Research shows that teachers need to vary the methods of instruction. This week reflect upon the following questions to determine the quality of your cooperating teacher’s instruction.
Does the teacher:
• Rely too heavily on “tell” forms of instruction?
• Include “show” methods of instruction to demonstrate the meanings of the material being taught?
• Include “do” activities where students apply, or learn, the skills of the lesson?
• Vary instructional methods to ensure meeting the needs of all students?
Don't forget to bring all of your practicum documents and anything else that you still need to turn in next week.
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The teacher I observed varied her instruction to meet the needs of all her students. She used tell, show, and do. Each lesson varied in the use of these instructions, but she pretty much used them all the time. Although some students were still distracted by the other classes going on.
ReplyDeleteI saw many teachers during my observation and all of them relied entirely on telling forms of teaching. this method is great for me i like lectures but some students would much rather be shown or use more visual learning methods.
ReplyDeleteRebecca,
ReplyDeletei like that you gor to observe teachers who teach using other methods it will help some students who don't like to listen but to see and do things to learn.
My teacher and other teachers around use all three. These students like the ideas of using props when learning a new word or putting a sentence together. The students always like when new material is used because they learn better. One day outside at recess, one student saw a bunny run across the parking lot and screamed "bunny, that was last weeks (easter week) animal! It's amazing how kids can learn through objects.
ReplyDeleteDerald,
ReplyDeleteI don't know what grade you are observing but, I do agree that telling forms are better for older students because we don't like to do group activities or projects. I would also rather sit and listen to a lecture than anything else.
Kaitlyn. I like how that weeks' animal was bunny because of the fact that a student called out "bunny" when it ran across the parking lot. It also helps that it was near Easter. I like how the teacher incooporated that into learning,
ReplyDeleteMy host teacher, uses all three as well. I like the fact that she reads the instructions to the assignment before the lesson is taught. This helps the students to recognize what they are being taught in that lesson.
ReplyDeletewhen i was watching my host teacher she always did the tell method, although my teacher was a aqautics teacher so there isnt a whole lot you can do with visuals and stuff. but the more i think about it she did have posters and stuff with the different stokes pictured and if someone was not doing something right she would stand at the edge and do the motions with her arms of how to do it correctly so i guess she did both visual and tell.
ReplyDeletedear courtney
ReplyDeletei respect the fact that your teacher used all three methods but i wonder what she would do if she was limited to only one or two
When I was with my host teacher she was always using all three, but when working with art in an elementary school it is not like working with a high school kid where you can put a still life in front of them and expect them to figure out what to do.
ReplyDeleteDear Eric
ReplyDeleteYou said to Courtney what if her teacher only had one or two of the methods to work with, but what if your teacher was expected to use all three? Do you think that she could have done it correctly?
Eric,
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't the teacher get in the pool and show the students exactly how to do the different strokes? That would give the students the visual and then the actual do is when they get in the pool and do the stroke themselves.
I think my teacher relied too heavily on paper worksheets, instead of doing inclass activities. Really the only activity they did was for religion. I also think that there could have been more assignments that were more tailored to students needs. Again, she just went by the book for handouts and explinations.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn,
ReplyDeleteThats really great that your teacher used all three methods, it really helps the students learn, especially at such a young age.
My teacher used all three types of teaching. They did tons of activities. The only time my teacher really used worksheets was for the morning review. They did have worksheets for math, but it was interactive. She would ask for volunteers to come to the overhead and solve the problem. She was a very well rounded teacher and it showed in the students attitudes during class.
ReplyDeleteJaclyn,
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad that you had to observe a classroom that did a lot of worksheets! It's very hard to interact with the students when the teacher constantly has them doing worksheets. She should definitely apply more interactive activities into her curriculum.
My host teacher used all 3 methods. The students had a lot of math worksheets to do but, the teacher also would use the over head projector to go over it with them as a whole. Each students also had a dry earse board that they would use to play math games with or use them instead of paper. My host teacher said that they are overwelmed by worksheets but, thats how the curriculum is for them. She does not like to use them as much as does as much as she can without the worksheets.
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteMy host teacher and Your Host teacher sound alot alike. It really did show in the students work and how far them have came from the fall. Being a well round teacher and able to go with the flow of things helps everyone to become more relaxed and noone is getting stressed out over silly stuff.
I insist, my host teacher is an amazing person and teacher. She would balance on her instructions of "tell", "show", "do". There was once where they had their normal science class and were taught how to measure the weight of objects. She first explained verbally how to do it and then showed them with a box she used as an example. After she did that, she divided the students into groups and let them do it by themselves. Her instructions meet the needs of all the students, there is no doubt about that.
ReplyDeleteJaclyn, it is sad how there are teachers out there who try to go through the day without actually doing what they are supposed to be good at: teaching. I remember i had a teacher who would only give us worksheets and it was the most difficult class for me. However, when she wouldn't go to school we had a sub teacher and she would do activities and i realized the class wasnt so hard after all.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher didnt focus on all tell instructions, but I did observe some teachers who did. Those teachers had almost no effect or control on their class and students. My homeroom teacher used everything for his students, he gave them problems to learn what he taught them as homework, warm up and practice before starting homework. He showed how to operate problems and then would walk around the room to helps those who needed to taught in a little more detail or those who simply needed to see it in a different way. My teacher taught me things I never completely understood when I was in high school and middle school. My teacher did his best I think he could do to meet every students needs in front of the class but also helped them individualy to be sure they understood.
ReplyDeleteCourtney,
ReplyDeleteI like that your teacher read the instructions before even teaching the lesson. I think that would help students see what they are working toward and what the goal of the day is. I think that is just brilliant.
the teachers i observed used only the telling method which doesnt really work well for hands on students like me. students often fall asleep in this class or find another way to entertain themselves while the teacher is talking. i feel like the teacher needs to mix it up more.
ReplyDeletebecca
ReplyDeletei think its important that the teacher uses as many as possible in order to fit the students needs and ensure that the information is being processed into the students mind as many ways possible. this will help the information stick and stay in their long term memory
The teacher i observed used all three different styles. It also depended on the subject she was teaching. For math she was able to do both worksheets and activities for one lesson, but for reading she mainly depended on giving worksheets to go along with the reading the class did in class. Before starting the lesson she would usually let a student read the instructions, but if the instructions were confusing or challenging she would read them.
ReplyDeleteJaclyn,
ReplyDeleteI know what is like to have a teacher who only uses worksheets in class. In high school my math teacher would only use worksheets. We never did any group projects or even little games during class. She was an older teacher and I believe that she was just set in her ways and really didnt know how to incorporate new things.