Use the prompts below for ideas about what to report for your field study discussion forum.  The purpose of the assignment is for you to think about issues related to English methods in light of your actual experience in the field, and vice versa.  Keep in mind that field study is also supposed to be a place to see the real-world application of concepts from your other Methods Block course, Literacy Strategies for Content-Area Teachers.

Possible forum postings include the following:  

1. A description of the school in the context of its community.

2. A detailed description of a classroom in which you work.  If you still have access to your methods text, some ideas are included there.   Making a classroom diagram and analyzing it can be useful.  How does the arrangement contribute to or detract from language use and development, interest in reading and writing, etc.?  Related suggestion: make a peer sociogram. Post it as an attachment.

3. Describe how your cooperating teacher handles classroom routines.   These may include, but are not limited to,

•      starting class (greeting students, "sponge activity," getting students "on task"), etc.
•      conveying behavior expectations and enforcing class rules
•      making homework assignments
•      keeping grades
•      taking attendance

Compare the suggestions in Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (1998) The first days of school: How to be an effective teacher.

•      Title
•      Sequence of events (1, 2, 3, . . . n)
•      Close description of one event in the sequence
•      Analysis of the episode--how well it worked, what could be done differently next time, what principle it seems to illustrate. 

7. Describe (anonymously) a student whose individuality is noteworthy.

8. Describe how your cooperating teacher does one of the following in light of what you read about, discussed, or observed  in College of Education classes:

•      motivates students to read (other than quizzes)
•      guides students through the writing process
•      teaches vocabulary
•      teaches spelling, punctuation, or usage
•      stimulates writing by students
•      assesses writing
•      judges the quality of students' reading of literature
•      uses media other than print
•      uses class discussion (time, goals, etc.)
•      formulates questions during class discussion

If you have access to your text from Literacy Strategies, see especially chapters 4, 6, 7, and 11 (Vacca and Vacca, 6th ed.),  for ideas about what to look for in reading instruction.

 9.  Describe a new teaching technique you learned (not included in the list in no. 8 above) or some new materials you encountered.

10.  Use the Field Study Discussion forum to post any questions, comments, or concerns, or to state general insights or assessments of your experience.

John Zbikowski, Department of Curriculum and Instruction  Comments on this web page? E-mail zbikowsj@uww.edu Last updated October 26, 2004 HTTP://facstaff.uww.edu/zbikowsj/Fieldrefl.htm