SECTION 3
BE INTENTIONAL

ITEM 9

I make the most of every minute

" Although the length of the school year in most US school districts is 180 days, the amount of time actually devoted to instruction equals about 115 days" (Justiz, M. J. 1984). In recent studies not much has changed and its important as teachers that we learn how to effectively use time from "bell to bell". Teachers need to be prepared and organized before class starts, establishing routines and efficient transitions to cut down on distractions and lost time. If students know the procedures and expectations they can stay on track and the classroom flow helps students stay on task and engaged. It is the teachers job to increase academic learning as much as possible.

Ideas to make the most out of the school day.

1. Aim for bell to bell learning by minimizing housekeep takes such as attendance and collecting homework and focusing on the lesson plan.

2.Break learning in to discrete chunks of time by planning lessons and activities in 15 min increments

3.Establish routines and procedures to enhance learning time

Justiz, M. J. (1984). It's time to make every minute count. The Phi Delta Kappan, 65(7), 483-485.

ITEM 10

I help students develop deep knowledge

In order for students to have long-term understanding and retention it is important for them to have deep knowledge of the subject. Willingham (2003 p 37) To be certain, the goal of learning should be much more than just retention or recall-what has been described as "shallow knowledge". In order to facilitate this idea of learning The 12 Touchstones suggests a method of incorporating The Six Essential C's of learning into the lesson plan. The six essential are curiosity, connection, coherence, concentration, coaching and context. In using this method it provides a foundation for instruction that helps instill deep knowledge. Another method is by using essential question that are pertinent to the lesson or assignment. These questions should guide students to think critically about the topic being covered in class.

These are some of the essential questions I sued in teaching my lesson

• How can understanding finances help you set goals for your future?

• What is the best way to have good spending habits?

• How can understanding career opportunities, workforce and income help you make better choices for your future?

• What factors determine your gross income?

• What are categories that should be on a budget?

Willingham, D. T. (2003). How we learn: Ask the cognitive scientist. Students remember...what they think about.                 American Educator, 27 (2), 37-41.

ITEM 11

I coach students to mastery

It is important to always know what student mastery of the subject is, if not it is impossible for a teacher to improve students' performance and to assist them in the concepts they are struggling to comprehend or master. " Asking the right questions is one of the most effective strategies available to teachers" (Dean et al., 2012) Questions that require and encourage critical thinking are the best. It is also important the teachers keep their lectures interactive and let students talk and interact. The assignments are also another way to provide coaching and help students master lessons. Using homework, writing assignments and quizzes are methods to help teacher check for understanding of a subject.

Dean, C., Hubbell, E., Pitler, H., & Stone, B., (2012). Classroom instruction that works (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD

ITEM 12

help students do something with their learning

The most important thing a teacher can do is to provide a way that extends learning to the real world. Students being able to understand what they are learning can be applied to the real world helps them apply themselves but also makes learning more interesting. Teachers should prepare lessons with the idea of what should my students do with the knowledge they are learning. In doing so projects and activities should reflect the answers. Use driving questions to ensure that projects are helping drive the idea into real world applications. " Driving questions, as it turns out, prompt students to generate and test hypotheses...has found to be one of the most powerful strategies for supporting students learning. (Beesley & Apthorp, 2010).  It is also important to teach students to problem solve and hoe to look at a problem in several ways. As a teacher we have the ability to mold students to be able to understand complex problems and prepare them for the real world.
Beesley, A. D., & Apthorp, H. S. (2010). Classroom instruction that works. Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL).