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Becoming a Teacher in Texas: A Course of Study for the Professional Development ExCET » (1st Edition)

Book cover image of Becoming a Teacher in Texas: A Course of Study for the Professional Development ExCET by Cynthia Gift Henry

Authors: Cynthia Gift Henry, Janice L. Nath, Janice L. Nath
ISBN-13: 9780534557140, ISBN-10: 0534557147
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Date Published: November 2000
Edition: 1st Edition

Author Biography: Cynthia Gift Henry

Dr. Janice L. Nath serves as a University of Houston?-Downtown faculty member in the Department of Urban Education. She served as the Coordinator for Elementary Education, Director of the PUMA TRACS Program for Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification, and Assistant Director of the Internship Program; and headed a Professional Development School (PDS) site for many years at the university. She has been actively involved in field-based teacher education for many years, formerly serving as the chair and program chair of the AERA (American Education Research Association) Professional Development School Research Special Interest Group (PDSR SIG) and as the president of the Teacher Coordinators for Teacher Certification Testing (formerly known as the ExCET Coordinators Association of Texas). In addition to her work on BECOMING A TEACHER IN TEXAS, she co-edited FORGING ALLIANCES IN COMMUNITY AND THOUGHT: RESEARCH IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOLS.

Book Synopsis

BECOMING A TEACHER IN TEXAS is designed to offer a broad overview of the knowledge and skills required to pass the ExCET exam for Professional Development. The Professional Development portion of the ExCET exam is mandatory for all persons seeking teacher certification in the state of Texas. BECOMING A TEACHER IN TEXAS is the only textbook providing quality information in a concise and comprehensible manner to prepare soon-to-be-teachers for the ExCET exam. It can be used as a supplemental or main text for a variety of teacher education courses, such as Educational Psychology, Introduction to Education, General Teaching Methods, or the student teaching practicum. Additionally, all authors of the text are education professors from many teacher preparation programs throughout Texas, including Texas A&M University, University of Houston, and the University of Texas system.

