Education

The classroom climate is the foundation of positive learning experiences. An effective teacher designs a classroom with the intent to communicate procedures, provide support for individualized learning needs, display learning objectives publicly, and establish a vision for learning. The transparent classroom environment will positively affect learning outcomes. For this assignment, review the case study about Mr. Roberts classroom environment. Mr. Roberts is a fourth grade teacher. He has been teaching in the same school, in the same grade, and in the same classroom for 12 years. His greatest achievement is establishing a flexible classroom environment heavily aligned to individualized learning. At first glance in Mr. Roberts classroom, there are stations designed for student collaboration, flex seating encouraging student comfort and independence, and a table in the back of the classroom labeled “Mr. Roberts one-on-one time.” During his one-on-one time with students, he seeks to establish a positive learning experience through collaboration, goal setting to improve performance, and encouragement to improve confidence in the learning process. The smartboard at the front of the classroom displays learning objectives, schedules, instruction necessities, and an outline to support individual student needs during learning. When students enter the classroom, they hang up their backpacks/jackets on hooks along the back wall. Students find their desk and look to the whiteboard, where Mr. Roberts has bell work. He varies the question: sometimes he writes a word problem, sometimes a writing prompt. When students are about to transition from one activity to another, Mr. Roberts plays the song “Here Comes the Sun,” and students know that they need to be finished with their activity, papers handed in, and eyes on the teacher by the time the song ends. Mr. Roberts chooses two students at the beginning of the day to pass out/collect materials, another student to hold the door, and another to lead the line to specials. Design a visual or graphic organizer identifying procedures that support student engagement and independence in Mr. Roberts’ classroom environment. The visual or graphic organizer should represent one of the procedures Mr. Roberts has established in his classroom. In addition, provide any additional procedures you feel Mr. Roberts’ classroom may benefit from. It should reflect characteristics of the classroom environment supporting self-regulated learning and collaboration among students.   In addition to the visual representation, include a 250-500 word summary to explain the following: How is Mr. Roberts classroom environment designed for self-regulated learning and independent learners? What are best practices for communicating learning objectives to students?  How does a positive environment support self-regulated learning and student development?  How does studying this type of environment prepare you for the design of your future classroom?

STEM and the importance of it in early childhood education. The student will highlight ways in which technology is included in early science, math, and social sciences. The student will research a minimum of 3 peer reviewed articles to support findings.

Understanding the various components of organizational development can provide important insights into how to best develop and operate schools and school districts, as well as how to work with teachers, students, parents, and other community stakeholders effectively. Utilizing the assigned readings for the course as well as additional applicable scholarly sources, complete Parts I through III of the assignment below: Part I: Organizational Development Theories Describe and differentiate between the following organizational development theories: Bureaucratic Theory Human Resources Theory Scientific Management Theory Classical Organizational Theory Within your discussion, incorporate MacGregor’s leadership philosophy of Theory X and Y. As an educational leader, defend the use of one or a combination of these organizational development theories to develop a theoretical foundation for an effectively performing school or school district. Length: 3-4 pages, not including title and reference pages References: Minimum of 2 scholarly resources Part II: Organizational Structure Movements As an educational leader, defend how you would structure your school or school district utilizing the human relations and/or organizational theory movements of organizational structure to facilitate staff performance. Length: 2-3 pages, not including title and reference pages References: Minimum of 2 scholarly resources Part III: Vision and Mission As an educational leader, defend how you would utilize your school or school district’s vision and mission to support staff performance. Length: 1 page, not including title and reference pages References: Minimum of 2 scholarly resources

The purpose of these reflections is to engage principal candidates in the best practice of considering blind spots in their development and to identify areas of opportunity. Ask your principal mentor for guidance with areas of opportunity. Start the conversation by addressing opportunities that can be self-assessed . Principal candidates have greater success if areas of opportunity are already identified and the conversation can shift to how those areas will be supported throughout the internship. Write a 250-300 word reflective summary of your internship experiences this week, connecting your experiences to ELCC standards (e.g., “this week I was able to lead our school’s committee on updating our mission and vision statements. This process connects with ELCC standard one…”). Address the following in your reflection: A significant and memorable leadership experience, explaining the influence on your future practice as a school leader. Areas of leadership you will focus on next week and how you intend to apply them in your internship.

