Question for teachers or those who have taught in a school at any level:

[Michelle in MO]

I'm planning on going back to school this year to pursue either a master's degree in teaching/education or literature.

I was listening to a talk yesterday from Emily Fischer, the wife of Ty Fischer of VP Academy, entitled something like, "What Every Teacher Should Know". She was explaining those portions of her teacher's training that were very beneficial in a classroom setting.

So, I was wondering, for those of you who have taught at any level in a classroom setting, what classes did you take in college that were the most beneficial? What particular concepts (i.e., Bloom's taxonomy, Jean Piaget---these were a couple of things she mentioned) were the most useful to you, and why? (BTW, I know that Piaget is a person, not a method; she was mentioning some of the concepts he taught). If you don't have a degree in education but taught at a college or other place, what methods were the most useful to you?

Could you also please share what age/grade/level/subject you taught?

This would be very useful information for me.

Any help/advice is appreciated! Thanks in advance! Also, I'm not trying to make homeschool moms who don't have a degree in education or who haven't taught in a classroom setting feel less worthy! I'm simply wondering what coursework or methods work the best in a classroom setting.

[Janie]

Granted, none of my undergraduate classes were anyway related to what I do now (they were all nursing classes), but the few education classes I took as electives towards my MA were.

Reading in the Content Area was great. The class itself was full of demanding projects that I didn't fully appreciate until the class was over. Maybe I just like things like that, but I loved learning about Bloom's Taxonomy (still do!) and the different strategies employed to accomplish different purposes.

One thing I have learned over the years (and I think I've mentioned it before) is that there is often a difference in the bent of education classes from a school offering a major in education and a school offering a minor in teaching. The education majors seem to center more on theoretical stuff, while the teaching minors focus on the nitty-gritty business of actually teaching.

Are you in the process of scheduling classes now? Many well-wishes for a great year!

[Jane in NC]

Hi Michelle,

You always initiate such thought provoking conversations.

My experience is primarily at the college level teaching everything from remedial mathematics to the Calculus sequence and Differential Equations. I have taught traditionally aged undergrads and adults. At one point I even taught some statistics (ugh!) as well as a two semester course for future elementary school math teachers.

Additionally I taught Latin to upper elementary school children at a Montessori school and have coached numerous science "teams"--robotics, forestry (4-H), Envirothon at the middle school and high school levels.

But I am unqualified to teach in a public school since I lack a teaching degree. Further I have never taken an education course although I have read several books by Maria Montessori. I found Steve Krantz's book How to Teach Mathematics to be valuable.

Philosophically I must say that there is much in Montessori and Waldorf that just makes sense to me regarding experiential learning. (Also note that some of what passes for "Montessori" is not necessarily so.) I am a firm believer in hands on education at many levels beginning with prehensile skills and into the later sciences where observation and experimentation both in the field and the lab are imperative.

Ultimately I an unsure if one methodology is preferred over another. The key to me is that any teacher must bring passion for his material into the classroom. Not every child may necessarily be reached, but passion alone will lead many to ask, "What does she see that excites her so in this play? (or in this proof?)"

Honing communication skills to reach one's particular audience is a skill not taught in a text book.

Clearly there are participants far more knowledgeable that I who will offer better insight.

Jane

[Laura R (FL)]

I'm working on my MA in Christian Education right now. Since my degree is through a seminary, the coursework is a bit different. I just finished the first half of my degree which was all theology. Now I'm in the first Christian Education course. One of my books is Wilson's Lost Tools of Teaching (I got a kick out of that)! I would share some book titles with you, but they are all Reformed Christian and I wasn't sure if that was what you were looking for.

I have taught in a classroom setting part-time for the past 9 years, grades K-8. However, I taught in my discipline and my science degree was more helpful than teaching methodology. I'm also a very non-traditional teacher, having been a very non-traditional ADD-type student. I have studied Bloom's taxonomy and found it interesting, but not practical when you go to do the job. Perhaps it is something you keep in your subconscious, but my approach was different. I was very personal and my classes were engaging and memorable. Not edutainment, but a good atmosphere. I LOVE teaching and I LOVE my students. I knew all of them by name and tried to make them all feel welcome and respected. No one was ridiculed and each was gently taught if I found they were not aware of a concept. If it was possible, I took the kids outside for labs. I found that the motivation to learn came from the interest in the class and relationship with the teacher. I guess what I'm describing is like Maria transforming the children in Sound of Music (it felt like it some days). Sometimes that just can't be learned in a teaching program, KWIM.

[Michelle in MO]

offered by people on these boards! (Don't you sometimes wish there were "WTM" schools?)

First of all, I was very encouraged by Emily Fischer's talk on the subject of teaching. It was obvious that she has a tremendous passion for teaching and for her students. I feel overwhelmed sometimes when I listen to the astounding and creative ideas some teachers employ in their classrooms. Also, her discussion helped me to see, clearly, that even if I pursue a master's in literature that some teaching coursework would be clearly beneficial.

