ROLES OF THE TEACHER

2. ROLES OF THE TEACHER

b. Teaching activities – Roles of the teacher

Teachers' Work

Through discussion with your Cooperating Teacher and through observation of your teacher working, identify the following:

1. Number and type of subjects taught

2. Amount of weekly scheduled instructional time and length of class periods

3. Amount of scheduled daily and weekly preparation time, free periods, lunchtime,

recess, etc.

4. Number and diversity of students that the teacher is assigned to instruct daily/weekly

5. Scheduling of the teacher's various instructional activities and the setting in which

they take place (e.g., classroom, gymnasium, lab, etc.)

6. Average daily amount of time (during as well as before and after school hours) devoted to lesson preparation, assignment/test construction, marking, evaluation)

7. Nature and extent of regular student supervision duties

8. Noninstructional tasks (e.g., record?keeping, duplicating, talking to students, etc.)

9. Types and amounts of extracurricular activities in which the teacher is involved and

the time required for these

10. Staff meetings, committees, etc.

11. Contact with parents and other community members

12. Other duties that are carried out on a regular basis

REFLECTION:

What roles does a teacher play? What is teaching?

Activity 2b

ROLES OF THE TEACHER

Teaching Activities

Observe the teacher for a class period. Describe the types of activities that the teacher engages in at different times of the class.

A. Lesson Introduction

· How does the teacher gain the students' attention before beginning the lesson? Is an initiating activity used to motivate them?

· How does the teacher identify the purpose of the lesson for the students?

· What does the teacher want the students to learn, and how does he/she let the students know?

· Are the learning outcomes explicit and direct (e.g., basic knowledge and skills) or

implicit, open?ended, indirect (e.g., higher?level thinking skills, inquiry, critical thinking, creativity)?

B. Instructional Techniques

· How does the teacher relate the content of this lesson to previous lessons or place it in the context of an overall unit?

· What techniques does the teacher use to communicate effectively (e.g., in terms of audibility, transition, use of appropriate language)?

· What curriculum materials, instructional materials/aids are used (e.g., audio/visual tactile?kinesthetic aids, texts, workbooks, handouts, exercise sheets)?

· In what ways does the teacher attempt to respond to the differing needs of learners (e.g., in terms of differentiated instruction, grouping, task time allocation)?

· How is student involvement and maximum participation maintained?

· How does the teacher attempt to initiate and sustain meaningful discussion?

· How does the teacher check for comprehension and skill attainment?

· Does the teacher encourage student cooperation? Competition? Individual seat work?

· Group work?

· How is lesson closure achieved?

C. Management Techniques

· Describe the relationship established between the teacher and the students.

· How does the teacher distribute materials, arrange seating, orchestrate group activities, give directions for tasks and activities, manage the flow of oral interaction during a group discussion?

· How does the teacher pace the lesson and effect smooth transitions?

· How does the teacher attempt to keep interruptions to a minimum? Handle disruptions and misbehavior? Deal with inattentiveness?

· To what extent does the teacher move around the room/stay seated? When does the teacher use proximity?

· What kind of positive reinforcers and encouragement does the teacher use?

· What are the rules and procedures in place in this classroom? How do you know?

· Describe the routines that are in evidence in this classroom.

REFLECTION:

What is teaching?