Educators implement effective planning, instruction, assessment and reporting practices to create respectful, inclusive environments for student learning and development.
Below is UNBC Professor Susan Johnston and Coaching Teacher Melanie Grant and their summative report on Liv’s ability to successfully plan throughout the 490 practicum:
PLANNING
Prior to the start of the practicum, Liv contacted and met with her Coaching Teacher. They collaboratively organized her practicum. This included a transition period into her teaching component. This time was used to become familiar with the school and CT’s classroom organization, rules and routines. As well, Liv learned the students’, personality traits, learning styles and challenges, that would help with meeting their individual learning needs. The result of this preparation was minimized disruption of routine and a smooth transition of Liv’s role in the classroom for the students.
Liv produced clear, timely, carefully planned lesson plans that included all the required components for effective lesson implementation. Resources from a variety of sources and how to best integrate them into the curricular content she planned to teach were considered. Ideas linked across subjects were observed, indicating an understanding of content beyond the curriculum was used during planning. Activities were age appropriate and included organizing materials for students using methods that would maximize learning and minimize loss of teaching time. Individual student goals and expectations were accommodated, in a manner that the student could still be challenged and succeed.
As noted in an observation by her PE observation, “Liv provided her lesson plan in advance and it was well-detailed and clear. All materials needed were available and set up when students came in from recess. The steps of the activity/lesson were written on a small white board which the students could refer to, as needed. They had also had some previous teaching about the concepts related to the lab activity, as described in the lesson plan.”