Janie, I'm with you wholeheartedly on the practical aspect of teaching. Although I think theoretical coursework might help me in laying a foundation for understanding the underpinnings of educational concepts and trends, the practical aspect is what I would really need, I think. I suppose the concept of student teaching is to give the prospective teacher an experience with a teacher-mentor, under their tutelage and direction. One would hope that one's experience as a student teacher would be with an excellent teacher! I would rather sit in the classroom with a great teacher for a year, watching them work, teach, and fire enthusiasm into their students, than take coursework that really didn't help in any way.

Jane, I would love to read more about Montessori and Waldorf. Eliana was mentioning in a thread (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41481&highlight=Einstein+Flashcards) I started earlier that she had attended a Montessori school and was a big advocate of their methods. Are there any books you can recommend? How does Montessori or Waldorf methodology differ from a classical method? Can they "mesh" together? I would imagine the concepts must be somewhat similar, because both you and Eliana homeschool classically.

Laura R, I'll definitely take a look at The Lost Tools of Teaching. It sounds like you have a geniune passion and enthusiasm for the subject of science, plus it sounds like your classroom was a lot of fun! There must be many ways to keep kids engaged without feeling like you have to put on a one-man show all the time! From your post you don't sound as "intense" as this one teacher I read about once in The Excellent Eleven (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=The+Excellent+Eleven), but you definitely have the enthusiasm! Apparently Ron Clark's (the author) high school science teacher would cover several chalkboards with notes and taught non-stop throughout the class. She had such passion for her subject that, when the boards were full, she would huff and say, "I need more board space!" Apparently once after some accident or illness she came to class on a stretcher, I believe! Ron Clark said his college science classes were a breeze after that!

Thank you for all the ideas, everyone! Anyone else?

(P.S.: This took me a while to type; my keyboard is almost certainly possessed and I can't get it to cooperate with me! :) )

[Plaid Dad]

My education classes were in graduate school and focused on foreign language pedagogy in the college classroom. They have proved invaluable for me as a language teacher, but I don't know how helpful they've been for developing my overall teaching philosophy or classroom skills. I've also had training as an adult literacy tutor, which helped me understand how teaching adults differs from teaching children.

But honestly, what has helped me most was experience: my own as a student and teacher and that of colleagues who are willing to share their expertise. Most of the time in a classroom, you're not thinking, "What would Piaget say about this?" but "How can I get through to this child?" Of course the two are not entirely unrelated, but theory will only take you so far, in my experience.

My youngest student (other than my dd) was 6 and my oldest was 76. The majority have been middle school or high school age, although I taught a lot of adults, too. I've taught German, Latin, reading, writing, and literature.

[Janie]

Interestingly, I always have found Bloom's taxonomy to be right in line with trivium-based education and Socratic learning. The question hierarchy has been invaluable as I structure my strategies and write exam questions. :)

[fractalgal]

I'm planning on going back to school this year to pursue either a master's degree in teaching/education or literature.

I was listening to a talk yesterday from Emily Fischer, the wife of Ty Fischer of VP Academy, entitled something like, "What Every Teacher Should Know". She was explaining those portions of her teacher's training that were very beneficial in a classroom setting.

So, I was wondering, for those of you who have taught at any level in a classroom setting, what classes did you take in college that were the most beneficial? What particular concepts (i.e., Bloom's taxonomy, Jean Piaget---these were a couple of things she mentioned) were the most useful to you, and why? (BTW, I know that Piaget is a person, not a method; she was mentioning some of the concepts he taught). If you don't have a degree in education but taught at a college or other place, what methods were the most useful to you?

Could you also please share what age/grade/level/subject you taught?

This would be very useful information for me.

Any help/advice is appreciated! Thanks in advance! Also, I'm not trying to make homeschool moms who don't have a degree in education or who haven't taught in a classroom setting feel less worthy! I'm simply wondering what coursework or methods work the best in a classroom setting.

I taught courses in mathematics at a state university on the east coast including Calculus. We had a two hour training session the Saturday before the first day of classes, and that was it. ;)

I did fine, though.

I did take some education courses including a mathematics education course at the undergraduate level. I have a book about teaching mathematics from this class, but I didn't use it beyond the class.

The best advice I could give you when teaching is to really know your material before you enter the class. And do not be afraid. :)

That's probably not much help, but that was my experience.

[Cindy in WA]

First let me say that I have not taught in a classroom setting, only in church. But I wanted to share a book that I found very inspiring and helpful as a teacher, Marva Collins Way, an autobiography about an amazing teacher in an intercity school. She talks about her methodology for reaching students others thought were unteachable. I noticed at Amazon they have another book by her called Ordinary Children, Extraordinary Teachers, though I've never read it. She attained amazing success in the classroom and cared deeply for each child.
HTH
Cindy

[Jann in TX]

I really do not value the 'theory' classes I took...In reality they are nice to think about--but when you have 20+ kids on 20+ different levels that you must teach at the same time...well, it really comes down to style and methods.

I really enjoyed my methods classes in college. I had great profs who modeled teaching in a variety of ways. It helped me to see what teaching aids were available and what to do with them!

Education classes to NOT make good teachers. Teaching along side good teachers--and having a PASSION for teaching--go much further.