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If you live in the United States or another country that certifies or licenses teachers with some form of test or assessment of knowledge of teaching, you will find the following case studies helpful in preparing for at least the test. The cases each deal with a realistic teaching problem or dilemma. They are followed by a few questions that can, in principle, be answered in short (half-page) essay format. (This style parallels the style of the PRAXIS II examination taken by many future teachers in the United States.) The content or topic of the cases parallel major topics of the chapters of Educational Psychologyâone case per chapter.
Readers who are planning to take the PRAXIS II test, especially the version called âPrinciples of Learning and Teachingâ, will know that the test also includes a number of structured, multiple-choice items. We have not included any examples of multiple-choice test items here, but they are widely available in various published study guides for the PRAXIS II. Perhaps the most authoritative is the one published by the administrators of the PRAXIS itself, the Educational Testing Service:
Educational Testing Service. (2004). Study guide for Principles of Learning and Teaching, 2nd edition.Princeton, NJ, USA: Author.
Preparing for licensure : the decline and fall of Jane Gladstone
See also Chapter 3, The learning process; Chapter 8, Classroom management and the learning environment.
Jane Gladstone was student teaching in a sixth-grade classroom. She had been there for several weeks, helping with activities and occasionally leading specific activities that she had devised herself. She liked the students and felt that she had been developing good relationships with them.
One morning Ms Wilson, her supervising teacher, had to leave unexpectedly. âSomethingâs come up, Jane, and the principal needs me to come to a meeting right away. It could be awhile before Iâm back, so youâll need to take care of things. But you know the routines now, donât you?â
Jane was surprised and a bit worried, but also excited by the challenge. She did indeed know the routines, so she smiled cheerfully as Ms Wilson went out the door. âOK, everyoneâ, she said. âWeâll start with language arts. Turn to where we left off yesterday, page 46.â
âBut Ms Gladstoneâ, said Paul, âWe actually left off on page 32.â
âNo, dummy!â chimed in Katherine, âYou were absent yesterday, and the day before we had an assembly. Remember?â Suddenly three or four students were discussing where in fact the class had left off in the book, and therefore where Jane ought to begin. Jane was wondering that herself.
âPage 46!â she said firmlyâactually more firmly than she had intended. But the students agreed, and the lesson began. The lesson turned out to be a short story about an athlete who trained hard as a runner for a local competition. Students took turns reading selections from the story, and in this way got about half way through it. Then Joe raised his hand.
âMs Gladstoneâ, he asked. âDo you think athletes should be arrested for taking steroids?â Jane was taken off guard by this. She had been determined to finish the lesson smoothly. All she could think to say was, âWell I donât know. Thatâs a hard question.â
âMy dad says they should be arrested, and that no one should have any doubts about that.â
In seconds the language arts lesson was forgotten and students were arguing about whether athletes should take drugs. For the moment Jane was on the sidelines.
âMy uncle took steroids at universityâ, said Frank, âand it never hurt him.â âGross!â called out Jill from across the room. âI suppose you take them too, then?â âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â asked Frank, obviously annoyed.
âSheâs saying your too fat, Frankâ, said Joe. âThatâs what steroids do, you know.â
Jane was getting worried. How could she get the discussion back on track? Students were just getting more worked up.
âIâve never taken any drugs!ââNot real drugsâsteroidsâyou werenât listening.â âI bet you have, thoughâŚâOn it went, with some students getting annoyed and others clearly tuning out. What if Ms Wilson came back now?âBE QUIET!â Jane shouted, surprised at hearing herself be so loud. Everyone got still instantly, stunned and surprised. But not for long.âBe quiet!â someone mimicked softly from the back of the room. A few snickers. Then someone else said it, with sarcasm dripping from the words. âBe quiet!â Jane glowered at the class, wondering what to do next.
Questions
What did Jane do wrong?
(a) How could the studentsâ inappropriate behaviors be considered examples of operant behaviors being reinforced?(
b) In what way did Janeâs âclamping downâ on the students reinforce Jane?
Describe briefly a way for Jane and Ms Wilson to prevent behavior problems from occurring when and if Jane has to take over the class unexpectedly.
Preparing for licensure : Joeyâs individual educational plan
See also Chapter 6, Students with special educational needs; Chapter 11, Planning instruction.
