The MonarchTeach Program
MonarchTeach is a non-traditional teaching program offered at Old Dominion University replicated from U Teach in Texas. I joined this program the first year it was offered in 2013. The first two semesters are designed for students to try out teaching in elementary and middle school. Students are assigned to a class and mentor teacher in the local area each semester. Students build lessons and take over that class for three days. This program allows students to complete a Secondary Education license with a Bachelor degree in their desired STEM field. Below are the experiences I have had through the program along with lesson plans and Power Points I have created.
Step 1
During the first semester of college, through step 1, I taught at Larchmont Elementary school. Before going into the school I was assigned a partner also in the program. We worked on a lesson plan based on the SOL given by the mentor teacher at Larchmont incorporating the 5 E's: engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation. After completion and approval by master teachers at ODU we delivered our lesson to the elementary school students. We did this three times,
but my partner and mentor teacher changed throughout the semester. Once I got to develop and deliver a lesson by myself. While teaching by myself was nerve racking I recognized my passion for teaching and loved it ever since. The lesson plan for the third lesson is linked to the right.
Lesson Plan 3
Step 2
In step 2 MonarchTeach students taught Blair Middle School.
While Step 1 was based on learning the 5 E's and the process of delivering a lesson plan, step 2 had more emphasis on the process of creating a lesson plan. Master teachers demanded more details in the lesson plans. Details such as how and when teachers hand out assignments along with planned dialog and probing questions between teacher and student. I taught planetary motion with my partner during this semester. I got to have a consistent partner and mentor teacher, allowing me to get to know the students in the class better. My partner and I had a mix of kids including a disabled student excelling while other students were struggling. The most challenging part was gaining and keeping the interest of all students. The lesson plan for the second lesson is linked to the right along with a worksheet and PowerPoint.
Lesson Plan 2
Moon and Rotation Worksheet
Moon and Rotation Power Point
Knowing and Learning
In this class I did not have field experience. I learned the philosophy of teaching and studied the dynamics of a student-teacher relationship. This class questioned the importance of 5 E's, scaffolding, and group activities. I studied physiologist such as Vygotsky and his zone of proximal development. I also studied the human mind and how some people prefer to learn a certain way rather than only being able to learn one way. This class made me think deeper about the role of teachers and how everything a teacher does affects the students. I realized through this class that teachers should do more than teach students, they should guide students by paying attention and picking up on students needs through out the school year. Teachers have a strong connection to a student's future and only great teachers take advantage of that. To the right I have provided my teaching philosophy I developed through this class.
Teaching Philosophy
Classroom Interactions
The other steps and classes prepared me for the field experience in this class, high school. I taught at Maury High School
with two other partners and I had to communicate effectively with my partners, mentor teacher, and master teacher. I concentrated more on how I could facilitate learning in the classroom rather than trying to get all the SOL information said. I challenged myself to step away from using PowerPoint and pay attention to if the students were understanding each part of the lesson before moving on. My partners and I tweaked our assignments differently each time we went into the classroom. For example, we noticed we had a disabled child in our classroom that got frustrated with the pace of notes on the first lesson. For the second lesson we gave her a fill in the blank set of notes instead of free handed notes and instructed her to highlight the words other students were writing. We taught the students three lessons and two of the lessons were on consecutive days. The two-day lesson was my favorite, I got to get a feel for truly teaching a classroom due to the fact I could spread my material over two days.
Lesson Plan 2
Karyotypes and Pedigrees Power Point
Germ Lab Activity
Karyotype Activity
Interactive Notes
Project Based Instruction
This class prepared me for engaging students and teaching them SOLs through hands on projects. My group was tasked to make a project that would span over three days. Our lesson plan was developed around Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs). I was put into a group of three and we collaborated well to come up with great engagements. However, we divided responsibility of worksheets and lesson plans. I was in charge of day three where students put together their posters for presentation and presented. Our group also had to present this project to our peers in class. We created a launch video to engage our peers and take them through the lesson. The launch video is too large, but is available through contacting me. To the right I have provided the lesson plan, scenario, and worksheets for the third day.
Lesson Plan 3
PBI Scenario
PBI Scenario Flyer
Entrance Quiz
For information on student demographics and a research methods class taken through this program that offered me additional teaching development please go to my other
e-portfolio: (click or copy & paste link)
https://sites.google.com/a/odu.edu/kirsten-s-eportfolio/homepage
*this website is not edited to be phone friendly