507 1,2,3,
Contextual Factors
Definition
Factors which reflect a particular context, characteristics unique to a particular group, community, society and individual.
Context –Educational setting
Characteristics – particular to a person place or thing(characteristics of educational setting which you will report on). Provide discussion of the contextual factors in your school.
Specifics for Discussion in Contextual
COMMUNITY
Urban or rural
Community composition(ethnic, political, progressive)
Student Population(what is it made up of: black/white/ girls/ boys
Student achievement level. A, B C students. Can offer test scores as explanation. Are there adjustments needed to be made to ensure student achievement? Where does these students live in your community?
What type of social community (working class, farming, middle class. lower class What drives employment ( high paying / low paying. Family’s income level
How typical is your school in comparison to other schools small, large regular ethnic, political, progressive
Characteristics of School itself ( age of building number of classrooms, typical classroom size
What grade level are your students. What grade levels exit is your school?
Describe characteristics of classroom small, large, windows, doors etc..
Describe classroom atmosphere
Combine you a list of the Following and then discuss in your TWS(identified previously)
Classroom Characteristics (ex: The classroom was small and not well lighted. There are 15 desk in the classroom and one blackboard in the back wall of the classroom. Two book shelves are located as you enter the room on each side of the door. The lighting in the room was not good as several bulbs needs replacing………….ect. Must describe
Student Characteristics
Community characteristics
District Characteristics
Building Characteristics (this may vary in each building of school)
Identify a groups of students with similar characteristics and discuss that group( remain with contextual subject)
May also identify 1 student characteristics and discuss
For Your Information
Follow all guidelines and make sure you discuss what is being asked of you. This is contextual make sure you follow and discuss only contextual
You should have 1-2 pages for contextual
Draw Conclusions. What conditions result into low grades. Some maybe poor attendance, overcrowded classrooms, lack of parent involvement. Lack of qualified staff and so on. What conditions improve student achievement (classrooms that are not overcrowded).. Implications that may cause a particular state is what you want to report. Use what you are reporting to make this a good section of your paper.
Don’t include student or parent names in your report
Know who are you teaching
Learning Goals
Now that you have contextual you may begin to develop learning goals.
Align goals with the national, state or local standards
Have 3 to 6 learning goals
Clearly state learning goals
Review Blooms Taxonomy 6 levels of learning: knowledge, Comprehension Application, Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation
Don’t list learning goals as activities
Discuss why the goals you are using are important
State Learning Goal – Make sure it is significant, clear, challenging and appropriate for students
Use subheadings to justify reader of what you are explaining: appropriateness, challenging, significant, etc.. Subheadings are in bold in each of the TWS processes
Explain how learning goal is aligned with Blooms taxonomy. You may be brief in your explanation to ensure you meet page requirements.
Use subheadings to justify reader of what you are explaining: appropriateness, challenging, significant, etc..
Write clear explanation of why the learning goal is appropriate
Look at the following learning goals and determine which are written properly
Students will develop good skills Yes/ No
Students will understand how to identify verbs Yes/ No
Students will be able to identify a complete sentence Yes/ No
Students will state all the months in a year Yes/ No
Students will be familiar with the rules of tennis Yes/ No
Students will grow corn at home Yes/ No
Circle yes or no for each statement. Discuss why it was not a goal
Assessment / 3
While constructing the assessment Plan the teacher uses multiple assessment modes and approaches aligned with learning goals to assess student learning before , during and after instruction
Charts must be used in this section. You may use the following chart but can be modified for your goals.
Learning Goals Assessments Format of assessment Adaptations
Learning Goals should list each of your learning goals. Remember to write learning goals as stated in the learning goal section
Assessments to be used in this section should be pre assessments , formative assessments and post assessment as well as others that you may choose to use.
Format of Assessment would include what method of assessment will you use at this point to assess your goals. These are example of activities you may use(bell ringers, homework, projects, written test ect.
Adaptations would be how would you use adaptations or substitutes for students. For example child cant see written material due to his broken glasses at recess. What would you do so he can participate in the assessment process? You would use adaptation for children which you are aware of that has a barrier of the learning process.
Next you would explain using subsections to guide your response. Always list the subsections as they appear and respond in writing how you are doing this. The first thing listed on your information sheet of the TWS is learning goals. At this point you have completed a section of learning goals. The next session is show how the local state and federal guidelines are aligned with learning goals. Remember you must use goals from local state or federal guidelines. The next section is Describe the types and levels of your learning goals. Here discuss the level and type of learning goal you are using. The level should be consistent with the standards chosen and appropriate for the student levels. The last bullet on the TWS says you must identify how your goals are appropriate. Make sure each of these are discussed and sub headed. Length 1-2 pages