The following are excerpts from two parts of the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) for a fourth- grade student named Joey who has an intellectual disability. The excerpts list various performance objectives and actions, but only some of these are complete. For othersâmarked with question marks (??)ârelevant information or plans have been deliberately left blank. Read the excerpts and then respond to the questions that follow:
Part 1: domainâcommunication
Performance Objectives |
Methods, Materials, or Strategies |
Roles and Responsibilities |
Assessment |
1. Joey will increase his vocabulary in all areasâ people, things, and actions. |
Joey will use pictures to learn new words TA will prompt active responsesâe.g. âShow me _______.â Conversation book with pictures of Joey doing things |
Teacher: -monitor -plan daily activities TA (i.e. âTeacher Assistantâ): -modeling -direct instruction |
-informal observation -checklists re whether desired vocabulary is being learned |
2. Joey will begin using 2- or 3-word sentences more often. |
-Joey will be provided with model phrases such as: â ?? â -Joey will be given an entire sentence and then _?? |
Teacher: -modeling TA: -modeling -facilitating |
-informal observations -checklists of particular sentences used |
Part 2: domainâacademic/cognitive
Performance Objectives |
Methods, Materials, or Strategies |
Roles and Responsibilities |
Assessment |
3. Joey will recognize and print his name. |
-Cards with one studentâs name per card. Joey will ?? -Make name using    ?? –    ?? |
Teacher: -monitor TA: -facilitate -model |
–Â Â ?? |
4. ?? |
– ?? |
Teacher: |
– ?? |
|
– ?? |
-monitor |
– ?? |
|
|
TA: |
|
|
|
-facilitate |
|
|
|
-model |
|
Questions
For Performance Objectives #2 and #3, the sample phrases and model sentences aremissing in the âMethods, Materials, and Strategiesâ column. Suggest two reasonable sample phrases and two model sentences to fill in these blanks. Then suggest how each of the teaching strategies illustrate principles of learning.
For Performance Objective #3, what is missing in the âAssessmentâ column? Suggest are reasonable method of assessment and then explain (1) why the method would be both valid and practical, and (2) any cautions the teacher should be aware of in using the method of assessment.
Performance Objective #4 is missing both âMethods, Materials, and Strategiesâ andâAssessment.â Fill in both boxesâi.e. suggest two ways of implementing the objective and two ways of assessing it. Then explain how your suggestions reflect the nature of Performance Objective #4.
Preparing for licensure: Rosemaryâs instructional decision
See also Chapter 9, Nature of classroom communication; Chapter 10, Facilitating complex thinking.
Rosemary had planned a lesson for her second grade class about personal and social management, but she was not satisfied with it. She had taken the general goal directly from the stateâs official curriculum guide for health education: âStudents will identify positive communication skillsâ, it said. But the guide said nothing about how to translate this goal into practice.
She was thinking that she would use puppets to demonstrate how to communicate in positive ways. The puppets would engage in dialogue, during which they would nod their heads appropriately, focus on the speaker, not interrupt, and keep still while listening. Maybe she would include a few communication mistakes as wellâtimes when a puppet might interrupt in appropriately, for exampleâand challenge students to identify those moments.
Her plan seemed fine as far as it went, but she felt unsure about two things. One concern was how to make sure that students got the point of the activity, and did not regard it simply as entertainment. How should she introduce the activity? What should she say about it, either beforehand, during, or afterwards? What exactly should she tell students she is expecting from them?
The other concern was with the very format of the activity. She did not want students just to know about good communication skills; she wanted them to use them as well. The puppets did not seem to help with this latter purpose. How, she wondered, could she get students to take responsibility for practicing good communication? Was there a way to modify or extend the puppet activity that would do this? Or perhaps additional activities that students could do?
Think of the range of instructional strategies available to Rosemary. Then answer each of the following questions.
Questions
Choose two strategies that would help her with the first of her concernsâwith making sure that students understood the purpose of the puppets lesson.
Compose an imaginary script of what she might say before, during, and after using the puppets in the way described.
Devise one way to modify the puppet activity so that it focused less on studentsâ knowledge of communication and more on studentsâ skills with communication.
Devise one additional activity to develop studentsâ skills with communication and their sense of responsibility for doing so. Outline each activity in point (or summary) form.
Comment briefly on how each of your answers above (to Questions #1-3) draws on principles and methods of major instructional strategies.
Preparing for licensure: Mr Cullen teaches about houses
See also Chapter 11, Planning instruction; Chapter 5, Student diversity.
Mr Cullen teaches fifth grade at an urban elementary school, where one of the normal curriculum topics is about âwhere people liveâ. The general goal of the unit, as expressed in the curriculum framework document from the State Department of Education, is for students âto understand the nature and purposes of houses and how they are affected by the circumstances of their societyâ. To get started in planning the unit, Mr Cullen brainstormed the conceptual web of ideas and topics shown below as âDocument 1â below. He also introduced students to making conceptual webs about houses, one of which is shown below as âDocument 2â. Part way through the unit, in addition, he took the class on a simple field trip to look at the houses in the residential neighborhood near the school. His notes about that field trip are shown as âDocument 3â.
