Allyn & Bacon / Merrill

Education

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Touch the Future...Teach!
Carlos F. Diaz, Florida Atlantic University
Carol M Pelletier
Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr., University of Miami

ISBN-10: 0205375669
ISBN-13: 9780205375660

Publisher: Merrill
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 592 pp
Published: 09/27/2005

Suggested retail price: $111.67
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A multicultural theme is at the center of this book, encouraging students to reflect on their own culture, biases, and beliefs that they bring to the classroom. This book inspires prospective teachers to remember that if children represent the future of the world, then teachers do in fact touch the future.

Reviewers are calling Touch the Future ... Teach! “the most reflective book on the market.” One that “makes prospective teachers really think about their own culture, biases and beliefs, and how this impacts their teaching.” Written with the express purpose of developing a meaningful understanding of the critical role teachers play in the development of young people in a multicultural society, Diaz, Pelletier, and Provenzo use six themes as the foundation of their writing: 

  • values and assumptions
  • multiculturalism and diversity
  • standards
  • linking theory to practice
  • ethics and social justice
  • professionalism

Through the use of a carefully designed pedagogical plan, the authors involve readers in the considerations and decision-making that teachers undergo on a day-to-day basis and stimulate prospective teachers to consider their own future and begin to develop their own professional plan. The result is a book that shares an honest overview of teachers and their work and inspires prospective teachers to remember that if children represent the future of the world, then teachers do indeed touch the future.

  • “Who Am I? What Do I Believe?,” a three-part pedagogical device at the beginning, middle, and end of each chapter, encourages the reader to reflect on his or her own cultural and professional beliefs and assumptions throughout the chapter.
  • “Problems to Possibilities” features in every chapter present case studies of common, realistic problems or dilemmas teachers face in the classroom and help readers explore the ethical considerations as well as possible solutions, including providing a list of helpful resources valuable to the everyday teacher.
  • “Professional Benchmarks” in the margins and at the front of the book correlate the INTASC standards to the general text. A special activity at the end of each chapter helps students familiarize themselves with the standards by applying them to observation exercises.
  • “Through the Eyes of Culturally Sensitive Teachers” features share teachers' perspectives on how culture and student diversity impact the instructional approaches taken to teaching and learning.
  • “Building on Educational Foundations” features explore the legal, historical, and procedural issues in education and identify benchmarks in Educational Foundations.
  • “Education Matters” boxes take a close-up look at critical issues in Education that affect students, teachers, and communities.
  • “Professional Development” pieces at the end of each chapter help prospective teachers link theory to practice. Special “Linking Theory to Practice” observation and interview exercises will enhance school visits and provide systematic data to review at a later time. Completion of “Professional Action Plans” will help each prospective teacher begin to layout a plan for his or her teaching future.
  • TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE—Multiple technology supplements—including a Companion Website and MyLabSchool—offer students numerous opportunities to expand upon the general content of the text, to assess individual learning, and to challenge their own development on decision-making considerations within the text. In addition, a direct connection to New York Times articles through the “Themes of the Times” on the Companion Website offers students the opportunity to read differing perspectives on the most contemporary education topics of the day.

1. Touch the Future.
What is Involved in the Journey into Teaching?
What Does It Mean to be a Reflective Practitioner?
What Does It Mean to Teach in Today’s Diverse Society?
What Are Factors to Consider When Preparing for a Teaching Career?
Final Thoughts

I. WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS?

2. Becoming a Teacher.
Who are the Teachers in America’s Schools?
What is an Effective Teacher?
What Are The Key Challenges for Teachers in Today’s Schools?
Final Thoughts

3. Students in Today’s Classroom.
What Demographic and Social Changes Are Occurring in the Schools?
Have All Students Found Equitable Education?
Are Student Accountability and Equity Complimentary or Competing Interests?
What Educational Options Are Best for Racial or Linguistic Minority Students?
Final Thoughts

4. Parents, Families & the Community.
How Have Families Changed in Recent Years?
How Does a Community Shape the Climate of a School?
What Can Schools Do to Reach Out to Communities?
Final Thoughts

II. HOW ARE SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS SHAPED BY SOCIETY, CULTURE, AND ETHICS? 

5. Teaching and the Social Foundations of Education.
What is Meant by the “Foundations of Education”?
How Have Historical Trends Affected Education Today?
How Have Philosophical Changes Influenced Education?
How do Legal Issues Affect Your Ability to Teach?
How is the Foundations of Education Useful to You as a Teacher?
Final Thoughts

