MAED/TED-Secondary Field Experience Record

• Cultural influences on the classroom environment
• Cultural influences on instructional strategies used
• Instructional modifications and assessment adaptations
• Noticeable home and family partnerships as part of the learning environment

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

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.).

MTE 508/508CA/509
Models, Theories, and Instructional Strategies

*This experience includes a formal evaluation by the site teacher (observation).

Interview a teacher with respect to lesson plan development.  Use the University of Phoenix Material “Questions for Teacher Interview on Lesson Planning” as a guide during your interview.  Prepare 350-700-word summary of the interview including the questions asked, the teacher’s responses, and your personal impressions.

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*Arrange to observe a teacher implementing a lesson in a classroom setting.  This can be the same teacher you interviewed or a different teacher.  Use the University of Phoenix Material “Questions for Teacher Observation on Lesson Implementation” as a guide during your observation.  350-700-word summary of the interview including the questions asked, the teacher’s responses, and your personal impressions.

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If permitted at your field experience placement site(s), use the lesson you developed for this course and teach it to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. Reflect on your experience as part of the Field Experience Observation Record, including revisions that you would make to the lesson based on the experience.

• 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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If permitted at your field experience site(s), 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.

MTE 529
Reading and Phonological Theory

Review your state’s reading standards as related to phonics skill and knowledge. (View the link to state standards on the course page.)

Interview a teacher in a local elementary school to find out how he/she implements these standards. How does the teacher determine his/her students’ abilities and needs regarding phonics? What types of activities does the teacher use in the classroom? How is phonics instruction incorporated in daily reading and writing activities?

Prepare a 350-700-word summary of the interview, as well as your thoughts on how you might incorporate the state standards into your own classroom.

The Phonics Interview and Reflection Paper is due in Week Two.

Identify a classroom teacher with whom you can conduct an observation of a history and social science lesson.

Based on the observation, prepare a 1050-1400-word paper that includes the following:

1. An outline of the lesson’s objectives.
2. Reflections on whether the students met, did not meet, or exceeded the lesson objectives.
3. Reflections on how you determined whether the objectives were met.
4. Reflections on how you would change any part of the lesson (including the assessments).
5. Evidence of use of history and social science standards (national and state).
6. Evidence of the integration of history and social science content with other content areas.

Specify the grade level of the classroom that you observed and the school name.
The Observation Paper: History and Social Science Lesson is due in Week Three.

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If permitted at your field experience placement site(s), select one lesson that you developed for this course and teach it to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. Reflect on your experience as part of the Field Experience Observation Record, including revisions that you would make to the lesson based on the experience.

MTE 532/532CA
Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Science and Mathematics

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

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*If permitted at your field experience placement site(s), select one lesson that you developed for this course and teach it to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. Reflect on your experience as part of the Field Experience Observation Record, including revisions that you would make to the lesson based on the experience.

Observe a physical education and/or health lesson 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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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.

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If permitted at your field experience placement site(s), select one lesson that you developed for this course and teach it to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. Reflect on your experience as part of the Field Experience Observation Record, including revisions that you would make to the lesson based on the experience.

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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If permitted at your field experience placement site(s), select one lesson that you developed for this course and teach it to students in a grade-appropriate classroom. Reflect on your experience as part of the Field Experience Observation Record, including revisions that you would make to the lesson based on the experience.

RDG 530/530CA
Curriculum Constructs and Assessment: Reading and Language Arts

SPE 514/514CA
Survey of Special Populations

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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Conduct an interview with a local special education administrator or special education teaching team (including a paraprofessional) regarding their collaborative relationships with outside support services such as county and private agencies, non-profit organizations, etc.  How does the school collaborate with these organizations to provide appropriate student services?  The Interview on Collaboration is due in Week Four.

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*Using the lesson plan that you developed in MTE 508/509, make necessary adaptations for a special populations category (e.g., learning disabled, visually impaired).   If permitted at your field experience placement site(s), teach the adapted lesson to a student or students in his/her classroom. 

For this assignment, you will need to secure a location to observe a group of adolescents for a period of approximately 45 minutes. Ideally, you can sit in on a middle school class at a local school. Contact the principal ahead of time and ask permission to observe a class of your choice. Some alternatives for observing adolescents would be to observe a class or activity at your local community center or recreation center. Choose a group of adolescents you do not know. Refer to the University of Phoenix Material, “Guidelines for Classroom Observation.”

During your observation, take notes on how the adolescents behave and interact with each other. What characteristics do you see that define them as adolescents? In a 700-1050-word paper, review your observation and include the distinguishing adolescent development characteristics of this group. Defend your analysis with references from your notes and from your assigned readings. Include at least three references.

1. Observe two early childhood education programs. One observation must be in an early childhood setting that serves children from birth through preschool (e.g., Head Start program, Montessori school, licensed daycare/preschool facility). A second observation must be in an early childhood setting that serves children in kindergarten through grade three. Based upon your observations, prepare a 1050-1400-word analysis of the early childhood education programs. Compare and contrast your observations, addressing the following:
   1. Philosophy of each program
   2. Mission statement of each program
   3. Program organization
      1. Daily schedule
      2. Classroom arrangement (include classroom diagram)
   4. Curriculum and key experiences
      1. Children’s participation in a variety of learning experiences (e.g., play, literacy activities, creative activities, physical activities, etc.)
      2. Equipment and learning materials
      3. Diversity considerations
      4. Forms of assessment
   5. Equipment and learning materials
   6. Diversity considerations
   7. Forms of assessment
2. Using the Standards Manager in TaskStream, review the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation. Interview two early childhood educators (paraprofessional, teacher, or school director/administrator); one interview with an early childhood educator who serves children from birth through preschool (e.g., Head Start program, Montessori school, licensed daycare/preschool facility), and a second interview with an early childhood educator who serves children in kindergarten through grade three. Consider the following topics to guide your discussion:
   1. Professional qualifications
   2. Required certifications
   3. Growth opportunities in the early childhood profession
   4. Ethics and professional standards in early childhood programs

Prepare a 700-1050-word paper summarizing the interviews.

Visit a childcare center or primary school classroom to analyze how indoor and outdoor space is used to provide play experiences for the children. Take photographs (with appropriate permission and clearance) and/or make sketches of the layout. What evidence is there that the teacher has anticipated the need for indoor and outdoor play?

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Throughout the course, arrange to visit childcare centers and classrooms in order to conduct 8-10 hours of observation of infants and toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children at play. Discuss the selection of materials, purpose of the play experience, and the skills to be developed with the center facilitator or teacher.

Create a journal or log on your observations and reflections. You may wish to take photographs of the children at play with appropriate permission and clearance. Include the photographs with your journal. Include a statement on whether and how your philosophy of play has changed and how you will incorporate play into your own classroom.