Michelle L. Swanson, Instructor
Pre-K through 6th grade General MusicPrice Laboratory School, University of Northern Iowa
Children's Choir (4th, 5th and 6th)
Classroom: PLS 126
Office: PLS 130A
Phone: 319-273-2600
E-mail: michelle.swanson@uni.edu
Welcome to Malcolm Price Laboratory School. I look forward to working
with you to make the 200:128 field experience a productive step in your
preparation to become a music educator.
Please fill out a schedule form (click here) and bring to orientation (if you have not already turned one in)
Please revisit the Field Experience Handbook, specifically noting
all of the “Second Base” requirements and expectations.
You will observe the three elements of instruction identified as goals: classroom management, motivation and teaching/learning. You will be expected to participate, display a professional attitude, record observations, interact in the classroom, implement two lessons, and reflect with the supervising teacher. Furthermore, please be prepared to: prepare a bulletin board, correct papers, prepare teaching materials, develop a learning center, instruct individuals, instruct a small group, and teach an entire class.
The following are further suggestions to the handbook, specific to music
education.
TEACHER WORK SAMPLE -
During your level two experience, you will be compiling a TEACHER WORK
SAMPLE (T.W.S.).
This project is an organizational tool for your field experience.
More information regarding the T.W.S. is available at: http://www.pls.uni.edu/tws/homepage.html
ATTENDANCE -
A minimum of 25 hours of actual in-class participation are required.
An "hour" is the same as a university class period -- 50 minutes -- so the
total time requirement is 1250 minutes.
Of the 1250 minutes required -
1000 minutes working with students present
250 minutes working with PLS teacher (correcting, planning, conferencing, etc)
Sign-in and sign-out in the orange attendance notebook every time you are here.
Please notify your MPLS supervising teacher of any illness
or emergency that arises.
You are expected to be on time and present for all of your arranged times.
Leave a message on voice mail if needed.
Time missed must be rescheduled with the MPLS supervising teacher.
SCHEDULING -
A schedule will be set by Mrs. Swanson.
Please attempt to observe a variety of age levels (elementary, middle school
or high school),
mediums (large groups, lessons, rehearsals) and visit various disciplines
(choral, general, orchestra or band) during your experience.
The majority of your visits will be scheduled during the same blocks of
time each day or each week.
This will allow you continuity to work with the same group of students
each time you visit.
ASSIGNMENTS -
Teaching progression...
Journal (each individual professor has
preferred guidelines)
During your field experience, you are to keep a journal on a regular basis.
Please comment on any student activities, behaviors, reactions or occurrences
you observe.
Feel free to state questions on any teaching methods or patterns.
Each week, the T.W.S. requires certain observations that can be included
in your journal. You may also use the questions below as a guide.
Your journal will be emailed to me each Friday by 3:00 PM.
Each entry will include:
On your final evaluation, you are evaluated on how well you observed classroom
management and motivational techniques used in the class.
Journal ideas...
- Discuss your impressions of the Lab School and the students
- How did the students respond to (a) the teacher, (b) directions, (c) each other
- How are positive behaviors reinforced? How are problem behaviors ceased?
- Think about one or two of your best instructors who made a difference in your life. What was it about the course, teacher and/or subject matter that made it one of the best?
- What makes young people different from college-age students? How are they the same?
- Compare and contrast the music education these people are receiving with what you experienced at the same age.
- Write and think about your history as a musician or artist. Where did you first feel success? Who encouraged you? What are your earliest concert or recital memories?
- Please feel free to observe other classrooms and subject areas while you are here. Look around the school. Check out the lunch room or library. Write a response to what you see.
- Think about yourself in the instructor's role. What would you do?
.
The bulk of your entries should be your reflective response to what you
observed and/or your involvement. Your reflections on motivational
and instructional strategies as well as classroom management techniques that
you see in the classroom are a vital part of your entries. As your
experience continues you will be able to reflect upon previous observations,
make further connections, and indicate change and growth in individual students
as well as yourself.
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me, or write
about them in your journal.
OBSERVATION -
Please look for opportunity when observing a class. Feel free to
move nearer to a student needing attention. Proximity among students
can be very successful in solving discipline problems and create opportunities
for reflection and journalling. Please do not simply state what occurred
during the class period. Look for (1) cause and effect, (2) problem
solving, (3) discipline happenings, (4) unexpected occurrences, and (5) specific
student reactions.
LESSON PLANS -
With the T.W.S. plan, each :128 student will teach two (2) lessons.
Planning suggestions can be found here.
For lesson plan formatting suggestions, click here.
Please refer to the 200:128 handbook for further planning suggestions.
Plan in advance, to have time to discuss your lesson plan with your MPLS
supervising teacher PRIOR to actually teaching.
Materials for your lesson will need to be discussed prior to your teaching.
Depending on the specific materials, you may be required to provide some
of your own materials.
Be sure to arrive early on your teaching day(s) to allow for proper preparation
within the room.
Please concentrate on appropriate appearances, speech and mannerisms at
all times.
EXIT CONFERENCE -
When all assignments are complete and the 25 hours are fulfilled, you will need to make an appointment with me to review and evaluate your 200:128 experience with Mrs. Swanson.
MISCELLANEOUS -
If a weather related closing, late star.or early dismissal is questionable, check with KWWL TV or www.kwwl.com for information regarding Price Laboratory School
All UNI student are to wear their name tag at Price Laboratory School during field experiences.
Level two student are expected to obey the Teacher Education Pledge and Code of Ethics, found at: http://www.uni.edu/stdteach/st/index.ht
Bring your OSHA certificate of completion to your MPLS supervising teacher PRIOR to your first day of experience.