Chapter One The American Teacher

Chapter One: The American Teacher  Overview of material presented in the book, with summaries of each chapter  Describes Focus Boxes that clarify ideas and themes “Journaling Activities” “Links to the Past” “Reflections” “Praxis Alerts” “Situations and Solutions” “Situations and Solutions” “Wisdom of Teachers” “Wisdom of Teachers”

Chapter Two: Classical and Educational Philosophy  Examines the philosophies that are important to teachers Describes the relationship to the primary branches of classical philosophical thoughtDescribes the relationship to the primary branches of classical philosophical thought

Chapter Three: Our Multicultural Classroom  Discusses the multicultural classroom: Teachers can help overcome some of its parochial attitudes and move toward a more open and democratic society. Teachers can help overcome some of its parochial attitudes and move toward a more open and democratic society. American teachers must be aware of other important subcultures that make up our multicultural classrooms. American teachers must be aware of other important subcultures that make up our multicultural classrooms.

Chapter Four: Just Outside the Classroom  Our profession is profiled.  Reasons we become teachers.  Ways to improve parent-teacher relations.  Important issues of teacher salaries and benefits.

Chapter Five: Classical and Global Roots of Education  The roots of education in a number of ancient civilizations.  The Western model of education.  The Dark Ages in Western society during which religious bigotry eclipsed secular education.  The slow revival of education during the Renaissance and Reformation.  The Age of Reason and Enlightenment when John Locke, Jean Jacque Rousseau and Johann Pestalozzi revolutionized our understanding of early education.

Chapter Six: American Educational History  New England’s Puritan schools.  The “common school” of the 1800s.  The “graded schools” that emerged in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  The “educational ladder” of primary, junior high schools and high schools.

Chapter Seven: America’s Diverse Society  Our country has always been a multicultural nation.  Today’s immigrants may appear different, but are part of the same historical pattern.  Asian and Hispanic (Spanish speaking) people have become the new immigration.

Chapter Eight: The School Curriculum  The core curriculum and multicultural education.  The Democratic and Authoritarian Curricular approaches and different forms of curriculum evaluation.  The explicit and implicit curriculum and extracurricular programs.

Chapter Nine: Instruction and Discipline  Instruction: The planning and delivery of instruction primary domains of learning primary domains of learning cognitive cognitiveaffectivepsychomotor approaches to learning approaches to learning whole class instruction cooperative learning cooperative learning discovery learning discovery learning  Instruction and Discipline student discipline has changed over time student discipline has changed over time discipline is more democratic discipline is more democratic preventative disciplinary methods based on effective communication preventative disciplinary methods based on effective communication

Chapter Ten: The Organization and Funding of Schools  Early American schools typically were controlled by local communities and funded through property taxes.  Control of schools gradually was assumed by the states, with shared funding through state tax revenues and local property taxes.  This state control was accompanied by greater accountability.  The growth of federal funding of specific educational programs, has shifted some control of the schools to the national level. (NCLB)

Chapter Eleven: Rights, Responsibilities and the Law  The law has changed American public schools over the years. There has been a struggle with local and state level majorities to ensure the basic rights of minority individuals and groups. There has been a struggle with local and state level majorities to ensure the basic rights of minority individuals and groups. A number of court rulings have involved school desegregation and minority access to schools. A number of court rulings have involved school desegregation and minority access to schools.

Chapter Twelve: The Noble Profession  This chapter turns to the issue of professionalism in education.  Addresses the question of teacher accountability and rigorous certification standards.  Describes professional support networks.

The American Teacher Focus Boxes  Situations and Solutions present a common situation and a veteran teacher recommends creative solutions.  Wisdom of Teachers provide teaching tips, helpful hints and teaching strategies from some of America’s finest educators.  Praxis Alerts focus on the three Praxis Exams that you may be required to pass for licensure.  Links to the Past offers insights of how teachers in the past dealt with their problems.

Additional Features  Lists of internet sites keyed to topics under consideration.  References, chapter summaries, and discussion questions for review.  Journaling activities, reflection opportunities and portfolio development, including INTASC activities.