Good Words & Bad Words Strategy | Works on All Kinds of Exams | Kathleen Jasper

Kathleen Jasper

26 Oct 202024:16

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative and engaging video transcript, Kathleen Jasmine outlines a strategy to help educators and prospective teachers excel on certification exams, particularly those involving scenario-based questions. She emphasizes the importance of 'good words' such as 'standards alignment' and 'data-driven', which signal an answer's correctness, and 'bad words' like 'extra homework' and 'multiple choice tests', which should be avoided. Jasmine also touches on the significance of differentiated instruction, critical thinking, student-centered learning, vocabulary in context, and culturally responsive teaching. Her approach aims to not only pass exams but also to foster effective teaching practices that benefit students in the long term. By focusing on these key concepts, educators can confidently navigate complex questions and enhance their instructional strategies.

Takeaways

📚 Look for 'good words' in answer choices like 'standards alignment' and 'data-driven', as they often indicate the correct answer.
🧐 Prioritize 'differentiated instruction' and 'scaffolding' to meet the needs of all students at various levels.
💡 Focus on 'critical thinking' and 'higher order thinking' to push students beyond memorization to analysis and evaluation.
🌟 Seek 'student-centered' learning approaches where students are actively engaged and in charge of their learning process.
📈 Use 'vocabulary in context' to ensure students are learning and using new words meaningfully rather than through rote memorization.
🌍 Aim for 'authentic or real-world learning experiences' to connect abstract concepts to students' lives and current events.
🌈 Be 'culturally responsive' in the classroom by representing and celebrating various cultures in teaching materials and activities.
🚫 Avoid 'bad words' like 'extra homework', 'multiple choice tests', 'extrinsic rewards', 'negative/punitive measures', 'English only practices', 'homogeneous grouping', and 'vocab copying from a dictionary'.
🔢 Remember that 'quantitative' and 'qualitative data' are crucial for making instructional decisions in the classroom.
📈 'Positive behavior support' is more effective and sustainable than punitive measures; focus on reinforcing good behavior.
🔄 Temporary groupings for specific interventions are acceptable, but avoid permanent homogeneous grouping which can limit learning.
👍 Live by these 'good words' and practices not just for test-taking, but to become an effective and compassionate teacher.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of Kathleen Jasmine's strategy for tackling scenario-based questions on certification exams?
-The primary focus is on identifying 'good words' in answer choices that align with effective teaching strategies, such as standards alignment and data-driven decisions, to help locate the correct answers efficiently.
Why are 'standards' considered a good word to look for in answer choices?
-'Standards' is a good word because it indicates that the answer choice is likely to be correct, as state standardized exams aim to ensure teachers use educational standards to plan their instruction.
What does 'data-driven' imply in the context of instructional decisions?
-'Data-driven' implies that instructional decisions are based on evidence from test scores, observational data, or other forms of assessment data, rather than being made arbitrarily.
How does differentiated instruction benefit students?
-Differentiated instruction benefits students by meeting the specific and individual needs of each learner, regardless of their current skill level, ensuring that all students can progress and achieve the learning standards.
What is the significance of 'scaffolding' in instruction?
-Scaffolding in instruction is a technique that provides temporary support to students to help them better meet learning standards without lowering the expectations. It assists students in achieving their potential by offering tailored support.
Why is 'critical thinking' an important aspect to look for in answer choices?
-'Critical thinking' is important because it signifies that the answer choice is promoting higher-order thinking skills, which are essential for students to deeply understand and analyze concepts, rather than just memorizing information.
What does 'student-centered' learning mean?
-'Student-centered' learning means that students are actively engaged in and take charge of their learning process, which includes planning, executing, and reflecting on their learning activities.
Why should vocabulary be taught 'in context'?
-Vocabulary should be taught 'in context' because it allows students to understand and use words more meaningfully as they learn them in real and authentic situations, which enhances comprehension and retention.
What is the importance of 'authentic or real-world learning experiences'?
-Authentic or real-world learning experiences are important because they help students connect abstract concepts to tangible experiences, making learning more relevant and engaging.
Why is being 'culturally responsive' crucial in a classroom setting?
-Being 'culturally responsive' is crucial because it ensures that all students, regardless of their cultural background, feel represented and valued. It promotes inclusivity and helps students from diverse backgrounds to engage more effectively with the curriculum.
What are some 'bad words' or practices to avoid when choosing answer choices on certification exams?
-Some 'bad words' or practices to avoid include 'extra homework', 'multiple choice tests', 'extrinsic rewards', 'negative or punitive measures', 'English only practices', 'homogeneous grouping', and 'vocab copying from a dictionary', as these do not align with effective and inclusive teaching strategies.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding the Good Words Strategy

