Using Questions to Refocus or Adjust Lessons

Using Questions to Refocus or Adjust Lessons One of the most important responsibilities for a teacher is the planning of instruction. Planning instruction provides direction, provides assessment guidelines, and  conveys instructional intent to students and supervisors. Planned instruction for grades 7-12 in any academic discipline,  however, is met with everyday challenges. There are distractions within the classroom (cell phones,   classroom management  behavior, bathroom breaks) as well as the  external distractions  Ã‚  (PA announcements, outside noises, fire drills) that often interrupt lessons.   When the unexpected happens,  even the best planned lessons or most organized  plan  books  can derail.   Over the course of a unit or a semester, distractions can cause a teacher to lose sight of the goal(s) of a course.   So, what tools can  a secondary teacher use to get back on track?   To counter the many different interruptions in  the execution of lesson plans, teachers need to keep in mind three (3) simple questions that are at the heart of instruction: What thing(s) will the students be able to do when they leave the classroom?How will  I  know the students will be able to do what was taught?What tools or items  are needed for me to accomplish the task(s)? ​These questions can be made into a template to use as a planning tool and  added as an appendix to lesson plans. Instructional Planning in Secondary Classrooms These three (3) questions can also help secondary teachers to be flexible, since teachers may find they may have to modify lesson plans in real time for a specific course period by period. There may be different academic levels of students or multiple courses within a particular discipline; a math teacher, for example, may teach advanced calculus, regular calculus, and statistics sections in one day. Planning for daily instruction also  means that a teacher, regardless of content, is required  to differentiate or  tailor instruction to meet individual student needs. This differentiation  recognizes the variance among learners in the classroom. Teachers use differentiation when they account for student readiness, student interest, or  student learning styles. Teachers can differentiate the academic content, the activities associated with the content, the assessments or end products, or the approach (formal, informal) to the content. Teachers in grades 7-12 also need to account for any number of possible variations in a daily schedule. There may be advisory periods, guidance visits, field trips/internships, etc. Student attendance can also mean a variation in plans for individual students. The pace of an activity can be thrown off with one or more interruptions, so even the  best lesson plans need to account for these minor changes. In some cases, a lesson plan may need an  on the spot change or maybe even a complete rewrite! Because of differentiation or variations to schedules that mean real time adjustments, teachers need to have a quick planning tool that they can use to help adjust and refocus a lesson.  This set of three questions (above) can to help teachers at minimum the means to check to see they are still delivering instruction effectively. Use Questions to Refocus Daily Plans A teacher who uses the three questions (above) either as a daily planning tool or as a tool for adjustment may also need some additional follow-up questions.   When time is removed from an already tight class schedule, a teacher can choose some of the options listed beneath each question in order to salvage any pre-planned instruction. Moreover, any content area teacher can use this template as a tool to make adjustments to a lesson plan-even one that is partially delivered- by adding the following questions: What thing(s) will the students still be able to do when they leave the classroom today? If this was planned as an introductory lesson, what will students be able to explain what was taught with assistance?  If this was planned as an ongoing lesson, or a lesson in a series,  what will students be able to explain independently?  If this was planned as a  review lesson,   what will students be able to explain to others? How will  I  know the students will be able to do what was taught today? Can I still use a  question/answer session at the end of class where I check comprehension?Can I still use an exit slip quiz question with days lesson content or problem to receive feedback from students?Can I still assess through a homework assignment that is due the following day? What tools or items  are needed for me to accomplish the task(s) today? What necessary texts are still available for this lesson   and how do I still make these available for students? (textbooks, trade books, digital links, handouts)What necessary tools are still available to present the information? (whiteboard, Powerpoint, SmartBoard, projection and/or software platform)What other resources (websites, recommended reading, instructional videos, review/practice software) can I still provide to students as support for what I am teaching?What kinds of communication (assignment posts, reminders) can I still leave for students to keep pace with the lesson?If something goes wrong with the tools or items needed, what backups do I have? Teachers can use the three questions and their follow-up questions  in order to develop, to adjust, or to   refocus their lesson plans on just what is important for that particular day. While some teachers may find the use this set of questions particularly useful every day, others might use these questions infrequently.

Ethical Theories Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical Theories Paper - Essay Example determined solely by its resulting consequent, though there is still a debate over the extent of consideration that should be offered to intended consequences, foreseen consequences and actual consequences. Utilitarianism can be said to be a reductionist and a quantitative approach to ethics, as well as a form of naturalism (Zilioli, 2007). It is the opposite of deontological ethics, virtue ethics, ethical egoism, and pragmatic ethics. This is an absolutist and deontological approach. It is based on the fact that individuals should believe in doing things because it is the right thing to do meaning and the duty of an individual to perform a certain act, which can be regarded as right. It does not believe that each act should be done because it results in happiness but should be done because it is the appropriate thing to do. Kant’s ethics are based on A Priori reasoning while Mill’s and Bentham’s are based on A Posteriori logic (Zilioli, 2007). This is a theory which was developed in anthropological research as axiomatic in the few initial decades of 20th century by Franz Boas and popularized later by his students (Peoples & Bailey, 2012). Boas did not coin the term. Cultural relativism involves certain methodological and epistemological claims. It is still debated whether these claims necessitate a particular ethical stance or not. This principle should be carefully distinguished from moral relativism. This is a principle of truth based on the statement "if one believes something it is true." The outcome of individual relativism results in two obvious absurdities, and consequently one nail-in-the-coffin objection. To begin with, the most obvious absurdity that is a consequent of individual relativism is if everybodys beliefs are true, then there would not be any false belief. This means everybody is always right, and their beliefs are true and cannot be false. The second relatively obvious absurdity is if there are no false beliefs, then no one will ever