Document 1: Mr Cullenâs conceptual map about houses
Document 2: Jillâs conceptual map about houses
Document 3: Notes on Field Trip Looking at Neighborhood Houses
20 students walked about ½ mile around the neighborhood (30 minutes)and viewed approximately 100 houses in the process. Behavior during the walk was generally good. Several questions asked by students (no particular order of importance):
âWho lives in these houses?â
âWhy are some houses painted nicely but others are not?â
âWhy are some houses bigger than others?â
âWhere are some really BIG houses?â
âDo children play on these yards and streets?â
Question to myself: How to address these questions back in class?
Questions
Compare the concept webs of Mr Cullen and of the two students. Identify one topic or goalthat appears to be a priority for all three individuals. Then devise a strategy or activity appropriate for teaching about this topic or goal. Use principles of instructional planning such as described in this chapter.
Identify a topic or goal that appears to be a priority only for Mr Cullen (i.e. that does notappear on either studentâs concept web). Devise a strategy or activity appropriate for teaching about this topic or goal, taking into account the possibility that the students have less prior knowledge or motivation about this topic than about the one identified in Question #1.
Identify a topic or goal that appears to be a priority only for one of the students (i.e. thatappears only on that studentâs concept web). Devise a strategy or activity appropriate for supporting the student in pursuing this topic, and for connecting it to at least one other topic in Mr Cullenâs concept web.
Choose any two of the questions cited in Mr Cullenâs field trip notes. Discuss how thesequestions might be addressed in the context of one of the other activities described in Questions #1-#3 âDeciding for yourself about researchâ.
Preparing for licensure: facilitating studentsâ communication through group work
See also Chapter 8, Classroom management and the learning environment; Chapter 9, The nature of classroom
communication.
Scene 1: Barbara Fuller makes plans
It is late August.
Barbara Fuller, a third grade teacher, peers about her classroom, wondering how she will organize her program for the coming year. She wants to try some sort of collaborative group work because she has heard good things about itâespecially that it gets students talking to each other in ways that are productive rather than mere chit-chat. Ms Fuller is thinking of trying a group project for social studies that she is calling âHow many people does it take to raise a child?â Students are supposed to explore how people outside the family contribute to the welfare of infants and children. If they do collaborate successfully, then students can pool their research, share ideas and interpretations, and present their results to class more effectively.
Ms Fuller has read some very specific literature about how to get started with collaborative group work. One book recommends, for example, that she assign the members of each group rather than letting students select their own groups; this procedure is supposed to avoid cliques and ensure that everyone is included. But it also means that some group mates may not be each otherâs first choice. Ms Fuller considers this trade-off carefully, and finally decides to go ahead and assign the group members herself. To minimize possible complaints, she also decides to give each group an immediate task: choose a leader as well as a name for the group.
Scene 2: Collaborate groups that donât collaborate
Two weeks into the term, Ms Fuller begins the collaborative project about community helpers. She describes the purposes and advantages of group work: students can help each other, cover more reading material, and enjoy each otherâs company. They will also be challenged to explain what they learn to each other and to justify to each other their ideas for the final report and presentation.
Once the work begins, she begins noticing a variety of reactions from groups and the individuals within them. In one group (Ms Fuller dubs it âGroup 1â), for example, Tom complains to her that he is the only boy in the group. âYouâll be fine,â she says to Tom. âIf you look around, youâll see that most people are with other people they donât know terribly well.â Tom looks uncomfortable with her response, but continues working.
In Group 2, Jasmine takes over almost immediately; everyone seems to agree that she should have this job. Unfortunately Jasmine is not pleased to be in charge: she issues orders reluctantly (âKyla, you look up about nursesâ), to which her group happily agree.
In Group 3, Ken and Serge confer about the project, but ignore the girls in the group. The girls soon are chatting about activities outside school, doodling in their notebooks, and apparently daydreaming.In Group 4, Ms Fuller can hear voices periodically rising in anger. She canât make out who is saying what, but it seems to involve Jennifer, Sean, and possibly Lavar. The other two group members are sitting quietly, simply observing the argument and presumably waiting for it to be over.
Questions
If you could speak to Ms Fuller right now (at the end of Scene 2), what advice could yougive her to assist in continuing the activity? For this question, take the situation as it has in fact evolved so far; avoid giving advice, that is like âYou should never have done X in the first place.â Focus your advice on developing effective strategies of communication, either for Ms Fuller, for the students, or for both.
