PreK - 8 Program Teacher Assistantship Handbook

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First Preparation Day

First Preparation Day

First Preparation Day:

  1. Meet as a group in the Main Office and learn the sign in procedure for the school.
  2. Meet the Principal (if possible) and secretary.
  3. Meet your mentor teacher.
  4. If possible, tour the school building some time during the day so you will be familiar with the basic layout of the building.
  5. Meet the students in your assigned classroom. Briefly introduce yourself and explain you will be returning for three weeks. 
  6. Observe and record instructional strategies and methods of classroom management. Place your observation notes in your field notebook.
  7. Participate with your teacher in various non-teaching duties including recess, lunch duty, bus duty, etc.
  8. Ask mentor teacher to show you the textbooks, curriculum guide (Maryland State Curriculum), pacing guide and available materials for each of the major subject areas.
  9. Ask mentor teacher to help you complete a classroom profile sheet as instructed by Social Studies method’s instructor.
  10. Explain to your mentor teacher that as a team you will be teaching an instructional module (unit) that will include a pre-assessment, a sequence of lessons, and a post assessment.  For most teams, the instructional module will be in a single subject area following the curriculum standards/ pacing guide and it will be sequenced over 5 lessons. Each candidate must complete one lesson individually while the other lessons will be developed and taught collaboratively. It is suggested that the instructional module be taught during the second or third week of the assistantship.
  11. Explain to your mentor teacher that when you return you as a team will need to teach one lesson in each of the major subject areas not covered by the Instructional Module: Math, Science, Social Studies and Reading..  
  12. Select the topic for your instructional module and bring it to the next ELED 307 Seminar.
Author: Rita Thomas
Last modified: 1/25/2012 10:06 AM (EDT)