	Foreword	xii
	Preface	xiv
	About the Editors	xvii
	Contributors	xviii
Domain I	Understanding Learners	1
1	Understanding Human Development	3
	Terms to Know	4
	Theories of Growth and Development	5
	Summary	16
	Suggested Activities	17
	Practice Decision Set	17
	Web Links	19
	References and Suggested Readings	19
2	Considering Environmental Factors that Affect Learning	21
	Terms to Know	22
	Environmental Factors That Impact Learning	22
	Other Factors That Impact Learning	37
	Summary	43
	Suggested Activities	43
	Practice Decision Set	44
	Web Links	45
	References and Suggested Readings	46
3	Appreciating Human Diversity	49
	Terms to Know	50
	Demographical Dynamics	51
	Integrating Multiculturalism in School Community	52
	Summary	60
	Suggested Activities	61
	Practice Decision Set	62
	Web Links	63
	Suggested Videos	64
	References and Suggested Readings	64
4	Understanding How Learning Occurs	67
	Terms to Know	68
	Understanding Learning Theory	68
	Thought and Language Development	70
	Schema Theory: Linking and Organizing Information	72
	Metacognition: Extending Self-Improving Systems	73
	Learning, Thinking, and Teaching Styles	78
	Summary	87
	Suggested Activities	88
	Practice Decision Set	89
	Web Links	92
	References and Suggested Readings	92
5	Motivating Students	97
	Terms to Know	98
	Importance of Motivation to Academic Learning: Theoretical Background	99
	Identifying Factors and Situations Likely to Promote or Diminish Motivation	103
	Effects of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation	109
	Creating Motivational Learning Environments for All Students	110
	Summary	115
	Suggested Activities	116
	Practice Decision Set	117
	Web Links	119
	References and Suggested Readings	119
Domain II	Enhancing Student Achievement	121
6	Planning and Designing Instruction	123
	Terms to Know	124
	The Process of Planning	127
	Long-Range Plans	133
	Unit Plans	133
	Daily Lesson Plans	137
	Summary	146
	Suggested Activities	146
	Practice Decision Set	147
	Web Links	149
	References and Suggested Readings	149
7	Verbal, Nonverbal, and Media Communication Techniques	151
	Terms to Know	152
	Communication	153
	Recommended Classroom Features	167
	Summary	173
	Suggested Activities	174
	Practice Decision Set	174
	Web Links	176
	References and Suggested Readings	176
8	Instructional Strategies and Roles	178
	Terms to Know	179
	Incorporating Higher Levels of Thinking into a Lesson Plan	180
	Strategies and Models of Teaching That Involve Higher Levels of Thinking	188
	Teacher Roles	199
	Learner-Centered Versus Teacher-Centered Instruction	200
	Asking Questions at Higher Levels of Thinking	204
	A Risk-Free Environment for Critical Thinking	205
	Linking Higher-Level Thinking to Assessment	208
	The Language of Thinking	209
	Summary	210
	Suggested Activities	210
	Practice Decision Set	211
	Web Links	212
	References and Suggested Readings	213
9	Instructional Materials and Resources	215
	Terms to Know	216
	Teacher Resource Behavior	217
	Materials and Resources	220
	Summary	227
	Suggested Activities	228
	Practice Decision Set	228
	Web Links	230
	References and Suggested Readings	231
10	Formal and Informal Assessment	233
	Terms to Know	234
	Test, Assessment, and Evaluation: What Is the Difference?	234
	The Assessment Process	235
	Formative and Summative Data	237
	Formal Assessment	239
	Curriculum-Based Assessment	241
	Informal Assessment	248
	Summary	253
	Suggested Activities	253
	Practice Decision Set	254
	Web Links	256
	References and Suggested Readings	256
11	Managing the Classroom Environment	258
	Terms to Know	259
	Creating a Learning Community	259
	Learning Communities	260
	Student Ownership/Membership in the Learning Community	262
	Responsible, Cooperative, Purposeful, Supportive Students	267
	Creating a Positive Social and Emotional Atmosphere	269
	Establishing and Maintaining Standards of Behavior	271
	Maximizing Learning Time	274
	Summary	276
	Suggested Activities	277
	Practice Decision Set	279
	Web Links	280
	References and Suggested Readings	281
Domain III	Understanding the Teaching Environment	283
12	Becoming a Reflective Practitioner	285
	Terms to Know	286
	An Example of Reflection	286
	What Is Reflection?	287
	The Cycle of Reflection	288
	Why Is Reflection Important?	296
	Support Services	305
	Summary of Benefits of Reflection	309
	How Can Preservice Teachers Become Reflective Practitioners?	310
	Summary	317
	Suggested Activities	319
	Practice Decision Set	321
	Web Links	322
	References and Suggested Readings	323
13	Home-School Relationships	327
	Terms to Know	328
	Why Home-School Relationships Are Important	328
	Building Relationships with Parents/Families	330
	Recognizing Family Diversity	331
	Communicating Effectively	333
	Conducting Parent-Teacher Conferences	337
	Creating Strategies for Home-School Collaboration	341
	Summary	343
	Suggested Activities	344
	Practice Decision Set	344
	Web Links	346
	References and Suggested Readings	347
14	School and Community Connections	350
	Terms to Know	351
	Recognizing Challenges Facing Today's Communities	351
	Significance of the School-Community Relationship	352
	Learning About the School's Community	353
	Communicating with the Community	354
	Connecting with the Community	355
	Developing Students' Responsibility Toward Their Communities	360
	Emerging Efforts to Reconnect Communities and Children	361
	Summary	363
	Suggested Activities	364
	Practice Decision Set	365
	Web Links	366
	References and Suggested Readings	367
15	Teaching in Texas	369
	Terms to Know	370
	Expectations of Teachers in Texas	371
	Constraints on Teachers in Texas	373
	Multiple Roles of Teachers in Texas	373
	Laws and Guidelines Impacting Teachers in Texas	378
	Special Education	380
	Structure of the Texas Education System	383
	Summary	385
	Suggested Activities	385
	Practice Decision Set	386
	Web Links	388
	References and Suggested Readings	389
16	Preparing For and Taking the ExCET Test	390
	Registration	390
	Preparing for Test Day	392
	The Test	394
	Long-Term Study Skills	400
	Contact Numbers	403
	Name Index	405
	Subject Index	412