THE ACT OF TEACHING

Chapter 6: Planning Instruction

OUTLINE

-Pros and Instructional planning

-Planning is especially for new teachers

-Deciding what to teach

-Instructional objectives

-Writing specific objectives

-Preparing instructional plans of varying duration

-Some final thoughts

In summary, this chapter introduces to us as future teachers a very

important skill which is planning. Planning is a very important practice that

all great teachers do. Specifically this chapter teaches us how to think and

write down instructional objectives and specific objectives for certain

durations of time. And also the value of good objectives and how they help.

What I learn from this chapter is that without objectives as a teacher

you are like a person heading to nowhere. Objectives guide us and direct us
where to put our focus and most importantly objectives must be Specific and

S.M.A.R.T in nature.

Reflection
After reading through this chapter, I wrote down some objectives, it

was not so hard after I learnt that they had to be S.M.A.R.T but my greatest

challenge was determining which words to use while writing down my

objectives and those I should not use because probably they are not

measurable. How I managed was using the list of words that my teacher

gave me and the ones that the book provided.

Chapter 7: Four Instructional Alternatives.

OUTLINE

-Discussion: Learning through informative interactions

-Independent Study: Teaching as giving and guiding seat work and homework
Assignments.

-Individualized of differentiated Instruction: Tailoring Teaching.

-Matching Instructional alternatives to learners overview of 31 Instructional

Alternatives Using Technology in Teaching.

-Some final thoughts

In summary, chapter 7 introduces to us he four modes of instruction

that our lesson plans can have and they include; Presentation, Discussion.

Independent work and Individualized instruction.

What stood out for me in this chapter was that each instructional mode

represents a student in our classes in line with how they learn. This therefore
means that these help us to get to know our students better and makes it

easier for us to help them learn.

Reflection
After reading this chapter I also used the books idea and included one

instructional mode in my lesson plan. I chose to use a Presentations and

group work. But I realized that my challenge was that this mode seemed to

be so difficult for the class I was assuming to teach which was grade 2.

Chapter 8; Four More Instructional Alternatives

OUTLINE

-Discovery Learning: Figuring Things Out of Yourself

-Constructivist teaching and Learning: Problem solving under Teacher guidance

-Direct Instruction: Teaching in the most efficient and effective way

-Cooperative Learning: Teaching Learners to like and care for each other

-Conversation Starters

-Is there a single best Instructional Alternative?

-Some final thoughts

The author still gives us more instructional modes which are;

Cooperative learning, Discovery learning, Constructivism and Direct

instruction.

In this chapter like the 7, it gives us more modes that we can use to fit

and help all our students in our classes. The mode that stood out for me was

Discovery learning on page 278.

 Reflection
The reason why Discovery learning stood out for me was that is that

in my high school all my teachers almost used this everyday but not in the

way that this book brings it out. It was not actually done the right way, I

hated it so much but after reading through this chapter and realizing that it

could be done in different ways, I really like and I actually used it in one of

my lessons. Teachers will give readings but no guidelines and no later

discussions in class for further understanding, but I hope to use it the better

way than my teachers.

Chapter 9; Evaluating Students Learning

OUTLINE

-Defining classroom Assessment, Measurement, and Evaluation.

-Factors influencing Assessment quality

-Standardized testing and standard scores

-Teacher-made Assessment

-Grading and assigning Grades

-Some final thoughts

This chapter is about classroom assessment, measurement, and evaluation.

It actually gives us the types of assessments which are formative which is

usually at the end of every class and summative which are at the end of the

semester or end of the whole class.

What stands out for me in this chapter is that even as we talk of assessing

our students, we still need to put it in mind that our students have different
learning abilities and our assessments should cover all our students. Also

assessment should help us evaluate and see if we have achieved our

objectives.

Reflection
The only assessment I knew before reading this chapter was exams,

but now at least I know I can use a variety to assess my students, like their

participation in class, practical tests like speeches, debates, oral tests and

creative other ways

Chapter 10; Personal Attributes and characteristics of

Effective Teachers

OUTLINE

-Research on Teaching

-Effective teachers: Personal attributes and characteristics

-Motivating personality

-Orientation toward success

-Professional Demeanor

-Some final thoughts

In summary, this chapter highlights the most important personal

attributes of effective teachers which include; Enthusiastic, Warm and

humorous, credible, Holding high expectations for success, encouraging and

supportive, businesslike, flexible/adaptable and knowledgeable. The book

still points out that a teacher who possesses these attributes is most likely

success in in instruction.

What stands out for me in this chapter for me is to know that an

effective teacher has to be humorous. I mean I never thought it would be and

important attribute.

Reflection
Of all the above, I do not remember having been taught by a teacher

who has all but most of them had some. I remember I had a very humorous

teacher but the school did not like him because he was too funny and easy.

But right now I think personally I have a bit of all apart from humorous and

so I am actually working at it step by step.

Chapter 11; Professional skills and Abilities of Effective

Teachers

OUTLINE

-Focusing and engaging students action

-Using instructional Time efficiently

-Conducting interactive instruction

-Some final thoughts

In summary, this chapter examines the professional skills that effective

teachers must develop. They include; Establishing set, using instruction,

monitoring students progress, providing feedback and reinforcement.

 What I learn from this chapter is that the way you begin your lesson is

actually so important that it can interest students to learn or make them lose

interest. The beginning should be catching and interesting.

Reflection
From all the above my hardest and important is establishing set. I have

done mini-micro teaching lessons and lesson plans but this has been a

challenge. I really find it hard to find a hook that will interest all my

students and still connected to both my previous and current lesson, but

through all the lesson plans I have seen myself improve in this area and am

striving to be better by practicing drafting more lesson plans.

Chapter 13; Problem Solving Skills of Effective Teachers

OUTLINE

-What is a problem?

-Sources of problems

-What kind of classroom-related do teachers face?

-Preventing and solving classroom problems

-Some final thoughts

This chapter discusses the possible problems that teachers are likely to

face in their classrooms and these are; Affiliation, control, parent

relationships, home conditions, students success and time. These however

have possible solutions and they are also provided in this same chapter.
 What I learn as a future teacher is that I must be prepared that there

will be problems in my class and because I know this, I should take action by

listing possible problems and their possible solutions.

Reflection
In my mini-micro teaching classes I realized I had some problems that I

actually did not expect. Initially I pictured a perfect class but when problems

came some I was able to manage while some I did not manage. At time I had

to stop and deal with some issues which took a lot of my time and yet this

was not necessary.

Chapter 14; Reflective skills of Effective Teachers

OUTLINE

-Thanksgiving Reconsidered

-Characteristics of reflective practitioners

-Benefits of reflecting on teaching

-Developing reflective Thinking

-Some final thoughts

This chapter talks about the characteristics of reflective practioners,

benefits of reflecting and gives us ways on how to develop reflective

thinking.

From this chapter I learn that reflection is a habit (page 461). This

means that it is very possible to develop this habit of reflective thinking and

it helps us to become better teachers each day.

 Reflection
This characteristic is so important but hard to develop because

sometimes it makes you remember how bad you have performed but this

should not be used to discourage but to challenge and make it better. When I

sat done to reflect on my micro-teaching, I dont want to even remember

some of the things I did because I regret but then I will be careful not to

make the same mistakes again. For example, I did not use enough visual aids

for my lesson.

Work cited. .

Cruickshank, D., Jenkins, D., & Metcalf, K. (2009). The Act of Teaching. (5th

ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill. Van Brummelen, H. (2002).