Hall/Quinn/Gollnick, Introduction to Teaching, 2e
Activities
Chapter 1: Becoming a Teacher
Portfolio Activities
1. Construct a Portfolio: Create a portfolio to house your Portfolio Activities throughout the course. Each chapter will have 2 different activities so be sure it will have enough space. You may opt to create a digital or physical portfolio, but either way, you will want to keep it handy so you can add to it frequently.
2. Professional Growth: It is extremely important to keep track of personal and professional growth on your journey to becoming a teacher. Spend some time writing out your personal and professional goals, the corresponding professional standards, and how you plan to document growth in these areas. It might be as simple as creating a spreadsheet or checklist that you can update each semester, or it could be journal entries and a collection of documents from progress made. Keep the documentation of your growth in your portfolio so you can continue to add to it throughout your teacher preparation program. It will also assist you when you prepare to interview for teaching positions. Then, be sure to continue to update your growth as you attend professional development opportunities as a teacher.
3. Planning your Degree and Licensure: It is essential to meet with your academic advisor frequently. They typically hold office hours when you can meet with them to discuss your professional goals and the steps you must take in order to achieve them. Schedule a meeting with your advisor to discuss your goals and plan the courses that you must take during your future semesters. Also discuss the testing requirements within your state and when you should plan to take them during your teacher preparation program. Document each time you meet with your academic advisor and include it in your portfolio.
Class Activities
4. Intrinsic and Extrinsic Rewards: Some of the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards of teaching are mentioned within the chapter. In groups of 3 or 4, have students brainstorm a list of their intrinsic and extrinsic rewards related to teaching and then share with the other groups. Then, each student should take a sticky note and write what they feel will be the most rewarding aspect of the profession. Once this activity is complete, all students will place their sticky note on a large sheet of paper on the board. The professor will then review what factors the class views as the most rewarding aspects of teaching and spark discussion/commentary within the class.
5. Ethical Behavior: Role-play acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for students. After presenting the ethical code and standards for teachers from chapter 1 content, ask students to divide into small groups. Assign each group with a moral, standard, or code of conduct. It is up to each group to develop and role-play a scenario or situation for the class where the teacher is in violation of that standard. Students may choose to portray it in an acceptable way instead. Then, it is up to the rest of the class to determine which code of conduct element or moral/ethic dilemma the group was assigned. This is a low-pressure way to review a serious matter within our profession. Have fun with it!