International Financial institution and markets Essay

International Financial institution and markets - Essay Example The report seeks to identify various factors which are considered as of advantage as well as of disadvantage for the UK to enter into such an agreement of currency union. It also deals with whether the Euro could substitute the US dollar as the major currency in the global market. 2 Euro is considered to be a currency that is widely used by the European Union Institutions and it is said to be the official currency for euro zone. Euro zone comprises 18 member states out of the 28 member states that is said to constitute the European Union such as Spain, Slovenia, Netherlands, Malta, Portugal, Luxembourg, Greece, Germany, France, Finland, Estonia to name a few. There are also other five European countries that use the currency Euro and as a consequence is said to be used by 334 million Europeans currently. Moreover it is considered that 210 million people across the universe including 182 million from Africa use currencies that are said to be pegged to the currency euro. Euro is considered to be the second largest reserve currency in the globe after the US dollar. It is also considered as the second most traded currency in the universe after the US dollar. Euro is considered to be a single currency arrangement which came into force between members of European Uni on in the year 1999. The implication of a single currency is that there are no different national monetary policies. In this regard, the Central Bank of Europe was set up which used to conduct wide monetary policy and also sets the interest rates in Europe. This resulted into a loss of different national monetary policies, exchange rates, and interest rates. In this regard, the intention of Germany to introduce an economic policy to fight against unemployment is considered as very difficult as this role can only be played by the European Central Bank. There are numerous advantages to sector of financial services with regard to Britain joining the Euro. In the absence of floating exchange rate, the relative

Evaluating Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Evaluating Ethics - Essay Example However, there is no written code of ethics of the company.1 However, company works on the basis of stewardship in which it defines its relationship with the external world and its member community especially. This stewardship includes some priority areas set by the company which outlines its responsibilities towards the community and external world. These priorities include the active conservation of nature, responsible use of the outdoor activities, adapting responsible business practices to enhance and improve the external world, â€Å"foster opportunities to increase participation in human-powered outdoor recreation, with a focus on youth2†. It is because of this reason that REI has been developing eco-sensitive products. â€Å"Everyone at REI is charged with nurturing the spirit of openness, honesty and integrity that is so much a part of the fabric of the REI culture. Doing the right thing is a way of life here. REI has taken a firm stance on business ethics and social compliance. We hold ourselves and our vendors, both domestic and international, to high standards and take seriously our commitment to act as a concerned corporate citizen. Our strict sourcing code ensures that goods carrying the REI label are manufactured with due regard for workers and the environment.† (REI) The above quote strictly outlines various ethics of the company. It not mentions about REI’s values but also clearly mentions about the commitment of its employees. In terms of training, REI strive to deliver it on two counts. One to its employees and second to its customers so that its policy of the conservation of nature can be achieved through development of eco-friendly products. Further, in terms of monitoring, REI works as a Co-op where its members are regular visitors besides since employees of the organization itself have the desire and passion about the outdoor activities therefore monitoring at the company take place on multiple counts. First

Macbeth Newspaper Essay Example for Free

Macbeth Newspaper Essay One way Jewett dramatizes the character of the young girls adventure is by using personification. Jewett uses personification. Personification gives human qualities to objects as a way of describing them to strengthen the description. In the story A White Heron Jewett uses personification when she says â€Å"There was the huge tree asleep yet in the paling moonlight. † Jewett here is showing the tree as a peaceful tree sleeping under the moonlight. â€Å"It must truly have been amazed. † This is when Jewett is trying to show how the tree is amazed by Sylvia and from that point it started to help her. â€Å"It felt this determined spark of human spirit. † This is when Jewett is showing that the tree felt a spark of human spirit. â€Å"And the tree stood still and frowned away the winds. † This was when Jewett was trying to show that the tree frowned away the winds and did not want the wind to make Sylvia’s journey hard for her. â€Å"The old pine must have loved his new dependent. † This is when Jewett is showing that the old pine tree now has helped Sylvia to the top and actually loves his new dependent (Sylvia). Another way Jewett dramatizes the character of the young girls adventure is by using Diction. Diction is the author’s word choice. It is very important because it strengthens the description of something or someone. In The White Heron Jewett it helps contrast between the huge tree and the small girl. Words that was used to describe Sylvia in the story was â€Å"little,† â€Å"small,† â€Å"clumsy,† â€Å"bare feet,† â€Å"weak creature† and â€Å"Harmless housebreaker. † All of these are words chosen by Jewett that describes the character of Sylvia. It strengthens the characterization of Sylvia. Those words mostly are showing that Sylvia is weak and small. She is a small girl that goes on a journey that leads her to becoming a young adult. Also words such as â€Å"determined,† â€Å"daring,† spark† and â€Å"dazzle† shows that Sylvia is determined and is daring herself to climb the â€Å"huge† tree. Jewett also uses words to describe the tree. Words such as â€Å"huge,† â€Å"strong,† â€Å"old pine,† â€Å"sturdy,† â€Å"monstrous ladder† and â€Å"great main mast† to describe the tree. This is showing that the tree is very powerful. These two are exactly opposite when Jewett describes them using word choice and diction. For example she says the girl is â€Å"small† and the tree is â€Å"huge,† she is â€Å"weak† and the tree is â€Å"strong† so there is a contrast between them. Contrasting diction and word choices contrasts the Sylvia’s personality and the tree’s.

