Module One: How We Learn
In this module, you'll explore how students learn, how to help them problem solve, and how to apply what you've learned to your classroom through the "Focusing the Lens" sections in this course. You'll wrap up the module with an in-depth look at reading theories and how to use them as another lens through which to view learning.
Module One Outcomes and Activity Checklist
Module Two: Diverse Learners
Diversity in today's classrooms incorporates many factors, like socio-economic status, race and learning abilities (to name a few). You may have seen or been affected by these diversity factors in your own classroom. In this module, you'll learn more about diversity in the classroom and how to support learning for all students.
Module Two Outcomes and Activity Checklist
Module Three: Before Reading
To improve comprehension of text, you must first demonstrate and teach specific strategies before students are asked to read an assigned text. In this module, you'll explore general areas that should be addressed before asking students to read.
Module Three Outcomes and Activity Checklist
Module Four: During Reading
As students progress through school the literature becomes increasingly complicated. At the secondary level, assigned literature has many words which students do not use in everyday vocabulary. Comprehension, then, depends not only on vocabulary and background information but also knowledge of narrative text elements.
Narrative and expository text have many of the same text structures. However, narrative text is initially easier to teach and for students to comprehend. In this module, we'll first address During Reading strategies that help support students' comprehension of narrative, or story, text.
Next you'll apply what you've discovered about narrative text and its associated graphic organizers to expository text structures. You'll also learn the seven expository text structures, some of which are the same as narrative structures. Proficiency in analyzing narrative and expository text also provides a framework for writing both types of text.
Module Four Outcomes and Activity Checklist
Module Five: After Reading
In this module, you will examine After Reading strategies so that you may discover how to help your students integrate and consolidate new knowledge. You will also explore different opportunities for extending that new knowledge.
Module Five Outcomes and Activity Checklist
Module Six: Materials & Technology
In this module, you will explore the wealth of materials, other than textbooks, that you can introduce into your content area classroom to enhance student learning.
Module Six Outcomes and Activity Checklist
Module Seven: Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of the teaching cycle - Plan, Teach, Assess, and back again! However, there are various types of assessment: assessments to inform instruction (formative assessments); used to rate students' and teachers' performance based on the "norms" constructed by the various testing companies (achievement tests); and yet others that measure conformity to state standards of performance (criterion-referenced tests).
Module Seven Outcomes and Activity Checklist
Module Eight: Motivation & the Whole Enchilada
Without motivation very little gets done. So, how can you motivate students in your content area class, particularly those who have repeatedly failed? There is no one way to motivate all students; however, there are several ways that you can try.