Teaching 201:  Traveling Beyond the Basics

2004, ScarecrowEducation, ISBN 1-57886-064-4

Teaching 201: Traveling Beyond the Basics provides guidelines and strategies for success for teacher education majors or candidates currently enrolled in a university teacher education program, alternative certification or mid-career teachers who have not taken the traditional teacher education courses, and teachers in the field today.  It will take the reader far beyond the gauge of survival into the realm of confidence, focus, effectiveness, success, and professionalism.  The book is intended to be a textbook for students as well as a trade book for practicing teachers. 

Unique features of this book include the following:

Detailed steps and examples for preparing a personalized lesson plan book. 

Websites are included at the end of many chapters for further information.  Many individuals will not drive to the university library to find a specific article on a topic, but they will look up a web address at their convenience.

Contents for a substitute folder are explained including such unique contents as a map of the school site.

A chapter walks the reader through setting up a grade book from the first page.  A unique tip and illustration are given for keeping a “running average” of grades.

Samples of a form to accompany the progress report are given.  Parents and students can set goals to be complete prior to the completion of the grading period.

Steps and suggestions are given to create a progress report that reflects the objectives of your course.

A chapter takes the unique point of view of the teacher being evaluated.  The chapter is broken down into before, during, and after portions that detail the role of the teacher in this process.

Creating measurable classroom rules as well as a classroom mission statement is detailed.

“Netiquette” suggestions are given for teachers sending information as an e-mail.

The topic of conferences is divided into the before, during, and after phases.  A detailed things-to-do list is included for Conference Day.

The chapter on learning modalities presents a fourth modality along with a website where students can go to learn their modality through a computerized test online.

A chapter on teaching strategies connects the theories of educational icons to practical classroom practices that can be used to help students learn.

Specific court cases and laws are discussed regarding student confidentiality, Special Education, and Limited English Proficient students.

A chapter lists all professional organizations along with contact information.