Exploring Teaching And Learning

Chapter Pack

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Contemporary Trends in Education

1. Response to Intervention (RTI) is a program that enables schools to identify the specific types of support that struggling students require and to provide appropriate support when it is needed. What makes the RTI program effective as a teaching and learning tool?

1. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) encourages achievable learning goals for individuals with learning differences. What are the three essential components that should be considered when developing curriculum that uses UDL? Why is it important to consider these components?

1. Why is project-based learning important to student learning? Why is it challenging for teachers to use project-based learning? As a teacher, what types of projects might you incorporate into your classroom and why?

1. The interconnectedness between science, technology, engineering, and math has made the STEM movement highly important to learning and problem-solving. How can teachers make STEM more relevant within the classroom? What is the difference between STEM and STEAM? How are they interrelated?

1. What is the “opportunity gap?” How does it affect learning and outcomes? How can this gap be addressed within the curriculum? How would you address this gap in your own teaching?

1. What is a “charter school?” How do “charter schools” differ from “public schools?” Explain the different arguments for and against charter schools.

1. Why is homeschooling considered one of the fastest growing forms of education in the United States? What are some of the positive aspects of homeschooling? What are some of the negative aspects of homeschooling?

1. What is expected when there is a climate of safety within a school? How can a climate of safety be achieved?

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Construct a 2 – 3 paragraph supported opinion response to the following current issue debate. Consider how this effects the teacher, teacher’s child, the school system, other students in the school, other parents who have children in the teacher’s class.

Should a child of a teacher who is teaching at a school attend the same school/school district as the teacher’s workplace?

Clarifying example 1 – Bob teaches 4th grade at NEW ELEMENTARY, a public school, but chooses to homeschool his children.

Clarifying example 2 – Susan teaches 7th grade at OLD MIDDLE, a public school, but chooses to send her kids to a private school in the same county.

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A Closer Examination of Trends in Education

In order to better understand the various trends in education, it is important to take a closer look at each trend. Chapter 6 highlights several trends in education. The trends are:

· Inclusion

· Mainstreaming

· Gifted and talented

· Differentiated instruction

· Social and emotional learning

· STEM and STEAM

· Charter school

· Homeschooling

· School safety

· Select ONE of the TRENDS and find a minimum of three articles that advance your knowledge about the selected group subject.

· At least one of the articles must be research based; one of the articles must provide direction that will support the teacher’s professional development and learning; and the third article must provide clarity about the topic so the topic can be executed within a learning community.

· Create an annotation for each article. An annotation is a short summary of the most important points about the article and how it can be used as well as an APA citation for finding the article again.

Research Based Article:

Professional Development Article:

Clarifying Article: