Trends in Instruction

1. Trends in Instruction

2. Reading and Language Arts Seven basic approaches to teaching reading

3. Comprehensive and systematic Good sequencing Is flexible Well-established vocabulary Has diagnostic tools Well-rounded approach Stereotyped Limits students to one book Geared to middle class whites Little time for creativity Heavily visual Little transfer to functional reading Basal reader approaches

4. Integration of all language arts Utilizes students’ own language Encourages sharing Develops confidence Develops self-expression Limited materials No sequencing built in No concrete evaluation process Limits word attack skills Language experience

5. Enables child to select appropriate books Progresses at own rate Relationship with teacher enhanced through conferences Diminishes competition Flexible Allows for insufficient skill development Requires vast amounts of materials May allow children to limit own selection No advance organizers Individualized reading

6. Words are phonetically familiar Presents words as wholes shows letters as a function by arrangement in the words Develops sentence order early There are many linguistic approaches Lacks extensive field testing Has too controlled vocabulary (Dr. Suess books) Linguistic approach

7. Develops efficiency in word recognition Helps develop independence in word recognition Immediate success/positive reinforcement Letter-sound association Tends to isolate speech in an unnatural manner Too much repetition; boring Phonics can become reading instead of being a subset of reading Phonics

8. Is simpler Gives opportunity for free expression Quick success, develops enthusiasm Encourages learning of words more rapidly Lacks clarification regarding techniques and materials Transition from International Teaching Alphabet difficult ITA is only at school Validity unknown International Teaching Alphabet

9. Allows child to proceed at own pace Reinforces after each step Records student progress Self-instructional Helps teacher to understand sequencing Does not consider attention span of student Becomes repetitious Bypasses comprehension Little room for child to develop his own interests Expensive Programmed Instruction

10. Mathematics, moving from . . . • A narrow computationally driven curriculum • Acquisition of pieces of knowledge as an end in itself • A narrow role for problem solving with primary emphasis on word problems • Preoccupation with paper-pencil computation • Students as passive participants

11. Mathematics, moving to • A broad curriculum that includes experiences with several branches of mathematics • Embedding knowledge in a conceptual framework • Multiple methods of computation, including calculators for “messy” problems • Students as active participants

12. Mathematics Goals • Mathematical Ideals: the concepts of number, operation, relations, set function, and proof • Problem solving: ability to associate a physical event with the appropriate mathematical statement, use computations to solve the statement, and then apply the resolution to the originating physical event

13. Mathematics goals (2) • Computation techniques: the skills to compute effectively and efficiently the sums, differences, products, and quotients of whole and fractional numbers • Language: the meanings and experiences to use the communication system of mathematics to explore, invent, and discover (“think mathematics”)

14. Social Studies Education Developing an awareness of the social world around us

15. The social studies fields • History • Philosophy • Sociology • Political science • Geography • Economics • Anthropology • Social psychology

16. If social studies is uninteresting, it may be that • There are no opportunities for wise acting, experiencing, and inquiring • Objects and materials of the environment are inappropriate for the developmental levels of the students • the range of cognitive and affective behaviors is being thwarted

17. If social studies is boring . . . • Teaching and learning are considered as the same acts • Information, conclusions, and values are being imposed

18. Try these things . . . • Do some synthesis activities--building, doing, changing, amending. • Check the media resources--what else is there to help history come alive? • Get students involved

19. Health and Physical Education

20. A Physically educated person • Has physical skills • Participates regularly in physical activity • Is Physically fit • knows benefits from physical activities • values physical activity and its contributions

21. “Home face” says that sex ed. Should be taught at home Abstinence before marriage + monogamy afterwards =the only safe sex Values and anatomy should be taught Statistics say “home face” is failing Abstinence is first choice; condoms, 2nd Less than 25% of children have significant visits with parents about sex Avoiding disaster is the motive for sex ed. Two faces of sex education

22. Science Education • Consists of (1) attitudes, (2) processes or methods, and (3) products • Current science education emphasizes attitudes and processes instead of just products

23. Curiosity Humility Skepticism Open-mindedness Avoidance of dogmatism or gullability Positive approach to failure Objectivity Scientific attitudes

24. Observing Classifying Measuring Hypothesizing or predicting Describing Inferring or making conclusions from data Asking insightful questions about nature Formulating problems Designing investigations Carrying out exper. Constructing from data, principles, laws, & theories Scientific processes

25. Scientific products • Concepts • Principles and generalizations • Theories

26. Art Education • No longer for the elite • Artist is a more careful observer, not just a “gifted hand.” • May include water color, charcoal, drawing, oils, sculpture, computer graphics

27. Music education • Includes singing, pre-orchestral instruments, band instruments, orchestra, synthesizer. • Not just for the elite • Enrichment for life

28. Vocational education • No longer just for “second track” students • Every person needs technical skills • Some skills are needed for use at home regardless of one’s profession

29. Directions for all curricula • Constructivistic • “Hands-on” • Students as active learners • MEANINGFUL LEARNING--teach nothing without teaching meaning • Connections to other parts of the curriculum