ED 300 Ch1: Teaching and the Teaching Profession

Reflective Practitioner

A teacher who thinks critically about teaching and the consequences of actions or inactions, all with the goal of being more effective with students.

professionalism

A way of being involving attitudes and actions that convey respect, uphold high standards, and demonstrate commitment to those served.

webinar

A web-based seminar with give-and-take participation through online means, video cams, and/or voice.

collective bargaining

Act of negotiating with employers and/or states to gain additional benefits for members of the bargaining group; a right practiced in most states by teacher associations and unions. States often allow unions to negotiate with school boards concerning elements of teacher contracts and working conditions.

whole child

All of a child's developmental stages and needs, as well as grade level and subject-area content.

student teaching

Also known as clinical internship or clinical practice; involves extended fieldwork in which teacher candidates teach lessons and, for a designated period of time, take over all classroom duties

clinical internship

Also known as student teaching or clinical practice

AFT

American Federation of Teachers America's second largest professional association for teachers.

dispositions

Attitudes and beliefs that guide and determine behavior.

Praxis Series

Battery of tests published by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) that may be used to determine the qualifications of individuals to be licensed or certified to teach in a variety of disciplines and grade levels.

achievement gap

Disparity among students, with some excelling while others languish with respect to learning and academic success.

ESSA

Every Student Succeeds Act 2016 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

academic rigor

The content of what we teach is meaningful, and our expectations of the learning of that content are demanding.

profession

an occupation that meets specific criteria including (1) extensive training to enter (2) inclusion of a code of ethics, and (3) service as the primary product.

cooperating teacher

A classroom teacher who serves as the host and mentor during clinical practice.

ACEI

Association for Childhood Education International Professional organization that focuses on global education issues.

AMLE

Association for Middle Level Education Organization that provides standards for the preparation of teachers for grades 5-9 and advocates for the needs and education of young adolescents; formerly National Middle School Association (NMSA)

Which two organizations are unions that represent their members in collective bargaining? A. The American Federation of Teachers and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation B. The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers -The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers are the two national teacher unions representing their members in collective bargaining. C. The Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium and the American Federation of Teachers D. The National Education Association and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

B. The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers -The National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers are the two national teacher unions representing their members in collective bargaining.

social media

Communication using technology such as smartphones, instant messaging, etc.

Which one of the following is not considered a characteristic of teacher professionalism? A. Eventually becoming an administrator B. Committing to professional growth C. Striving for excellence D. Putting students first

Correct Answer: A. Eventually becoming an administrator -Becoming an administrator is not a characteristic of teacher professionalism.

Attempting to close the achievement gap that often exists between students of different racial groups, and between children in poverty and those who are not, is primarily part of which reason to teach? A. Importance of education to society B. Desire to work with children and/or adolescents C. Interest in a particular subject D. Impact of teachers and/or family

Correct Answer: A. Importance of education to society -Helping students understand differences and embrace others in spite of those differences contributes in positive ways to society.

Which statement is most accurate concerning the search for a description of effective teachers? A. The best we can come up with consists of varied lists of characteristics based on observation and available data. B. After centuries of thinking and research, a definitive list now exists. C. Educators such as John Dewey have given us succinct descriptors of effective teachers. D. It is possible to name the characteristics of teacher effectiveness based on whether they teach elementary, middle, or high school.

Correct Answer: A. The best we can come up with consists of varied lists of characteristics based on observation and available data. -It appears impossible, and even undesirable, to come up with anything other than lists of characteristics based on observation and available data.

What is Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21)? A. A partnership Microsoft offers local school districts to provide technology for students B. An organization that offers information about teacher and learner characteristics necessary to be optimally effective in the twenty-first century C. A partnership required by the government in order to receive Title I funding D. An agreement between the federal government and the National Education Association

Correct Answer: B. An organization that offers information about teacher and learner characteristics necessary to be optimally effective in the twenty-first century -Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an organization that offers information about teacher and learner characteristics necessary to be optimally effective in the twenty-first century.

Which statement is true concerning teacher salaries? A. The highest salary is in New York; the lowest salary is in West Virginia. B. More than half the states have average salaries that are less than the national average. C. Because of federal standardization, states have a consistent base salary. D. Average salaries of teachers tend to be about twice as much as average beginning salaries.

Correct Answer: B. More than half the states have average salaries that are less than the national average. -More than half the states have substantially lower than average teacher salaries, with some having substantially higher.

Teaching aligns with all the following characteristics of a profession, except which pair of characteristics? A. Unique knowledge and skills and performance standards B. Policing our own ranks and higher-than-average financial rewards C. Higher-than-average financial rewards and acceptance of responsibility D. Autonomy and essential service

Correct Answer: B. Policing our own ranks and higher-than-average financial rewards -It is widely believed that teachers do not police their own ranks and do not receive higher-than-average financial rewards.

Which of the following is not considered a traditional path for teacher preparation? A. A bachelor's degree B. Teach for America C. Master of Arts in Teaching D. Fifth-year program

Correct Answer: B. Teach for America -Teach for America is an alternative path for teacher preparation.

In almost all states and school districts, teachers are paid primarily according to: A. the grade level they teach. B. longevity and level of education. C. the subject area specialty and grade level. D. seniority.

Correct Answer: B. longevity and level of education. -The salary scales may differ, but longevity and level of education are the most common determiners of salary.

What are the InTASC Standards? A. International teacher standards B. Standards used to measure Texas teachers C. A document that details what effective teachers should know and be able to do D. Standards of the Teachers Association and Schools Consortium

Correct Answer: C. A document that details what effective teachers should know and be able to do -The InTASC Standards detail what effective teachers should know and be able to do.