Now imagine that you can, miraculously, turn the clock back to the beginning of Scene 1,when Ms Fuller was planning the collaborative activity in the first place. What advice could you give her at that initial point in time? Again, focus your advice on developing effective strategies of communication, either for Ms Fuller, for the students, or for both.
Consider how nonverbal communication among the students might be affecting studentsâexperience in particular. Describe a way in which one or more features of nonverbal communication might cause a collaborate group to fall apart or become unproductive. Then suggest ways that Ms Fuller might be able to help so that members of the group remained mutually supportive and productive.
Preparing for licensure: Ms Scanton teaches second grade
See also Chapter 11 Planning instruction; Chapter 2: The reflective practitioner.
When Ms Scanton taught second grade, she kept a journal about her experiences. Sometimes she simply recorded interesting facts or information individuals, but other times she commented and reflected on individuals at more length. Here are three of her journal entries.
Document 1: Ms Scantonâs observation of Ashleyâs writing
October 4: Ashley procrastinated a lot again today during journal-writing timeâstared at the ceiling, at the kids near her, etc. etc. I reminded everyone that they were supposed to write about âthis week at school,â but it didnât seem to sink in with Ashley. After sitting a long time, she drew a picture of her familyâMom, Dad, cat.
I know she especially loves her cat, but I also thought she should follow directions more closely. I ask her, âIs that all youâve done?â She frowns. I smileâa sincere one.
âItâs hard,â she says cautiouslyâreferring to the writing itself.
âBut thatâs why itâs important to work at itâto actually write,â say I. A pause. Then, âHow do you spell âMomâ?â she asks.
I tell her to sound it out; ask what is the first sound, etc. /m/âŚ/ah/âŚ/m/⌠She says these sounds slowly, maybe to please me.
â/m/,â she repeats, and then write down one letter: M. I have to leave to check on others. From a distance I see her write down K, then erase and switch it to C. Was she sounding out âcatâ?
      Document 2: Later that year: Ms Scantonâs log of Ashleyâs misspellings
Ashley, November 21: Ashley is still misspelling so many words in her writing that Iâm getting exasperated, to put it nicely. Hereâs a list of her misspellings from the past two weeksâmostly from her journal:
techrs(teachers) milmen(mailmen) peliec(police)
fier pepel (fire people) pepl(people)
librein (librarian) lectrisudie (electricity)
doctrs (doctors) nrsis(nurses)
loyors(lawyers)
* What to do for her? *
Document #3: Still later: Ms Scanton journal reflections
April 21: Just finished a cool book, GNYS AT WRK, by Glenda Bissex, that made me think about Ashley and her misspellings. The author described her sonâs invented spellings and how they became more plentiful and complicated at first, but eventually became more âadultlikeâ or conventional. Fascinating! The mom was in no hurry to cure her child of his spelling problems, but he seemed to outgrow them on his own. The chief point seemed to be that invented spellings may be good because they show active efforts by the child to figure out the rules of spelling.
So maybe Ashley will outgrow her misspellings too? I do note that her misspellingsâher inventions
âhave become more complicated across the year. Hereâs from her journal last week: TDA W WT T JM NAD W PLY TWLIT TAG
With a little help from Ashley, I figured this out as âToday we went to gym and we played toilet tag.â
Hereâs from the week before:
TIZ WK W MAD PTY MAX.
Translation: âThis week we made party masks.â
Quite a difference from the start of the year, when she would only write down a couple of letters during journal-writing time! Maybe I need to support her efforts more and worry about them less. But how to do that and still make sure she really is learning how to spell?
If you are interested, the book about invented spellings that Ms Scanton mentioned in Document #3 is listed in the bibliography.
Questions
In these excerpts from her journal, Ms Scanton has observed and reflected on Ashleyâs learning to spell. Considered her activities as a whole, how much do they qualify as action research in the sense described in this chapter? What should be added or changed to make her activities a full-fledged example of action research?
Consider the list of misspellings (or invented spellings) in Document #2. Suggest how, if atall, Ms Scanton might address those misspellings with Ashley. In particular, comment on whether she should make time to work with Ashley in the same way that she did in Document #1. Assuming that she does make time, how she might set priorities about which word(s) to focus on if she does not have time to deal with them all?
Suppose that Ms Scanton does not have time to review every misspelled word with Ashley.How else could she address Ashleyâs spelling problems? Consider briefly how she might use each of the following: (1) peer tutor, (2) classroom computer, (3) homework. Comment on how Ms Scanton might collect information about each of these strategies.