6. The Social Context of Schools.
What Makes a Good School?
How Does School Culture Impact a Learning Community?
Who Controls the Schools?
How are Schools Financed in the United States?
Final Thoughts

7. The Professional and Ethical Context of Teaching.
What is the History of Teaching?
What is Good Teaching?
What Ethical Issues Do Teachers Face?
What are the Legal Rights of Teachers?
Final Thoughts

8. Diversity and the Cultural Context of Teaching.
How Does Socioeconomic Status Affect Schools?
What Affect Does Race Have on Schools?
How Do Ethnicity and Language Differences Affect Learning?
How Do Gender and Sexuality Issues Affect Schools?
What Role Does Religion Play in Schools?
Final Thoughts

III. WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE?

9. Curriculum: What to expect in American Schools.
What is Curriculum?
How Does Curriculum Represent Cultural Values?
What are the Historical Roots of Curriculum in the United States?
What Role do Teachers Play in the Curriculum?
What Role do Textbooks Play in the Curriculum?
Final Thoughts

10. Planning, Delivering and Assessing Instruction.
Why Do Teachers Plan?
How Do Teachers Deliver Instruction?
Can Assessment Aid Student Learning?
How Do Teachers Communicate Student Progress to Parents?
Final Thoughts

11. Classroom and Behavior Management: Creating a Positive Learning Environment.
What are the Dispositions of Caring Teachers?
How do Effective Teachers Manage Their Classrooms?
What are Different Approaches to Behavior Management? 
How do Teachers Respond to Inappropriate Behavior in the Classroom?
How can Inquiry Help Solve Classroom Management Problems?

12. Technology and Teaching.
What Technologies Have Been Used In The Classroom?
How do Television and the Internet Influence Children?
Can Computers Change The Teaching Environment?
What Should Teachers Know About Technology?
What is the Significance of the “Digital Divide”?
How Frequently do Teachers and Students Use Technology?
Final Thoughts

IV. HOW WILL I EVOLVE AS A TEACHER?

13. Entering the Profession: Next Steps.
What’s Next? Early Field Experiences and Student Teaching
What Can you Expect in the First Year of Teaching?
How Will you Continue to Grow as a Teacher?
What Does it Mean to Teach For Life?
Final Thoughts

14. How the Teaching Profession Will Change.
What will teaching look like in the future?
How will students be different in the future?
Why are multicultural and global perspectives necessary for future teachers?
Should teachers be leaders and agents for change?
Final Thoughts

“Each of the chapters in this book will guide students and enlighten their aspiration, inspiration, patience and passion to become great and competent teachers.”
—Christopher T. Vang, California State University — Stanislaus

“The authors encourage students to self-reflect and they provide many practical examples of issues and real life situations that will impact future teachers. I wish I would have had access to this type of information during my freshman year.”
—Raymond S. Pastore, Bloomsburg University

“This book is the best text I have yet to review that would train students who are pre-service teachers. The thorough treatment of all current trends meshed with foundational philosophies and reflective questioning makes this book a leader in the field of educating potential teachers.”
—Susan H. Christian, Patrick Henry Community College

A multicultural theme is at the center of this book encouraging students to reflect on their own culture, biases and beliefs that they bring to the classroom. This book inspires prospective teachers to remember that if children represent the future of the world, then teachers do in fact touch the future.

Reviewers are calling Touch the Future . . . Teach! “the most reflective book on the market — one that makes prospective teachers really think about the profession and their impact on it.” Written with the express purpose of developing a meaningful understanding of the critical role teachers play in the development of young people in a multicultural society, Diaz, Pelletier, and Provenzo use six themes as the foundation of their writing:

• multiculturalism and diversity • assumptions and beliefs • professionalism
• ethics and social justice • linking theory to practice • standards

Through the use of a carefully designed pedagogical plan, the authors involve readers in the considerations and decision-making that teachers undergo on a day-to-day basis and stimulate prospective teachers to consider their own future. The result is a book that shares an honest overview of teachers and their work. It encourages teachers to reflect upon their roles as individuals who are sensitive and aware of the social and familial aspects of their students’ lives while also being sensitive to personal and emotional needs of students from different backgrounds.

This text comes with access to MyLabSchool—a powerful set of online tools that bring the classroom to life!

See inside back cover and visit www.mylabschool.com for more information!

View a Sample Chapter PDF: /samplechapter/0205375669.pdf

For Introduction / Foundations of Education


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