Education

Discussion Question  Identify an organization from your experience, or through research, that fits one of the models (or a hybrid) described in Designing an Effective Organization Structure. Describe the organization and why it fits that particular model(s). What are challenges specific to that organization based on its organizational structure? Identify any symptoms of an ineffective organization. What are possible solutions to address the problems you discovered? 

Please address the following prompts thoughtfully and in your own words: Review your classroom management style, policies, routines, and consequences in light of this session. Do they avoid assigning blame or guilt to students who may be demonstrating their traumatic and/or adverse childhood experiences? Was there a process of mutual agreement? What is the level of students’ sense of personal responsibility related to following classroom norms rather than a motivation of fear of punishment or seeking of extrinsic rewards?  How might you apply principles in this session to further foster a brave space for you and students, many of whom have trauma from which they are recovering, to practice needed reflection, critical inquiry, affirming of students’ complex identities, and challenging ideas and beliefs that perpetuate and/or internalize inequity? Reflecting on the videos, in the context of the written components of this session, provide at least one striking point from each video that you consider as important to informing your classroom practices and culture, specifically as it relates to meeting the needs of trauma-surviving students.

Question, Quotation, Talking Point Question -As you read the assignment, note the points at which a question come to mind about the methods or conclusions of the research. If it helps, try turning section headings around, putting them in question form. Write a thoughtful question that invites analysis, synthesis, or evaluation of the material, or makes connections between the readings and previous discussion or readings. Quotation -Select a quotation that is especially pertinent or relevant to the main points of the readings. The quotation should be neither too short (1-2 lines) nor too long (10-12 lines). Remember to put the source in parentheses after the quote (who said it, what book or article and what page). Talking Points -Write talking points that show you have thought seriously and critically about the readings. Let me “see inside your head” as you think about, accept, reject, or otherwise engage the reading material. You do not need to answer your question here, but you may talk about it if you wish. Write at least three detailed talking points, covering several different topics from the readings. If there is a library article assigned, include a TP on it.

The purpose of this assignment is to provide an opportunity for you to consider how to work with parents when conflicts, disagreements, or misunderstandings arise. Part 1: Case Analysis Respond to the case study by addressing the following: Brief summary of the case Identify the issues to be resolved Stakeholders involved in the issues One or two existing laws or court rulings that relate to the issues District policies that relate to the issues Possible solutions to the issues The solutions chosen to resolve the issues Action steps (2-5) for implementing each solution, including a timeline for each step Potential moral and legal consequences of each solution Part 2: Rationale Support the case analysis with a 250-500 word rationale  explaining the solutions you chose and how each solution: Reflects professional ethics, integrity, and fairness. Promotes social justice and ensures that individual student needs inform all aspects of schooling. Promotes collaboration, trust, learning, and high expectations. Cite the case and any other source documents as appropriate.

Statement of Commitment  Now that you have analyzed the role that professional standards and policy play in the lives of the children, families and staff in your care, it is important to model your commitment to these important ideals. By creating a statement of commitment, you not only hold yourself and your school or center accountable, but you also model to families and community members your understanding and commitment to these ideals. For your initial post: Create a statement of commitment that embodies details from your Week 2 discussions regarding professional and ethical obligations, as well as your commitment to federal laws and programs that affect your current or future career (from your first discussion this week). Your statement should be a minimum of five sentences in length and should touch on each of the following points: professional and ethical obligations, and your obligation to state and federal policy. Modify your Week 2 Wordle to include state and federal policy. Create a one-page pdf that includes your statement of commitment and your Wordle from Week 2. This commitment statement and Wordle will become your introductory slide for your summative presentation in Week 6. You may wish to create this in PowerPoint or google slides (depending on what you will be choosing for your presentation format). No matter which format you choose, you will need to attach it as a pdf to your discussion. Who’s Your Audience (Optional Discussion) Imagine you are speaking to a small group of staff members in your early childhood program. Briefly paraphrase what reciprocal relationships with families means as an early childhood educator. Have fun interacting with the course content and with your peers. This is a place for you to check your understanding of the course material while conversing with other early childhood educators. There are no minimum requirements. Enjoy the conversation!

Describe steps that can be taken to develop a healthy menu for the following groups. a) Infants b) Toddlers c) Children Be sure to mention any food safety issues needed as well as listing special menu items for diverse cultures and those children with special dietary concerns.

Read the following collection of articles. Although these articles are very different, there are common threads within them that should be relevant to us as STEM educators. After reading the articles, your task is to write a summary for each article (about 1/2 page for each summary, double-spaced, 12 point font) and then to produce an analytical synthesis (about 1 page, double-spaced, 12 point font) in which you identify one or two common threads of the articles and explain how the thread or threads is meaningful to you as a STEM educator. This will be submitted to a CourseDen assignment dropbox. Zouda, M. (2016). Deconstructing STEM: A reading through the postmodern condition. Journal for Activist Science and Technology Education, 7(1), 73-83. Dweck, C. (2008). Mindsets and math/science achievement. New York: Carnegie Corporation of New York, Institute for Advanced Study, Commission on Mathematics and Science Education. Peterson, B. (2012). Numbers count: Mathematics across the curriculum. In Editor A.A. Wager & D.W. Stinson (Eds.).  Teaching Mathematics for Social Justice: Conversations with Educators (147-160). Reston, VA: NCTM.

Je, mazingira yana umuhimu upi maishani mwetu

Students enter the classroom environment with a unique knowledge base and sense of self. The climate established is a stepping stone toward ensuring a positive, safe, and productive learning environment. This design starts with the teacher at the center of the classroom culture and relies on an awareness of the students and their individual learning needs. Allocate at least 2 hours in the field to support this field experience. You can also use a YOUTUBE video. Collaborate with your mentor teacher on meeting individual learning needs in the classroom: Ask the mentor to identify a student that would benefit from one-on-one intervention, based on that student’s prior formal and informal assessment data. (In this assignment, you are not being asked to work one-on-one with the student, only to identify a student to work with in future assignments.) Spend the remainder of time observing and collecting notes on the student’s behaviors, academic progress, and engagement in the learning environment. Retain your observation data for future field experience opportunities in this course. In 250-500 words, using the “Identifying Individual Learning Needs” template, write a summary under the chart describing the behaviors and academic level of the selected student. Explain whether your observational data supported the mentor’s assessment of areas where the student would benefit from additional instruction and intervention. Submit the “Identifying Individual Learning Needs” template with the summary.

Read Chapters 9 and 10 and review Chapters 7 and 8. URL: http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/pearson/2013/behavior-management-principles-and-practices-of-positive-behavior-supports_ebook_3e.php  Time-Out: Best Strategy or Easiest? Responding to Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom Read “Time-Out: Best Strategy or Easiest? Responding to Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom,” by Alexander, from Exchange (2015). URL: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=110021419&site=eds-live&scope=site Supporting and Responding to Behavior: Evidence-Based Classroom Strategies for Teachers Read “Supporting and Responding to Behavior: Evidence-Based Classroom Strategies for Teachers,” located on the IDEAs That Work website.URL: Instruction In 550- 600 words, write a summary about your experiences leading the whole or small group of students through an activity. The following information should be addressed in your summary: The transitions used to get students ready to begin the activity The learning objective for the activity How you assessed student learning for the objective Strategies you used to engage students in the lesson Verbal and nonverbal cues you used to redirect students and keep them engaged Any collaboration you had with paraprofessionals and volunteers What went well during the activity What you would change In addition, discuss whether or not this field experience activity affirmed your choice of grade level and setting that you may want to teach in the future and support this with examples from the experience that led you to make this conclusion. Explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.