1) 5 to 7 double-spaced, APA formatted pages inclusive of in-text citations 2) Title Page and a References Page are separate 3) Use no fewer than three resources; one must be a resource you identify that is not referenced in the course. Objective: Apply fundamental theories and concepts by focusing on one key aspect of early childhood education. NAEYC Standards: 2a, 4a, 4b, 5b, 6d  Provide background information (e.g., who started it? What was the time period? Where did it begin?) 3) Describe central concepts of the model. (5b) 4) Explain the value and role of positive relationships and supportive interactions as the foundation of the model’s support of young children. (4a) 5) Demonstrate how the model addresses intentional teaching, curriculum, instruction, and assessment for today’s young children. What are the effective strategies and tools for early education? If appropriate and/or relevant, include appropriate uses of technology. (4b) 6) Explain the roles of the parent, family and community (e.g., parents as teachers, family engagement, community partners). (2a) 7) Cite and discuss research that demonstrates the effectiveness of the model.

Why is US public education so expensive compared to Finland yet the resulting scores of students aren’t as high?? 1. Identify the problem (US public school is very expensive and students underachieve) 2. Compare different school systems globally (Finland?). 3. Identifies theories that support the identified problem (Why is US public school so expensive, where are the inefficiencies?) 4. Articulate best practices and propose solutions to the issue presented (How can this be changed?). This paper should be written in a formal, professional manner, with a clear thesis, statistical support, and native English speaking voice. A minimum of three scholarly sources is required with APA formatting (attached is one source that must be used). The paper should be at least 7 pages. 1) Paragraph 1 – Written in a professional tone and not in first person (e.g. no “I, we, our” statements). The paragraph immediately hooks the reader and begins framing the paper and the argument. It is perfectly acceptable to use statements such as “The purpose of this paper will be to….” 2) Paragraph 2 – Once the purpose has been expressed in paragraph one (1), paragraph two (2) can discuss how the significance of the purpose…e.g. “The significance of this problem expands beyond the classroom in that….” 3) Paragraph 3 – Paragraph three (3) can revolve around HOW you will frame your argument. E.g. after you have identified a problem and why it is significant, what data or examples will you use to prove your point and how will you conclude the paper? The paragraph might start with “The significant of “x” problem, as discussed previously, has broad application to American daily life. These points will be supported through the following points…” The paragraph may end with, “The essay will conclude with a summary of the thesis of this essay, a brief review of the significance and closing comments…” This paper should be written in a formal, professional manner, with a clear thesis, statistical support and clear academic voice. A minimal of three scholarly sources is required with appropriate APA formatting method.

Read Obama’s speech here: A More Perfect Union  (Links to an external site.) . 2. Consider the key themes of self-reliance, race, identity, and education that Obama, Du Bois, and Washington discuss.  Choose ONE of the following prompts and use it to write a 700-900 word essay addressing three of those themes. Here are the prompts: THESIS STATEMENT ONE:  Barack Obama’s views are closely related to Booker T. Washington’s ideas (in terms of self-reliance, race, identity, education, other–choose only 3). THESIS STATEMENT TWO:  Barack Obama’s views are closely related to W. E. B. Du Bois’ ideas (in terms of self-reliance, race, identity, education, other–choose only 3) .  Be sure to use quotes from Obama’s speech—as well as from Washington and Du Bois—to support your perspective. Do not simply give your overall impression of Obama’s presidency; I encourage you to remain focused on the ideas in this speech.    Also, refrain from discussing the biographies of these men; you should be focused on their ideas in your essay.   CITATION: Please cite in MLA format  (Links to an external site.).

