Schedule a classroom visit (minimum of one class period) for the purpose of making an observation. Look for and make notes regarding the following.

• Classroom arrangement
• Use of technology in instruction
• Classroom procedures and rules
• Student/teacher relationship
• Motivational techniques (extrinsic and intrinsic)

Prepare a Reflection Paper regarding your observation experience.

The Classroom Observation and Reflection Paper is due in Week Four.

Make preparations for an observation experience using the University of Phoenix Material "Observation: Validating Theory in the Classroom" as a guide. Determine what kind of setting you would like to observe, and formulate goals for the observation. You are responsible for determining theories that apply to the age group observed, as well as the activities, the multicultural issues, the dress, and the interaction of conversation and physical contact that are observed. If you plan to observe a classroom situation, make arrangements to contact a principal and/or teacher of the desired grade level and arrange the on-site visitation, the time of the visitation, and the activities to be observed.

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Design a developmentally appropriate activity for a specific age group (e.g., 3-5-year-olds, middle schoolers). The activity may be related to any content area or topic. Conduct the activity with the children (consider before- and after-school programs, community center programs, etc.).

Interview and observe a teacher with respect to lesson plan development and delivery. Use the following questions as a guide.

• Are written lesson plans required?
• If so, do they have to be submitted to the principal?
• If lesson plans are not required, does the teacher write them anyway?
• How long does it take to develop a lesson plan? For the day? For the week?
• What format does the teacher use for writing them?
• What were the students' and your reactions to the lesson plan you observed being taught?

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During the interview assigned above, determine an appropriate time with the teacher that you may teach a 15-20-minute lesson to the students in his/her classroom. Using the lesson plan developed for this course, deliver the lesson to the students.

MAT 515
Instruction and Assessment of English Learners

Develop a Family Literacy Program Presentation. It can be a slide show, a PowerPoint presentation, or a video. Include a description of your Family Literacy Program. The presentation should be designed to help parents understand the program, provide staff information, and outline the program's expectations, etc. You may also include information about before- and after-school programs and anything else that makes the program special and unique.
Your first step will be to contact and observe a current family literacy program.

• Observe and interact with the families in the program. Think about how you could incorporate some of the ideas into a family literacy program for a local school and community.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Ask yourself if the program is accessible. Who does it serve: the whole family or adults?
• Does the center help minority parents increase their children's academic success and allow the parents to become more actively involved with their children's schooling?

After you have observed a program, design a program for a local school and neighboring community based on what you perceive as the "best practices" of the program that you observed. After you have created the program, you will need to develop a multimedia presentation advertising the program to parents.

Locate a site of your choice for an observation, such as a special education classroom, regular inclusive classroom, gifted and talented classroom, or private intervention agency.

• Identify and describe the client or student population
• Describe the types of services available for clients or students
• Identify the funding agency
• Describe the staffing (number, types of positions)
• Describe the materials and curricula used
• Describe the adult-client and/or teacher-student interaction
• Describe how students are assessed for placement as well as instructional assessment

In addition, prepare an evaluation of the classroom/agency. Is this a classroom/agency in which you would place your own child? Are there changes you would make? If so, what?

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Using the lesson plan that you developed in MAT 509, make necessary adaptations for a special populations category (e.g., learning disabled, visually impaired). Determine an appropriate time with a teacher that you may teach the 15-20-minute adapted lesson to a student or students in his/her classroom.

MAT 521
Maintaining an Effective Learning Climate

Plan to conduct a classroom observation, concentrating on classroom management. Look for the following:

• Teacher's style of management
• How the teacher interacts with students
• Classroom set-up
• Examples and incidents of mutual respect
• Preventive procedures and activities

If possible, interview the classroom teacher and ask the following questions:

• What discipline model is used in the classroom and school?
• How does the teacher deal with the parent/guardian of a disruptive child?

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After the observation, determine an appropriate time with the teacher that you may teach a classroom management procedure or conduct a brief activity with the students in his/her classroom. If you choose to conduct a brief activity, especially consider the classroom management issues involved.

This course includes a practicum requirement, requiring you to participate in a teaching situation with one reading "client." The experience will involve diagnosing the client's reading strengths and weaknesses, planning a program of remediation, writing lessons, and teaching the client. Review the University of Phoenix Materials "Tutoring Sessions," "Tutoring Log," and "Client Instructional Sessions/Workshop Schedule" for information on the content and schedule of client sessions.