Which of the following is not one of the 10 characteristics of a profession, according to this text? A. Public trust B. Training and ongoing study C. Balance of racial participants/membership D. Unique knowledge and skills

Correct Answer: C. Balance of racial participants/membership -Racial balance isn't addressed in the 10 characteristics of a profession.

Which of the following is not an advantage of belonging to national and regional professional organizations? A. Each subject area has a professional organization that sponsors annual conferences. B. Professional organizations provide representation in educational and political arenas. C. For each organization teachers join, they receive a stipend from their school districts. -Teachers do not receive stipends from their school districts for belonging to national and regional professional organizations. D. National and regional professional associations provide leadership and support for teachers.

Correct Answer: C. For each organization teachers join, they receive a stipend from their school districts. -Teachers do not receive stipends from their school districts for belonging to national and regional professional organizations.

Which of the following statements about alternative teacher preparation is false? A. All 50 states offer one or more programs for alternative certification/licensure. B. Alternative paths attract more men and minorities to the profession than traditional paths. C. In the 2015-2016 school year, about 500 TFA corps members taught in public schools. D. The number of teachers entering the classroom through alternative paths has rapidly increased.

Correct Answer: C. In the 2015-2016 school year, about 500 TFA corps members taught in public schools. -This is a false statement. TFA had about 10,000 corps members teaching in public schools in 2015-2016.

What does Tomlinson mean when she uses the term energy renewal? A. It's what summer vacation is designed to accomplish B. A physical workout routine that helps relieve teacher stress C. A required professional development program in conjunction with teacher license renewal D. Consistently resilient teachers find ways to renew their energy

Correct Answer: D. Consistently resilient teachers find ways to renew their energy -Tomlinson uses the term energy renewal to describe resilient teachers who find ways to renew their energy.

What does becoming a reflective practitioner require of a teacher? A. Sharing our thoughts about our practice—that is, what we do as teachers B. Obtaining a graduate degree that includes instruction on reflection C. Keeping a journal that allows us to consider situations and how we have grown D. Deliberately thinking about our practice— that is, what we do as teachers

Correct Answer: D. Deliberately thinking about our practice— that is, what we do as teachers -Reflective practice requires that we deliberately think about what we do as teachers.

Which trait do students not use to describe effective teachers? A. Displaying passion for what they teach B. Developing relationships with them C. Doing their best to help everyone learn D. Slack enforcement of school rules

Correct Answer: D. Slack enforcement of school rules -Students don't say they want teachers who fail to enforce rules.

What is academic rigor characterized by? A. Teaching only core subjects and grading using the bell curve to insure fairness B. Teaching meaningful content and grading using the bell curve to ensure fairness C. High expectations for student learning that include teaching only core subjects D. Teaching meaningful content and maintaining high expectations for student learning

Correct Answer: D. Teaching meaningful content and maintaining high expectations for student learning -Academic rigor is characterized by teaching meaningful content and maintaining high expectations for student learning.

What is the Praxis Series? A. A series of field experiences during teacher preparation. B. An innovative series of classroom videos that substitute for some field experiences. C. Alternative certification courses used by many school districts to prepare more teachers. D. Tests required for teacher certification or licensure in some states.

Correct Answer: D. Tests required for teacher certification or licensure in some states -The Praxis Series tests are designed to gauge teacher readiness for certification or licensure.

What's the most important benefit of field experience during teacher preparation? A. Field experience provides opportunities for students to meet administrators who may one day hire them. B. Field experience provides exposure to urban and suburban settings to help students determine what setting might be best for them. C. Early experiences in schools will help students decide what grade level and/or subject area they want to teach. D. The more experiences you have in schools with teachers and students, the better prepared you will be to have a classroom of your own.

Correct Answer: D. The more experiences you have in schools with teachers and students, the better prepared you will be to have a classroom of your own. -Field experiences serve many purposes, but the most important benefit is exposure to classrooms.

In the context of this chapter, what is meant by the statement "Teaching is not a stagnant career"? A. Salaries can go up at variable rates. B. Teachers can be administrators one year, classroom teachers the next, and back-and-forth. C. Currently, teacher preparation has few standards. D. There are always opportunities for growth.

Correct Answer: D. There are always opportunities for growth. -The opportunities for growth keep teaching from being a stagnant career.

CEC

Council for Exceptional Children National organization that represents the needs of students with exceptionalities and fosters appropriate education for them.

CAEP

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation Agency that scrutinizes university teacher education programs, the result of the merger of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation council (TEAC).

ESEA

Elementary and Secondary Education Act Enacted during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson to provide extra funding, called Title I funding, for schools with high numbers of children from low-income homes.

standards

Expectations for what individuals should know and be able to do.

Kappa Delta Pi

International honor society for preservice and in-service teachers.

InTASC

Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium Organization that sets standards for what teachers should know and be able to do. 4 General Categories: 1. The Learner and Learning 2. Content 3. Instructional Practice 4. Professional Responsibility

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Leading advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education.

Teach for America

Most widely known of all alternative licensing programs; TFA recruits individuals who are college seniors or recent graduates who agree to teach in high-needs rural or urban schools for at least 2 years.

NEA

National Education Association Largest professional education association in the United States, with a total of over 5 million members including teachers, administrators, professors, counselors, and other educators.

NCLB

No Child Left Behind Act Federal law that holds schools accountable for student learning, regardless of student diversity. States are required to test all students in grades 3-8 annually to determine progress. No longer in force in 2016.

ASCD Learn Teach Lead

Professional organization dedicated to promote all aspects of teaching and learning.

advocate for students

Support and defend students, always putting their needs first.

developmental appropriateness

Teaching and learning that matches students' physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and character development.

reflection

Thinking about what is done, how it's done, and the consequences of actions or inactions, all with the goal of being a better teacher.