COURSE OUTLINE
EDUC 498a
Fall Semester, 2001
EDUC 498A
Preschool Practicum; Final Student Teaching at the Preschool Level, Lab School
Placement: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 8:30am -1:00pm,5 credits
Instructor: Dotty Meyer Office hours by appointment; Dotty is
usually at the lab school on Wed and Fridays 1:00 -3:00 pm but may be
unavailable please schedule ahead if possible.
Office telephone# 545-2403
email: dotty@educ.umass.edu
Graduate T.As.: Jane Broderick, classroom #5
email: jbartist@educ.umass.edu
Kate Strub-Richards, classroom #4
email: richards@educ.umass.edu
Jamie Broadhead, classroom #4
email: bjamie@educ.umass.edu
Course
Objective: "Our expectations of the child must be
very
flexible and varied. We must be able to be amazed and
enjoy
like the children often do. We must be able to catch the
ball
that the children throw us, and toss it back to them in ways
that
make the children want to continue the game with us,
developing, perhaps, other
games as we go along."
Loris Malaguzzi, Founder, Reggio Emilia Schools
SCHEDULE OF A TYPICAL
DAY, M W F:
8:15-8:30 Teachers arrive
8:15-8:45 Set up classroom
8:45-9:00 Pre-session meeting
9:00 Children arrive - Constructive Play begins
9:15-9:25 Morning Meeting
10:30-10:40 Constructive Play ends- Clean up time
10:40-11:00 Snack Time, Circle Time
11:05-11:25 Circle Time, Snack Time
11:30-12:00 Outside Play
11:55-12:00 Children leave
12:00-12:15 Clean up classroom, conferencing
12:15-1:00 Post-session meeting
Course Requirements:
I.
PROFESSIONALISM:
a) Punctuality and attendance are expected
at all times, your children, parents and co-teachers depend on you. You
must call ahead and make arrangements for your absence if you do need to
be absent. Missed hours must be made up.
b) Participation in the daily set up and
clean up of the classroom as assigned.
c) Working in a supportive and helpful manner;
actively participate in group meetings; ask for and receive constructive
feedback; responsibly follow through on tasks.
d) Submit neat and legibly written work on
time.
e) Participate in regular conferences with
the instructor and/or T.A.; come prepared, having read assigned material; bring
up any issues of concern in a timely manner.
f)
Participate
in homevisits and parent/teacher conferences
g) Maintain daily contact with
parents of the children.
h) Participate in the major cleanup and reorganization
of the classroom at the end of the semester.
II. WRITTEN
WORK:
a) Make two to three homevisits and write up
a brief report on each
b) Assist in curriculum development by
transcribing audiotapes, planning activities/projects as assigned.
c) Complete a "Check In Sheet"
every two weeks.
d) Submit developmental observations of two
to three children.
e) Participate in two to three parent/teacher conferences
f)
Complete a self-assessment mid
and end of the semester
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
Orientation, Sept. 5 & 7
Parent Meeting, Thurs, Sept. 6, 7-8:30 pm
First day with children: Sept. 10
Japanese Puppet Show, Fine Arts Center, Tues. Oct 9, 11:30
(optional)
No class Oct. 8, Mon schedule Oct. 10 (Wed)
Mid semester, October 29
Discovery Toy Party/Potluck luncheon, Wed. Nov 4
No classes: Nov. 14 and 23,
Parent Conference Night, Thurs., Dec. 6, 7:00-9:00 pm
Last day of classes, Fri, Dec. 14
Classroom Cleanup, Mon, Dec. 17, 9:00-1:00
*Dates to be
arranged for Book Fair and School Photographs