ACTIVITIES:
1. Tell students you would like for them to think about important learning events in their
life—learning to walk, ride a bike, read, write their name, play basketball, etc. Ask
them, “How did you learn to do these things?” Use Think-Pair-Share for responses;
then call on several students to respond to the entire class.
v Did they learn by reading about how to do it?
v Did they learn by watching someone else do it?
v Did they learn by looking at pictures of how to do it?
v Did they learn by doing it?
Guide them to an understanding that all of these strategies might help, but usually we
learn best by doing.
2. Explain that in order to learn about teaching, they will soon be given the opportunity
to learn by doing, and provide an important service to the school at the same time.
5. Take time during the final meeting of the ProTeam class prior to their week of field
experience to review expectations for the week, distribute a copy of the “Attendance
Verification Form” to each student, and answer questions.
6. Let students know that you will observe them at some time during the week.
AFTER THE FIELD EXPERIENCE:
Set aside the first class period after the field experience week for processing and
brainstorming about what they learned.
Group students into teams of three or more seated around a common writing surface.
They should clear the workspace of everything, except one piece of paper and a pencil.
Tell the teams they are going to work together to come up with as many answers as they
can about their experiences as teaching assistants. Each team is to try to come up with the
most valid answers, but there are certain rules they will need to follow.
A) Team members must take turns writing answers on the piece of paper, passing the
paper and pencil clockwise around the circle.
B) Members must not skip a turn. (Or you can say they must try for 10 seconds
before passing the paper.)
PROTEAM DREAMQUEST CURRICULUM
5-52
MODULE 5:
4. Distribute copies of the “Letter to ProTeam Students.” Allow students to write their
letters of introduction.
I Can Teach Others
3. Emphasize the importance of taking their teaching assistantship seriously. Review
expectations for the week in terms of attendance, promptness in reporting to the
cooperating teacher’s class, courtesy in the classroom, and dress. You may want to
have them brainstorm a list of do’s and don’ts.