Except for the initial email contact, the literacy story and the graphic organizer, everything is actually due on the 21st. However, it is a good idea to submit chapter reviews as you complete them, so I can evaluate them and answer any questions you have.  Posts to the discussion board must be made three times per week so that discussion is current and remains threaded.

You are encouraged to relate all activities and assignments in this course to your experiences observing and participating in schools since joining the Fast Track Program.

Readings:

Text - assigned chapters - Complete a Review for each and turn in with portfolio.
Online Materials:  Read the information for each link on the Schedule page.  This is information that I would have provided with lecture if we were meeting face-to-face.

Posts to Threaded Discussion

Literacy Story

Treasure Hunt

Lesson Plans

Chapter Reviews

Critical Friend Activity

Graphic organizer

Six-Trait Writing Exercise

Handwriting Samples

Exam

Lesson Planning

• Create 6 lesson plans that you could use in your student teaching or classroom experience.  Choose from the topics studied in Teaching Language Arts class.  Each lesson plan must teach a different topic and be integrated with your teaching discipline (such as math, science, etc.).  One lesson plan should teach a listening lesson and one will be a six-traits writing lesson.  Be sure to include a graphic organizer in at least one of your lesson plans.

• Use the lesson plan maker provided on the web site.  Save it to your word processor and complete each section except reflection.

• Feel free to adapt lessons from sources such as teacher journals or the Internet.  Be sure to site the sources in the references section of your lesson plan. 

• Send two of your lesson plans to your critical friend (assigned) for editing.

• After completing the lesson plans, send them to Dr. Schulz as attachments.

• Follow the Steps in Lesson Planning

Handwriting

Handwriting is often neglected in this age of computer-written messages.  However, it is still an important means of communication.  Students need to receive direct instruction to write well in cursive and manuscript writing. Cursive handwriting provides a means of personal expression as well as a quick way of writing notes, messages and information.  Manuscript handwriting is requested on the many forms we complete in our society.    They also need to see teachers MODEL good penmanship.  Use the Handwriting for Kids web site to practice both manuscript and cursive writing.  Complete a handwriting sample writing 5 of the sentences at the bottom of both the manuscript and cursive pages and either bring or send them to Dr. Schulz.

Portfolio You will submit all assignments except handwriting samples as attachments to Dr. Schulz who will create an electronic portfolio of your files.
Your resource portfolio (all items sent as email attachments) will include:

	Graphic Organizer
	Treasure Hunt Results (graphic organizer and answer sheet)
	Six-Traits of Writing Exercises
	Chapter Reviews
	Handwriting Samples
	Six Lesson Plans

You may want to print your work to create a personal portfolio, but you do not need to submit the paper copies to Dr. Schulz.  Unless there is something you feel you need, there is no point in copying information from my web site.  I will continue to maintain this site and you will have access to it.