This innovative introduction to educational psychology in Canada connects theory to practice by documenting - through letters, journal entries, and the authors' accompanying commentary - a typical educator's experience teaching students of various ages, grades, nationalities, and abilities. This
unique approach covers teaching and learning, development, individual variability, and diversity, while bringing together classroom management and assessment in a way that is practical, instructive, and accessible for teacher-candidates.
Note: Every chapter concludes with:
Annette's Journal
Annette's Exploration of the Research
Annette's Resource List
From the Authors' Notebook
Reflecting on Practice
Chapter Summary
List of New Terms
Review Questions
1. Early August: Planning for the Upcoming
School Year
From the Authors' Notebook
Primary Learning Objectives
The Little Red Schoolhouse
Teaching Considerations
Educational Psychology
- Commonplaces of Education
- Applying Psychological Theories to Education
- Foundational Topics of Educational
Psychology
- Research in Educational Psychology
The Students of The Little Red Schoolhouse
Teacher Planning
- Curricular Planning
- Instructional Planning
Assignment: My Approach to Teaching
2. Late August: Considering Developmental Differences
From the Authors'
Notebook
Primary Learning Objectives
Teaching Students of Different Ages
Developmental Influences
- Principles of Development
- Physical/Biological Development
- Cognitive/Learning Development
- The Psychological Structures of Learning
- Domain-Specific Learning
-
Challenge the Brain: Enhancing Learning
- Language Development
- Personal and Social Development
- Moral Development
Societal Influences
- Ecological Theory
3. First Week of School: Establishing a Positive Learning Experience
From the Authors' Notebook
Primary
Learning Objectives
Deciding on an Approach to Classroom Management
Dynamic Classroom Management
- Motivational Underpinnings - Behaviour
- The First Day of School
- Several Days Later
ADHD - Addressing Zach's Classroom Behaviour
4. Mid-September: Making Instructional
Decisions
From the Authors' Notebook
Primary Learning Objectives
Determining the Starting Point for Instruction - Diagnostic Assessment
Determining Exactly What to Teach
- Learning Objectives and Lesson Plans
- Backward Design
- Bloom's Taxonomy
Choosing Effective
Instructional Mechanisms
My Instructional Practices
- My Preferred Instructional Mechanisms
- My Three Guiding Principles
- Theoretical Basis for My Instruction
Motivational Underpinnings
- Direct Instruction
- Student Problem-Solving
- Summary
Putting Teacher
Knowledge into Practice
5. Late September: Assessing Student Progress
From the Authors' Notebook
Primary Learning Objectives
Deciding on an Approach to Assessment
Talking to Students about Assessment
Assessment of Student Learning
- The Purposes of Assessment
- The
Assessment Design Process
- Testing Issues
- Frequency of Testing
- Types of Assessment Questions
Assignment - My Use of Assessment Tools
- Authentic Assessment
- Portfolios
Evaluating Effectiveness of Assessment Tools
The Student Teacher's Role in the
Classroom
6. Early December: Individual Differences - Intellectual Abilities and Challenges
From the Authors' Notebook
Primary Learning Objectives
Parent Concern - Our Son Doesn't Seem As Smart as the Other Students
Intelligence
- Is Intelligence a Structure or a
Process?
- The Source of Intelligence
- Why Is It Important for Teachers to Understand Intelligence?
- An Example of an Intelligence Test
Special Education
- Who Are the Students Who Receive Special Education?
- Controversies Surrounding Special Education
- Individualized
Education Programs
- The Cognitive Abilities of Students with Exceptionalities
- Students with ADHD
- Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Students who Are Gifted and Talented
- Students with Mild Intellectual Disabilities
- Students with Specific Learning
Disorders
Cognitive Styles, Learning Styles, and Temperament
7. Early February: Socio-Cultural Considerations
From the Authors' Notebook
Primary Learning Objectives
Cultural Differences in The Little Red Schoolhouse
Socio-Cultural Perspectives
- Differences Within
Identified Groups
- Positioning Cultural Identity Within the Individual
- Stereotype Threat and Socio-Economic Status
Multicultural Education
Aboriginal Education
Conclusion
8. End of School Year: Standardized Achievement Tests
From the Authors' Notebook
Primary
Learning Objectives
Determining Student Achievement
Testing Issues
- What Is a Standardized Test?
- Achievement versus Aptitude Tests
- Stakeholders' Views of Standardized Testing
- Misconceptions
- Constructing Better Standardized Tests
- Connections Between
Classroom Curricula and Standardized Tests
- Preparing Students for Test-Writing
- Interpreting Test Results
Canadian Standards for Student Achievement Testing
Canadian Debate over Standardized Testing
Glossary
References
Index
Instructor's Manual:
Table of Contents recap
Explanation of learning objectives and how to communicate them to students
Pre-class assignments
Lecture ideas
Discussion ideas based on Think boxes
Suggested classroom activities
Student evaluation
Handouts
(activities, assignments, in-class tests)
PowerPoint slides:
For each chapter:
25-40 lecture outline slides
Test Bank:
For each chapter:
20-25 multiple choice questions
10-15 true-or-false questions
5-10 short answer questions
4-5 essay questions
Student Study Guide:
Learning objectives
Practice tests:
- Multiple choice questions
- True-or-false questions
- Fill-in-the-blank questions
- Short answer questions
E-Book (ISBN 9780199011018)
Alan Edmunds is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario. For 20 years, Edmunds has worked as a special education teacher, a school psychologist, a private educational consultant, and as a faculty member at four different Canadian universities.
His interests have always been in providing optimum learning environments for all individuals with exceptional learning needs, including adults and those who are highly gifted. He has taught educational psychology and special education at the undergraduate level and specialty courses in learning
disabilities, giftedness, and cognition and learning. In his spare time he coaches the UWO Women's Golf Team.
Gail Edmunds is a Research Coordinator at the Centre for Inclusive Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Western Ontario. In recent years, Gail has been the
research officer for the Esso Family Math Project and also works with Alan Edmunds on his research with a precocious child writer. She is also a freelance writer/editor.
Making Sense in Education - Margot Northey, Kristen Ferguson and Jon G. Bradley