Dr. Malinda Butler mentors future Elementary Education teachers
Before leaving work Dr. Malinda Butler, the Chairperson of the Department of Education and Psychology takes time to mentor students on developing lesson plans and creating their portfolios.
Students in the department had to complete a required project for their ED 416: Problems in Elementary Arithmetic class. During the Fall 2013 semester the class was held from 6:00-7:15 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
For the class, students were required to teach an instructional objective. They had the freedom to choose whatever they felt comfortable teaching. Each student had a maximum of forty minutes to teach his or her instructional objective. A live audience of middle school students and classmates listened in.
Although this course isn’t classified as a practicum course, this final project prepares undergraduate prospective teachers for what is expected of them in the future. This project also provides them with knowledge and a background on differentiated instruction, developing lesson plans, creating portfolios, and the overall process of planning which helps in becoming an effective teacher in the classroom setting.
Placed in groups, students worked together to complete the project, they held each other responsible in completing the final project for the class. However, students were still graded independently by Dr. Sandra Nash, the instructor.
Their individual grades were based on their participation and how they presented within the class. The students were graded by their classmates as well.
On Tuesday, December 10, 2013 reflections were given by the students. Many of them said that the project was something that really made them notice what is required of a teacher. It also served as a foundation, getting them ready to enter practicum courses that many will enroll into next semester.
