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My name is Zachary and I go to University of Great Falls in Montana. I am an Elementary Education major with a concentration in reading. My family means the world to me.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Chapter 7: Performance Assessment

Questions

Response

-What type of assessment data is revealed through the use of performance assessments?

-How is this data useful?

-How does the type of reasoning that you ask students to use in performance and product tasks affect their achievement levels?

-The assessment data revealed through performance assessment are oral reading fluency, cursive writing skills, debate, oral fluency, athletic performance, social interaction skills, and use of materials.

-The assessment data revealed through performance assessment is beneficial for the teacher to understand where the student needs help and beneficial for the student because the teacher will be able to work towards the students needs. The data reveals if the student is having trouble with social interaction or if the student has troubles with oral fluency.

-Everything that teachers ask students to do will help students to progress in the learning process. The more students do a task the better they will do at it. Performance and product tasks will allow the students to know what is directly related to the standards in the class.

Chapter 9: Three Great Teaching Strategies & Chapter 10: Resources

Questions

Response

-Reflect on teaching strategies mentioned in the text. Why would the author believe that the strategies discussed in Chapter 8 are great? How might you use these strategies in your curriculum unit?

-What kinds of questions promote thinking?

-What types of resources will you use in your instructional unit?

-The strategies in the text help support the curriculum in various units for teachers. The author wants to make teaching the units to others as simple as possible. I would use concepts in my unit to help create the main idea of what Washington State is to the Pacific Northwest. Inquiry is used to draw information from students as to what they may understand about the topic. Skills are taught in order to sharpen the knowledge and understanding of the unit. The teacher who uses these strategies in the classroom will show results.

-Higher level questions that challenge the students to think outside the box promote thinking. The purpose of asking questions is to focus attention, follow up, participation and inclusion, promote thinking, and assessment. Questions like, describe the environment of Washington, compare the economy of the Pacific Northwest, and create an idea of how you think the Washington State economy should be run and why, are all good questions.

-In my unit, I want to use technology. I want my students to know that they can create wonderful presentations, find valuable material, and discover the ever changing world with technology. Print and nonprint resources are where most of the information will be found to create presentations and learn more about the State of Washington. I want my students to branch out into the community as much as possible to learn how the economy is run and so forth. The best way for students to learn that is by having them go out into the community and bringing in guest speakers.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Essay Questions

  1. What has caused the economy of Washington to grow?


     

  2. What is the major influence that agriculture has had on Washington State?


 

Student Name:     ________________________________________

    

CATEGORY

3

2

1

Focus or Thesis Statement

The thesis statement names the topic of the essay and outlines the main points to be discussed.

The thesis statement names the topic of the essay.

The thesis statement outlines some or all of the main points to be discussed but does not name the topic.

Evidence and Examples

All of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position.

Most of the evidence and examples are specific, relevant and explanations are given that show how each piece of evidence supports the author's position.

At least one of the pieces of evidence and examples is relevant and has an explanation that shows how that piece of evidence supports the author's position.

Closing paragraph

The conclusion is strong and leaves the reader solidly understanding the writer's position. Effective restatement of the position statement begins the closing paragraph.

The conclusion is recognizable. The author's position is restated within the first two sentences of the closing paragraph.

The author's position is There is no conclusion - the paper just ends.restated within the closing paragraph, but not near the beginning.

Attention Grabber

The introductory paragraph has a strong hook or attention grabber that is appropriate for the audience. This could be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or question addressed to the reader.

The introductory paragraph has a hook or attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling or inappropriate for the audience.

The author has an interesting introductory paragraph but the connection to the topic is not clear.

Select Response Test

Washington State Select Response Test:

True/False Questions:

  1. __True__or__False__ Washington State is a part of the Pacific Northwest.
  2. __True__or__False__ Washington is the only state named after a president.
  3. __True__or__False__ The highest point in Washington State is Mt. St. Helens.
  4. __True__or__False__ The capital of Washington is Seattle.
  5. __True__or__False__ Washington was the 42nd State to join the Union.

