Francesca Stark

Brandeis 2014
Readings in Education 1
FINAL PROJECT BINDER*


The final project is a Planning Binder for you. There are 12 sections.
Complete at least 7 sections. Pick ones based on your goals and interests.
Even if you do not yet have a job, it helps to be ready.

CRITERIA !
COMMENTS
1. BUILDING COMMUNITY
How will you build and deepen your classroom community? Share 2-3 systems
you will use to build a stronger community and a better understanding of your
students. You must explain why and how you will use these systems based on goals for
yourself and your students.

You can choose items such as Morning Meeting, CHAT, teams, daily reading or writing, jobs,
improv, a class cause, or other methods you might do to reveal who each child is and to build
connections between your students.

2. THEME

What yearlong theme(s) might you have in your classroom that connect to your
beliefs about learning and/or to the academic and social goals you have for your
students? This must include an explanation of how the theme(s) can be seen and heard
in your class all year.

For example: Empathy, Poetry, Questions, Color, Music, Lenses, etc.

3. HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTIONS

How will you connect families to your classroom? You could create a sample
website, HSC, Newsletter, or other method for communicating with your
students and families.


4. TECHNOLOGY

How might you use technology in a way that you havent yet? You could explore
new applications or tools that would increase student learning and enjoyment of
curriculum. Make sure you explain your reasons for using the technology and
show what you learned about it as a learning tool.

5. QUESTIONS and RESEARCH ABOUT A TRICKY TOPIC
What are questions you have about teaching a hot-button topic? For example:
politics, adolescence, news, slavery, prejudice, climate change, etc. Make a list of
resources you can use for help.

*Note: A binder can be an online binder if it is organized properly.



Francesca Stark
Brandeis 2014
Readings in Education 2
6. CHALLENGES and GOALS
What is something that was challenging for you this year? What systems or
resources might help you in the future?


7. SUPPORT

Who can you turn to for advice about teaching? Create a list of people you
know (through education or life outside of education). Write their names,
contact information, and the types of situations where that person might come
in handy. Perhaps let some of those people know you have put them on your list
and may be in touch. Keep that sheet handy in your binder.

8. DESIGN YOUR OWN BINDER ITEM

What is something you are thinking about or doing in another class or in your
life outside of Brandeis that connects to this class? Explain how it connects and
put it in your binder too.

*
NOTE: The options below are best if you know what classroom you will be in.
You are welcome to do them no matter what.
9. PLANNING YOUR YEAR

What are you expected to teach next year? Begin to make a yearlong plan. Fill in
what you can. You must have considered the vertical and horizontal flow of this
plan. (What is the flow within each content area? What are the connections
between the content areas?)

10. FIRST FEW DAYS

What will you include on your first few days of school? Will they connect to
your last few days of school? How? Create a schedule.


11.
MAP AND SUPPLIES

How will you set up your room? Create a map and a list of supplies you will
need in order to get your classroom systems organized. Where will you check-
off work passed in or work that is not yet completed? Where will you keep
notes from parents, student work for conferences, work to be passed out? Will
you use folders, binders, or bins? Where will you put them?

12. ASSESSEMENT/CHECKLISTS

How will you keep track of student progress? Create One or more student
checklists for assessments. Fill in student names if you have them. Describe how
you will use the checklists to gather information, where will you keep them and
how will you use them for parent conferences? Try and find out the birthdays of
your students and put that information on a chart.