MAT 531
Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: History and Social Science

As part of the assigned Integrated Unit of Study, you will be required to select one lesson and teach to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. The lesson is to align to state and national standards; include objectives, activities, and assessments; incorporate the use of technology; and integrate other content as appropriate.

As part of the assigned Integrated Unit of Study, you will be required to select one lesson and teach to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. The lesson is to align to state and national standards; include objectives, activities, and assessments; incorporate the use of technology; and integrate other content as appropriate.

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You are responsible for conducting two interviews and observations using an interview instrument or question set developed by you and reviewed by the instructor. There should be one observation of a mathematics lesson and another observation of a science lesson. You should develop an interview instrument or set of questions to utilize during the interviews/observations. Consider the following during the development of the instrument:

• Learning environment
• Instructional and assessment strategies
• Integrating and unifying concepts for a mathematics and science lesson

Observe a visual and performing arts lesson in an elementary classroom.  Look for the following:

• Types and use of resources (including community resources)
• Classroom management and procedures
• Management of equipment and supplies
• Lesson planning
• Assessment
• Instruction of diverse learners
• Appropriate use of vocabulary
• Integration of visual and performing arts with other content areas

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As part of the assigned Integrated Unit of Study, you will be required to select one lesson and teach to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. The lesson is to align to state and national standards; include objectives, activities, and assessments; incorporate the use of technology; and integrate other content as appropriate.

MAT 537
Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Physical Education and Health

Observe a physical education and/or health at the K-8 level. What was effective about the lesson? What could have been improved or changed about the lesson?

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As part of the assigned Integrated Unit of Study, you will be required to select one lesson and teach to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. The lesson is to align to state and national standards; include objectives, activities, and assessments; incorporate the use of technology; and integrate other content as appropriate.

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Observe an organized sport (with children or adults). Consider the psychological aspect of the sport in relation to the athletes and the spectators. In addition, discuss the psychological impacts of organized, competitive sports on children. Include issues of self-concept, health, parent involvement, teamwork, etc.

MAT 542
Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Reading Methods for Secondary Settings

Select a brief (5-10 pages) passage from a textbook in your content area. Create three pre-reading activities for the selected passage. One must be a strategy for teaching vocabulary. Administer the pre-reading activities. Be sure to provide the student with the passage to use with the activities.

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Prepare three guided reading activities for the same passage that you selected for use in Week One. One activity must be the QAR technique. Administer the guided reading activities. Be sure to provide the student with the passage.

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Prepare three post-reading and study activities for the same passage that you selected for use in Weeks One and Two. One activity must be a graphic organizer. Administer the post-reading and study activities to. Be sure to provide the student with the passage.

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Prepare a Content Reading Inventory according to the directions in Section Three of the text. Use a chapter of your choice in a content area textbook. Administer the Content Reading Inventory. Grade the Content Reading Inventory and compute the rate of comprehension according to the formula in Section Three of the text.

Make arrangements to observe a secondary mathematics classroom. Look for and comment upon the following during the observation:

• Student engagement and motivation
• Teacher enthusiasm and preparation
• Classroom environment
• Student behavior
• Classroom management
• Instructional techniques
• Assessment

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As part of the assigned Integrated Unit of Study, you will be required to select one lesson and teach to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. The lesson is to align to state standards.

Develop and teach an English/language arts lesson to middle or high school students. Use the University of Phoenix Material "Lesson Plan Outline" to help you develop your lesson. The topic or subject matter of the lesson is entirely up to your discretion, but the lesson must be 30 minutes in length and reflective of the readings and discussion in this course.

Develop and teach a history/social science lesson to middle or high school students. The topic or subject matter of the lesson is entirely up to your discretion, but the lesson must be 30 minutes in length and reflective of the readings and discussion in this course.

Make arrangements to observe a secondary science classroom. After the observation, summarize your experience and reflections in a 700-1050-word paper. Look for and comment upon the following during the observation:

• Student engagement and motivation
• Teacher enthusiasm and preparation
• Classroom environment
• Student behavior
• Classroom management
• Instructional techniques including accommodations for diverse learners and students with special needs, if observed
• Assessment

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As part of the assigned Integrated Unit of Study, you will be required to select one lesson and teach to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. The lesson is to align to state and national standards; include objectives, activities, and assessments; incorporate the use of technology; and integrate other content as appropriate.

Develop and teach a business/marketing lesson to middle or high school students. The topic or subject matter of the lesson is entirely up to your discretion, but the lesson must be 30 minutes in length and reflective of the readings and discussion in this course.