Expect of Teachers?
How Do Good Teachers View Their Work?
(W) Keepers of the Dream: Caroline Bitterwolf: National Board Certified Teacher.
2. Learning to Teach.
What Essential Knowledge Do You Need to Teach?
(W) Professional Reflection: Inventorying Your Knowledge of Children and Youth.
(W) Where Do You Stand? Which type of knowledge do teachers need more-subject-matter or professional knowledge?
What Are Five Ways of Viewing the Teacher Knowledge Base?
(W) Technology Highlights: What Technology-Related Knowledge and Skills Do Teachers Need?
How Do Reforms in Teacher Education Affect You?
What Can You Learn from Observing in Classrooms?
(W) Case to Consider: Ruth's Dilemma.
How Can You Gain Practical Experience for Becoming a Teacher?
How Can You Develop Your Teaching Portfolio?
How Can You Benefit from Mentoring Relationships?
What Opportunities for Continuing Professional Development Will You Have?
(W) Appendix 2.1: Florida Performance Measurement System Screening/Summative Observation Instrument.
(W) Appendix 2.2: Models of Professional Standards: Kentucky's New Teacher Standards.
(W) Appendix 2.3: Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium Standards.
(W) Appendix 2.4: Sample NBPTS Portfolio Exercise-Early Childhood/Generalist.
II. INFLUENCES ON PROFESSIONAL LIVES OF TEACHERS.
3. Ideas and Events That Have Shaped Education in the United States.
(W) Technology Highlights: How Can the World Wide Web Enhance Your Study of and Interest in the Philosophy and History of Education?
What Determines Your Educational Philosophy?
What Are the Branches of Philosophy?
What Are Five Modern Philosophical Orientations to Teaching?
What Psychological Orientations Have Influenced Teaching Philosophies?
How Can You Develop Your Educational Philosophy?
What Were Teaching and Schools Like in the American Colonies (1620- 1750)?
What Were the Goals of Education During the Revolutionary Period (1750-1820)?
How Was the Struggle Won for State-Supported Common Schools (1820-1865)?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Should school attendance beyond the elementary level become voluntary?
How Did Compulsory Education Change the Schools and the Teaching Profession (1865-1920)?
(W) Professional Reflection: Reflecting on Changes in the Image of Teachers.
What Were the Aims of Education During the Progressive Era (1920- 1945)?
How Did Education Change during the Modern Postwar Era (1945-2000)?
(W) Keepers of the Dream: Marian Wright Edelman: Founder of Children's Defense Fund.
4. Social Realities Confronting Today's Schools.
What Are the Aims of Education Today?
How Can Schools Be Described?
What Are Schools Like as Social Institutions?
(W) Technology Highlights: Do Students in Urban Schools Have Equal Access to Up-to-Date Technologies?
What Characteristics Distinguish Successful Schools?
What Social Problems Affect Schools and Place Students at Risk?
(W) Case to Consider: Pharoah's Perspective.
(W) Where Do You Stand? Should metal detectors be installed in schools?
(W) Professional Reflection: Identifying the Factors Behind Youth Violence.
What Are Schools Doing to Address Societal Problems?
(W) Appendix 4.1: School Safety Checklist.
(W) Appendix 4.2: Selected Resources for meeting Needs of Students Placed at Risk.
5. Struggles for Control of Schools in the United States.
Who Is Involved in the Struggles for Control of Schools in the United States?
What Is the Role of the Local Community in School Governance?
(W) Keepers of the Dream: Marcia McVey: School District Superintendent.
What Powers and Influence Do States Have in Governing Schools?
What Assistance Do Regional Educational Agencies Provide?
How Does the Federal Government Influence Education?
(W) Technology Highlights: How Should Federal Revenues Be Distributed to the States for the Purchase of Educational Technology?
(W) Professional Reflection: Examining the Tension Between Federal and State Roles in Education.
How Are Schools Financed in the United States?
What Are Some Trends in Funding for Equity and Excellence?
(W) Where Do You Stand? School vouchers: Pro or con?
(W) Appendix 5.1: Guidelines for Teachers to Think and Act Politically.
(W) Appendix 5.2: Typical Organizational Structure for a Medium-Sized School District.
6. Ethical and Legal Issues in Education in the United States.
Why Do You Need a Professional Code of Ethics?
(W) Case to Consider: Lisa's Ethical Challenge.
What Are Your Legal Rights as a Teacher?
(W) Professional Reflection: Evaluating Statements About Academic Freedom.
Do Student Teachers Have the Same Rights?
What Are Your Legal Responsibilities as a Teacher?
(W) Technology Highlights: What Ethical and Legal Issues Will You Face Regarding the Use of Computer Software?
What Are the Legal Rights of Students and Parents?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Should schools require students to wear uniforms?
What Are Some Issues in the Legal Rights of School Districts?
(W) Appendix 6.1: NEA Code of Ethics
(W) Appendix 6.2: Teaching Aids for Beginning Teachers.
III. The Art of Teaching.
7. Teaching Diverse Learners.
How Is Diversity Embedded in the Culture of the United States?
(W) Professional Reflection: Reflecting on Your Cultural Identity.
What Does Equal Educational Opportunity Mean?
What Is Meant by Bilingual Education?
What Is Multicultural Education?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Is multicultural education unifying or divisive?
(W) Keepers of the Dream: Peter White: Opportunity Creator.
How Is Gender a Dimension of Multicultural Education?
(W) Technology Highlights: Does Gender Equity Exist in the Use of Educational Technology?