Multiple Choice Questions:

  1. The abbreviation for Washington is: a) Wa b)WA c)Wn d)WN
  2. This country borders Washington to the North: a) Canada b) Mexico c) Alaska d) Idaho
  3. This volcano erupted on May 18, 1980: a) Mt. Baker b) Mt. Rainier c) Mt. Adams d) Mt. St. Helens
  4. This is the state fruit of Washington: a) Cherries b) Oranges c) Lemons d) Apples
  5. This is the state flower in Washington: a) Roses b) Tulips c) Coast Rhododendron d) Blossoms
  6. This is the largest city in Washington: a) Spokane b) Yakima c) Seattle d) Olympia
  7. This is the state nickname for Washington: a) The Gold State b) The Potato State c) The Golden State d) The Evergreen State
  8. This is the state tree of Washington: a) Fir b) Oak c) The Western Hemlock d) Birch

Fill-In-The-Blank Questions:

  1. Who is the governor of Washington State? _________________________
  2. Who are the two senators of Washington State? _________________________
  3. What was the date that Washington joined the Union? _________________________
  4. What are the three major rivers in Washington? __________________________
  5. What two states border Washington? __________________________
  6. Name two of the major industries in Washington: ___________________________
  7. Name two cities named by Native Americans in Washington: __________________________
  8. What was the name of the first Asian American Governor? __________________________
  9. What are three major crops of Washington State? ___________________________
  10. What is the climate of Western Washington? ___________________________
  11. What is the climate of Eastern Washington? ___________________________
  12. What is the state vegetable of Washington? ___________________________


 

Washington State Select Response Test: Answer Key

True/False Questions:

  1. __True__or__False__ Washington State is a part of the Pacific Northwest.
  2. __True__or__False__ Washington is the only state named after a president.
  3. __True__or__False__ The highest point in Washington State is Mt. St. Helens.
  4. __True__or__False__ The capital of Washington is Seattle.
  5. __True__or__False__ Washington was the 42nd State to join the Union.

Multiple Choice Questions:

  1. The abbreviation for Washington is: a) Wa b)WA c)Wn d)WN
  2. This country borders Washington to the North: a) Canada b) Mexico c) Alaska d) Idaho
  3. This volcano erupted on May 18, 1980: a) Mt. Baker b) Mt. Rainier c) Mt. Adams d) Mt. St.
    Helens
  4. This is the state fruit of Washington: a) Cherries b) Oranges c) Lemons d) Apples
  5. This is the state flower in Washington: a) Roses b) Tulips c) Coast Rhododendron d) Blossoms
  6. This is the largest city in Washington: a) Spokane b) Yakima c) Seattle d) Olympia
  7. This is the state nickname for Washington: a) The Gold State b) The Potato State c) The Golden State d) The Evergreen State
  8. This is the state tree of Washington: a) Fir b) Oak c) The Western Hemlock d) Birch

Fill-In-The-Blank Questions:

  1. Who is the governor of Washington State? Christine Gregoire
  2. Who are the two senators of Washington State? Patty Murray & Marie Cantwell
  3. What was the date that Washington joined the Union? November 11, 1889
  4. What are the three major rivers in Washington? Columbia, Snake, Yakima Rivers
  5. What two states border Washington? Idaho and Oregon
  6. Name two of the major industries in Washington: Farming, Lumber, Tourism, Aircraft, Hydroelectric Power, Computer Software
  7. Name two cities named by Native Americans in Washington: Spokane, Seattle, Puyallup, Walla Walla, Yakima
  8. What was the name of the first Asian American Governor? Gary Locke
  9. What are three major crops of Washington State? Cherries, Apples, Raspberries, Pears, Peas, Hops, Grapes
  10. What is the climate of Western Washington? West Coast Marine Climate
  11. What is the climate of Eastern Washington? Semi-Arid Climate
  12. What is the state vegetable of Washington? Walla Walla Sweet Onion

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Chapter 6: Essay Assessment

Question

Response

-What type of assessment data is revealed through the use of essay assessments?