Many of you would argue that you value diversity and see a lot of this as someone else’s problem because it is not your truth. I want to challenge you all to think about how you can help be a voice for those that do not have one, or to be the change.    Reflect on an opportunity to speak up and be a change agent that you didn’t. I want you to dissect the situation for us, to tell us about the power dynamics that you felt were at play in that moment that prevented you from speaking up. Next, I want you to talk about what you could have done in the moment were you given another opportunity.  2. Think about a friend, family member or acquaintance you have that makes racist/xenophobic/homophobic/islamophobic etc. comments and jokes. Talk about how those statements make you feel, and what steps you are going to take to confront them about their biases.

Applied Article Analysis Instructions Choose 1 applied (program evaluation or action research) article and compose a 3-page review (not including the reference page in the count). Your review must include 2 sections: (1) a summary of the article, and (2) a critical analysis of the article.  Because applied research could be either quantitative or qualitative in nature, you must be able to distinguish the correct characteristics in order to include the correct components. All articles must be of studies conducted and published in the United States or Canada within the past 5 years. Your summary must include: Identify whether article is more quanitative or qualitative in nature and/or if program evaluation or action research, if applicable. The purpose of the study; A description of participants/sample/setting; The research design  Quantitative analysis (experimental, quasi-experimental, correlational, regression, etc.)  AND/OR Qualitative analysis (narrative, grounded theory, case study, phenomenology, ethnography, etc.) The method of data collection  Quantitative (survey, test, questionnaire, etc.)  AND/OR Qualitative (questionnaire, document analysis, observation, open-ended or structured interview, etc.) Analysis Quantitative:  A statistical analysis (t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), chi square, Pearson product moment correlation, Spearman rho, etc.); AND/OR Qualitative:  Inductive/deductive approach, point of focus, summaries, memoing, indexing, coding, grouping, themes, order of analysis, type of analysis (content, narrative, discourse, framework, grounded theory) The results. Your analysis must include: Opportunities for further research not already stated in the article, Threats Quantitative: to validity or rival hypotheses not already discussed  AND/OR Qualitative:  credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability Other original insight or criticism, and Implications of the findings. See your textbook if you need more help evaluating your article.  Please remember to include a reference page.  All citations and references must be in current APA.

: Answer these questions: (You will need to choose a test to compare the means ie. t-test, ANOVA, etc.) Please answer these questions in paragraph form. Do not bullet your responses. You will not get credit for this section unless you identify the test used to compare the means. Do all students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all students taught by the standards-based method used my Ms. Smith and Walter? Do Caucasian students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all Caucasian students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do Asian students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all Asian students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do African-American students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all African-American students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do Hispanic students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all Hispanic students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do female students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all female students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do male students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all male students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do low SES, socio-economic status, (free) students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all low SES (free) students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do higher SES (paid) students taught by the traditional method used by Ms. Rutger do significantly better than all higher SES (paid) students taught by the standards-based method used my Mss. Smith and Walter combined? Do African-American students taught by Ms. Smith perform significantly better than all African-American students taught by Ms. Walter and Rutger individually? Do Hispanic students taught by Ms. Walter perform significantly better than all Hispanic students taught by Mss. Smith and Rutger individually? Do Caucasian students taught by Ms. Rutger perform significantly better than all Caucasian students taught by Mss. Smith and Walter individually? Do Asian students taught by Ms. Rutger perform significantly better than Asian students taught by Mss. Smith and Walter individually? Explain, based upon the analysis of the data and review of the readings, which method of math instruction you would recommend for your junior high school when considering factors such as socioeconomic background, ethnicity, and/or gender. [ELCC 2.2- Candidates demonstrate the ability to make recommendations regarding the design, implementation, and evaluation of a curriculum that fully accommodates learners’ diverse needs.] Based on the analysis of the data, should students be grouped by ethnicity for instructional purposes? By gender? By socioeconomic background? What ethical and/or legal questions might be raised by Ms. Rutger’s suggestion to group students by ethnicity and/or ability? [ELCC 5.3 – Candidates make and explain decisions based upon ethical and legal principles.] Write a summary brief (similar to a closing argument in a court case) explaining why you feel your recommendation(s) should be followed. [ELCC 6.3 – Candidates advocate for policies and programs that promote equitable learning opportunities and success for all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, ethnicity, gender, disability, or other individual characteristics.]