Syllabus- Engl 5922

Teaching Communication Arts/Literature

Fall 2009

Instructor:  Linda Miller Cleary

Office Hours: Humanities 417

Office Phone 726-7296; Home before 9:00 834-2077

Email:  lmillerc@d.umn.edu

Office Hours:  M 2-4:00; Th 10:30-11:30

"Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems,
You shall possess the good of the earth and sun.... there are millions of suns left,
You shall no longer take things at second or third hand.... nor look through the eyes of the dead.... nor feed on the spectres in books,
You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,
You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself."
— Walt Whitman (Leaves of Grass: The First (1855) Edition)

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives

• To acquaint the prospective Communication Arts/Literature with contemporary issues and theories of English education;
• To ensure that prospective teachers know how to plan effectively, to select compelling methods and engaging materials for all communication arts and multiple literacies;
• To examine misconceptions often inherent in the teaching of English;
• To bring together theory and practice as the prospective teacher teaches real students in front of the digital camera and teaches secondary students in real schools;
• To provide useful feedback from peers and from the instructor as the prospective teachers learn to reflect on and further develop their teaching skills;
• To enable prospective teachers to use a variety of assessment procedures;
• To acquaint prospective teachers with Minnesota's English Standards, their language and practice;
• To make sure that each prospective teacher has met the Minnesota "Communication Arts/Literature Licensure" (click to see licensure details);
• To prepare prospective teachers for the job market and to give them information about how to stay current in the field.

Description of Student Performances: (Tasks)

Task I- Microteachings:  5 of the 6 listed below should be taught either in class or at the apprenticeship site (two should be edited and put on a DVD for the instructor to view) must show increasingly effective teaching and planning strategies.  We will teach the first two during class time.

Task II - Major project:  a unit with a web quest, must demonstrate the qualities outlined in the requirements and planning guide.

Task III - Mock Search Committee Interview by real teachers must show that you can articulate a teaching philosophy and the praxis that follows from it.

Task IV - Electronic Portfolio must show that you meet MN licensure requirements.

Task V- Creation of an on-line discussion of a book to be done during apprenticeship period.

Grading

• This is a pass/fail course, but you will find that passing is not a simple matter. Tasks I-IV, shown above, must be satisfactorily completed.
• The class is highly experiential; a substantial portion of the learning will take place during class time and in the schools with selected teachers. This school time will be connected with the High School Apprenticeship Hours. For this reason, attendance will be an important factor. Anything beyond two cuts should be cleared with the instructor before the absence takes place. Absences and lateness may affect your grade.
• Participation in class activities and in all microteachings is required. The reading and responses done for those readings that supports the microteachings is expected to be done before the class sessions that prepare you for those microteachings.
• It is important that lesson plans and self-evaluations for each microteaching be handed in as they occur, not all at the end of the semester. See the instructor if there is a problem.
• The unit will be due on November 19 in its almost-final draft form. Using a system compatible with your electronic portfolio will be essential for this work. You will not want to retype or even scan for that final step.
• All assignments must be on time, or an alternative deadline must be negotiated with the instructor. Incompletes will only be given to students in dire circumstances and must also be negotiated.