Back to Basics of Teaching

This book goes back to the basics of teaching and presents information that all beginning teachers need to know about teaching diverse learners. It is designed to help you, the new teacher, understand what it means to be an effective teacher and how to become one. The authors discuss how to create a safe, caring, nurturing learning environment that validates differences. They present techniques for being a strong classroom manager and promoting engagement to prevent discipline issues. The authors also pose the questions all teachers need to ask, which are: ""What is the big picture of my curriculum?"" ""What do students need to know and be able to do by the time they leave your classroom?"" ""What matters in teaching?""Several main instructional approaches are provided to give you a choice of pedagogical practices to use depending on your philosophy of teaching and what approach works when, where, with whom, and for what purpose. The Molloy Lesson Plan Format provides a curricular framework that you can use to plan lessons that address everything but the kitchen sink. In addition to the major parts of any curriculum - instructional objective tied to standards, assessment, and developmental procedures - it also requires teachers to think about differentiation for all learners, adaptations for diverse populations, instructional and learning strategies, and enrichment opportunities. The book also presents ways to be professionally responsible by collaborating with other teachers, getting parents involved, enhancing the home-school communication, and becoming an active member of professional organizations. Though this book is intended for new teachers, seasoned teachers who need a refresher in the basics of teaching and learning may benefit from the information presented here as well. The authors invite the reader into the world of teaching to learn about and reflect on what it means to plan and deliver best practices for diverse learners.