Teaching as Decision Making: Successful Practices for the Secondary Teacher (2nd Edition)

For general courses in Secondary and/or Middle School Methods. This constructivist-based book examines teaching at the secondary level through discussion of five key factors involved in its practice: Students, Content, Pedagogy, Philosophy, and Context—instilling in future teachers the constructivist idea that designing instruction must begin with consideration of the learner. The objective of the material is to help prospective teachers develop a set of skills, without oversimplifying the complexity of teaching. First chapters are on learning, student characteristics, cultural differences, and authentic learning—while material on learning outcomes, assessments, and lesson plans are in later chapters. Much of the content is devoted to the design of curriculum, teaching approaches, classroom management, and adaptation/differentiation of instruction for students with special needs of all types. Numerous examples drawn from high school lessons and units are presented through a common template that addresses strength/weaknesses, where/when/with whom it would be most effective, how to modify it to meet the needs of special learners, and what values and/or social relationships it promotes. In addition, a case study involving a multidisciplinary unit on Zimbabwe ties text-sanctioned practices to unit/lesson planning that meets state and local standards. For prospective secondary teachers.