Softball Essay -- essays research papers

Softball is a sport that is known throughout the United States and the world. Softball originated on Thanksgiving Day in Chicago in 1887. The game was actually said to have begun as an indoor game. Softball was started by a group of men who had gathered at a club to watch the Harvard vs. Yale football game. When the news came that Yale had defeated Harvard, 17-8, one Yale supporter, overcome with enthusiasm, picked up an old boxing glove and threw it at a nearby Harvard alumni, who promptly tried to hit it back with a stick. This gave George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, an idea. He suggested a game of indoor baseball. Naturally, Hancock's friends thought he was talking about playing a game outdoors, not indoors. Hancock, however, wasn't kidding. Using what was available, he tied together the laces of a boxing glove for a ball. Using a piece of chalk, Hancock marked off a home plate, bases and a pitcher's box inside the Farragut Boat Club gymnasium, with the tw o groups divided into two teams. The final score of the game was 41-40, but what was significant was that Hancock and his friends had invented a sport that would grow in popularity to where today more than 25 million people enjoy playing it in the United States and millions more internationally in more than 100 countries. Hancock set up rules and had his friends over to his house every Saturday night to play this new game. From there it spread all over Chicago. The first rulebook is said to have b...

Learning Materials Found in the National Library of Philippines

Last Saturday though the library is only open till 3pm, I manage to revisit the National Library with a special friend, even though I am very much familiar with the materials that this library use and have, I still push to go there to make a list of these things. As I enter the library, I notice that we first logged to the log book gave by the library guards, and these comes in my first list. I was not able to ask the guard the reason for this, but I am sure that this is a part of their security measure. For instance, on that day, something happened and all on the list that they have with the guard may be use as witness for it. Then, we went to luggage counter to deposit our bags. This is also their way to protect their library from thieves. If you are a first timer in this library, you are required to have a library I. D. Before, when it was my first time, with my classmates, we all pay for the ID, which is worth P50. 00, surprisingly; it is still worth like that. Before you can enter the library as visitor, but now my friend with me, they also require him to have an ID. As I was waiting for my friend to fill up his form in applying an ID for the library, something caught my attention. It was an old Catalog box filled with index cards with list of names and personal information. Then I thought of that maybe these are the ID cards of those who use to be here, just imagine how long this library is running. As we are waiting for the ID, the Elevator caught my attention. The last time we went here, I remember that we used it with my clan. At the right side of the elevator, there you can see the restroom for the user and the office of the personnel of the library. I believe that the office is air conditioned, because the dew and fog made by the air-con which is very visible because of the glass walls. As we go upstairs, students were checking on the computers set for the easy books access. This is the library I saw that uses this kind of technology. You can find here the information that can help you find the books that u need at ease. Once you type the idea of what you need in the book, the computer will give you list of different books, thesis, newspaper, magazines, dissertation and such that is related to your desired book. Aside from that, it will also give you the information about what stations you can find it, author, page, year and lots. If you listed the target books, you will next go to the stations that the computer gave you, for instance the General Books. This station generally composed of books like dictionaries, Bibles, Encyclopedias and such. Each station is air-conditioned but smells like old books. Aside from making the visitors feel comfortable, the main function of this is to take good care of the books, because high temperature will lessen the books’ life span. Each station have place for the visitor like reading stations. These composed of tables and chairs perfect if the book barrower needs a lot of time with the desired books he have. Next item that I have is the small piece of paper given by the library personnel. In this paper, you will write the information you got from the computers of you desired books. This will be given to the library personnel inside the book gallery which will be replaced by another paper containing the book number and book shell of your desired book. This makes the searching easier. Also I notice, in every stations we passed thru, there they have a mini museum of our national treasures and history memorabilia. Before I remember, it took my friends a lot of time here than searching for their books. Aside from that, they also have a photo copy station which becomes very useful during my research making last semester, although pages that are allowed to be copied are very limited. I am not really aware of what is the objective of me going here just to get a list again of the materials that the library have and use, but then I realize at the middle of my list I wrote books. The main reason why people go in a library is they have a need for a certain book, and library without a book in it is not a library. As I was there I also use that opportunity to also read about my present studies in my different subject as part of my advance study.