(W) Appendix 7.1: Can You Recognize Racism?
8. Addressing Learners' Individual Needs.
How Do Students' Needs Change as They Develop?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Is character education an effective way to improve society?
How Do Students Vary in Intelligence?
(W) Professional Reflection: Identifying Your Learning Style Preferences.
How Do Students Vary in Ability and Disability?
What Are Special Education, Mainstreaming, and Inclusion?
(W) Case to Consider: Help! Tell Me About This Kid!
How Can You Teach All Learners in Your Inclusive Classroom?
(W) Technology Highlights: How Can Word Prediction Software Enhance the Writing Abilities of Students with Disabilities.
(W) Appendix 8.1: A Sample Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
(W) Appendix 8.2: Example of Instructional Strategies for Teaching All Learners.
9. Creating a Community of Learners.
What Determines the Culture of the Classroom?
How Can You Create a Positive Learning Environment?
(W) Keepers of the Dream: Nel Noddings: Leader in the Challenge to Care.
(W) Professional Reflection: How Do Low- and High-Authentic Pedagogy Differ?
What Are the Keys to Successful Classroom Management?
What Teaching Methods Do Effective Teachers Use?
What Are Some Characteristics of Effective Teachers?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Should the use of standardized testing be increased?
(W) Technology Highlights: How Do Effective Teachers Use Technology to Enhance Their Instruction?
10. Developing and Implementing the Curriculum.
What Is Taught in Schools?
(W) Professional Reflection: Identifying Kinds of Curriculum.
How Is the School Curriculum Developed?
(W) Case to Consider: Ms. Hyman's ESL Writing Lesson.
What Reform Efforts Have Affected the Curriculum?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Is raising national educational standards an effective way to improve education?
What Are Some Current Subject-Area Trends?
(W) Technology Highlights: How Can Educational Software Change the Roles of Teachers and Students?
(W) Appendix 10.1: Selected Subject-Area References for Curriculum Planning.
11. Teaching with Technology.
How Are Educational Technologies Influencing Schools?
(W) Professional Reflection: How Technically Proficient Are You?
What Technologies Are Available for Teaching?
(W) Keepers of the Dream: Kristi Rennebohm Franz: Technology and Multicultural Teacher.
(W) Technology Highlights: Can the Internet Enhance Home-School Communication and Parental Involvement?
How Do Teachers Use Computers and the Internet?
What Are the Effects of Computer Technology on Learning?
Should Technology Be at the Forefront of Efforts to Improve Schools in the U. S.?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Is the use of technology in schools overemphasized?
What Barriers Limit the Integration of Technology into Schools?
(W) Appendix 11.1: The CEO Forum on Education and Technology's StaR.
Assessment of a School's. Effectiveness at Integrating Technology into the Teaching and Learning Process.
(W) Appendix 11.2: Criteria for Evaluating Software Programs.
IV. YOUR TEACHING FUTURE.
12. Teachers as Educational Leaders.
To What Extent is Teaching a Full Profession?
What Is Professionalism in Teaching?
(W) Case to Consider: Martha's Leadership.
To What Professional Organizations Do Teachers Belong?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Do teachers' unions have a positive effect on education?
What New Leadership Roles for Teachers are Emerging?
(W) Technology Highlights: How Are Teachers Playing a Leadership Role in the Development and Dissemination of Multimedia Software?
(W) Professional Reflection: Working with Principals.
How Do Teachers Contribute to Educational Research?
How Are Teachers Providing Leadership for School Restructuring and Curriculum Reform?
(W) Appendix 12.1: Sampler of Professional Organizations for Teachers.
(W) Appendix 12.1: Selected Education Journals.
(W) Appendix 12.3: Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) Clearinghouses.
(W) Appendix 12.4: Selected National Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) Centers.
13. Your First Teaching Position.
How Will You Become Certified or Licensed to Teach?
Where Will You Teach?
How Will You Find Your First Teaching Job?
(W) Technology Highlights: How Can You Create an Electronic Professional Portfolio?
(W) Professional Reflection: What Elements Are Essential for Your Job Satisfaction?
What Can You Expect as a Beginning Teacher?
How Can You Become Part of Your Learning Community?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Should teachers be required to make home visits?
How Can You Participate in Teacher Collaboration?
How Will Your Performance as a Teacher be Evaluated?
(W) Keepers of the Dream: Mary Lynn Peacher: The Teacher with Heart.
(W) Appendix 13.1: Directory of State Teacher Certification Offices in the United States.
(W) Appendix 13.2: Parties to the Interstate Certification Agreement Contract.
(W) Appendix 13.3: Job Search Timetable Checklist.
(W) Appendix 13.4: Resume Advice for Educators.
(W) Appendix 13.5: Sample Interview Questions for Candidates to Ask.
(W) Appendix 13.6: Critical Information to Know About School Districts.
14. Education Issues for the 21st Century.
What Knowledge and Skills Will Prepare Students for a Global Information Age?
How Can Schools and Teachers Provide an Outstanding Education for All Learners?
(W) Case to Consider: A Favorite School.
How Can Community-Based Partnerships Address Social Problems That Hinder Students' Learning?
How Will the Privatization Movement Affect Equity and Excellence in Education?
(W) Where Do You Stand? Is privatization an effective way to improve education in the United States?
What Can Teachers and Schools Learn from International Education?
(W) Technology Highlights: How Does the U. S. Compare to Other Countries Regarding the Importance of Information Technology in the Curriculum?
What Is Our Vision for the Future of Education?
(W) Professional Reflection: What Does the Future Hold for Education in Your State?