-How is this data useful?

-The types of data that is revealed by assessment is assessing knowledge and understanding, assessing performance skills, and assessing product development capabilities. It gives the teacher the information needed to check where students may need more help in the development of their writing skills.

-Essay writing provides a variety of information that is useful to the teacher. The first thing it shows is that the students know the understanding of relationships among elements of knowledge. It checks reasoning proficiency by written descriptions of complex problem solving solutions. The last thing it shows is the ability students have to create products with mastery and proficiency.

Chapter 6 Current Events and Public Issues & Chapter 7 Planning Units, Lessons, and Activities

Question

Response

-What kinds of current events and issues could be explored by students in the elementary grades vs. middle school grades? What are students interested in? How do you build student interest in current affairs?

-Locate a current event and bring it to class. Consider how it could be used to launch a discussion with your students.

-What components and decisions have to be made when developing instructional units?

-The use of current events is important at the elementary school level. It teaches the current events in conjunction with the social studies curriculum. In the elementary school classroom, it can lead a daily discussion about the news, helps the students realize important decision making on controversial issues, teaches different kinds of controversy, and allows for students to write about issues. The level of maturity and understanding is different for students in elementary school vs. middle school. The students in middle school can go more in depth with controversial articles. In elementary school, students can discuss poverty, justice, peace, and diversity. As the students get older, they can go more in depth with these topics and how it involves the world. The students are interested in topics that pertain to them or they see valuable. The human-environment, crime and rule of law, peace and global perspective, and diversity, fairness, and prejudice all are of interest to students. The best way to build student interest in current affairs is to make it interesting for the students and engaging. Show the students how it affects them and their learning.

- Current event attached http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100317/BUSINESS/3170319/-1/NEWSFRONT2/Bleskin-Motors-makes-way-for-new-building

-When designing an instructional unit, it is important to make sure key components are there. The curriculum needs to be guided and talked about with colleagues. The learning objectives should be what the final results are for the unit. The assessment should be included in the unit. It is important to keep in mind the age of the students to which a person is teaching. The unit should have flexible measures to teach to all students in different levels of comprehension. The more that is thought through to begin with, the more the students will be able to learn.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Chapter 5: Assessment Methods Select Response

Essential Questions

Response

-What type of assessment data is revealed through the use of selected response assessments?

-How is this data useful?

- The assessment data revealed from selected response data are knowledge, reasoning, performance skills, and products. By using multiple choice, true/false, matching, and short answer fill-in it allows us as teachers to know if the students are mastering and understanding the material. With reasoning, we find that students can identify patterns through application.

- This data is useful in that it indicates to teachers the baseline knowledge of the student's comprehension. The questions are more straightforward and do not ask more than to choose from a multiple-choice setting or to simply fill-in the blank. The data assesses the knowledge mastery of the topic required, but does not go into further depth that a student can use in essay or performance assessment.

Chapter 4: History, Geography, and the Social Sciences & Chapter 5: Powerful Social Studies Tools: Time Lines, Maps, Globes, and Graphics

Essential Questions

Response

-Based on your reading in these chapters, what instructional strategies could you use within your unit of study?

-What plans do you have for using several disciplines within your unit of study?

-In these chapters a variety of strategies are discussed as to working with students. Some of the strategies are absorbing: exposure to narratives others have constructed, doing: constructing historical narratives themselves, discussing the meanings of a primary document, listening to historical narratives and discussing their meaning, role-playing, choosing children's literature, composing a dramatic reenactment, oral history, paint, models, snapshot autobiographies, simulations, and constructing a classroom or library museum exhibit.

-In my classroom, I plan to use different discipline studies to work with my students. One way I would integrate subjects is helping the student to develop a sense of time and chronology. Another way is to incorporate map and globe skills that are essential to the student and getting around in the real world. Teaching graphs and charts are another way to let students use other skills within the social studies curriculum.