title of bu presentation: where theory meets practice: forging collaboration between school and...
TRANSCRIPT
Title of BU Presentation:
Where Theory meets Practice: Forging Collaboration between School and University to enhance In‐service and Pre‐service TeacherDevelopment.
Julia Badiali, BU/Trotter Liaison, Trotter School
Jennifer R. Bryson, Language Arts Professor, SED
Don DeRosa, Science Methods Professor, SED
Brenda Richardson. Science Teacher K2-6, Trotter School
Immersive Methods Courses for Pre-Service
Teachers
The InspirationTraditional methods courses for pre-service
teachers take place on the university campus in isolation of what occurs in elementary school classrooms.
Pre-service teachers imagine or role play what the pedagogy will look like with real students.
“One-third of America’s new teachers leave teaching sometime during their first three years and almost half depart after the first five years,” especially those in low-income urban schools (Fulton, Burns, & Goldenberg, 2005).
Professional Learning CommunityCollaboration between institute of higher
education (IHE) and urban public school
Theory
Practice
Methods P
rogram
Trotter Elementary School
Race/Ethnicity
% of School
African American
58.8
Hispanic 32.2
White 4.7
Multi-Racial/Non-Hispanic
3.7
Title % of School
First Language not English
15.0
English Language Learner
12.3
Low-income 84.4
Special Education 15.0
Free Lunch 84.4
Reduced Lunch 0Gender Enrollme
nt
Male 244
Female 244
Total 488
Stakeholders
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY
Elementary
Education Majors
Trotter Element
ary Student
s
Boston Universi
ty Faculty
Trotter School Faculty
Framework of the Learning Community Language Arts Methods and Science
Methods Meets one day/week at Trotter SchoolBU Faculty and Trotter Faculty serve as co-
instructorsSCIENCE
•2 hours in science methods class•1 hour immersion experience with observation, coaching, and teaching in elementary science classroom
LANGUAGE ARTS
•2 hours of Language Arts methods class•1 hour co-teaching elementary writer’s workshop class followed by teaching experience as a writing tutor
The Team
• Dean Coleman• Carol Crossen -
Director of Finance
• Mike Dennehy – Director of Collaborative Office
• Principal Nolan• Grade Three
Teachers
Don Brenda
JuliaJenn
BenefitsPre-Service
Teachers-- practical experience, mentorship of in-service teachers
Trotter Students-- more individualized attention, enthusiastic undergrads, university resources
BU and Trotter Faculty-- professional dialogue about theory and practice
ChallengesMerging the
university and public school schedulesFinding time for
collaboration and planning
Logistics of transportation
Time and materials divided between physical locations
Model for co-teaching
IHE faculty-- acknowledgement for retention, tenure, and promotion
Indicators of Success
Self-efficacyInterviews with
practicum studentsMCAS resultsStudent investment
Future Visions – The Next Phase
Continue to develop research and evaluation plansInvestigate pre-service teachers’ science self-
efficacyInvestigate pre-service teachers’ interest in
teaching in urban districtsA longitudinal study of teachers post program
investigating the impact of the Trotter/BU experience.
Increased presence of BU faculty Potential teaching candidates for BPSDissemination
lessons learnedpartnership model
RecommendationsIdentify the needs of each partnerAdministrative support and commitmentTimePhysical accommodationsSuppliesBudgetIdentify responsibilities and rolesEstablish goals and outcomes