Kathleen Jasmine introduces a strategy to help locate correct answer choices on certification exams. She emphasizes the importance of 'good words' such as 'standards' and 'alignment', which are indicative of correct answers on state standardized exams. Kathleen also highlights 'data-driven' decisions, explaining that educators should use both quantitative and qualitative data to inform their instructional choices. She stresses the significance of aligning instruction with standards and making data-driven decisions as key practices for teachers.

05:01

🎓 Differentiated Instruction and Higher Order Thinking

The video continues with a focus on 'good words' like 'differentiated instruction', which involves meeting the diverse needs of all students. Kathleen discusses the importance of using data to tailor interventions to individual student needs. She also touches on 'scaffolding' as a method to support students in meeting high standards. Additionally, she mentions 'critical thinking' and 'higher order thinking' as goals for educators, advocating for the use of Bloom's Taxonomy to promote cognitive complexity in the classroom.

10:01

🌟 Student-Centered Learning and Cultural Responsiveness

Kathleen outlines 'student-centered' learning as an approach where students actively engage in their education. She differentiates this from a teacher-centric model and encourages strategies that allow students to take charge of their learning journey. Furthermore, she discusses the importance of 'cultural responsiveness' in the classroom, advocating for activities that celebrate and include diverse cultures, ensuring that all students see themselves represented in a positive light.

15:02

🚫 Avoiding Bad Practices in Education

The speaker advises against certain 'bad words' or practices, such as assigning extra homework, which may not benefit struggling learners. She also cautions against relying on multiple-choice tests for authentic assessment and using extrinsic rewards, which do not foster an intrinsic value in learning. Kathleen advises against punitive measures and English-only practices in the classroom, promoting positive behavior support and bilingual education instead. She also discourages homogeneous grouping and vocabulary copying from dictionaries, advocating for context-based vocabulary acquisition.

20:04

📝 Embracing Good Practices for Effective Teaching

Kathleen concludes with a reminder that the 'good words' strategy is not just for passing exams but for implementing effective teaching practices. She warns against choosing answer choices that reflect outdated or less effective methods one might have grown up with, and instead encourages embracing modern, student-focused, and positive educational strategies. Kathleen's aim is to help educators pass their professional education tests and become better teachers in the process.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Standards Alignment

Standards alignment refers to the practice of ensuring that educational instruction and assessment are consistent with the academic standards set by educational authorities. In the video, Kathleen emphasizes that when taking any Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE), one should look for answer choices that reflect standards alignment, as it is a key indicator of a correct answer. This is because state exams aim to assess whether teachers are using standards to guide their instruction.

💡Data-Driven Decisions

Data-driven decisions in education involve using quantitative and qualitative data to inform instructional strategies and interventions. Kathleen mentions that this approach is favored on state exams because it ensures educators are not making teaching decisions arbitrarily but are instead basing them on evidence from student performance and other relevant data.

💡Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated instruction is an educational approach that tailors teaching methods to meet the distinct needs of individual students. Kathleen discusses the importance of this approach, explaining that it is crucial for meeting the diverse learning needs of students at various levels. In the context of the video, differentiated instruction is linked to using data to identify student needs and providing appropriate support.

💡Scaffolding

Scaffolding in education is a technique where teachers provide temporary support to students to help them grasp a concept or skill and then gradually remove the support as the student becomes more proficient. Kathleen uses the analogy of building scaffolding to illustrate how teachers can assist students in meeting high standards without lowering expectations.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and apply knowledge in complex problem-solving situations. Kathleen stresses the importance of fostering critical thinking skills in students, which goes beyond simple recall and memorization. She advises looking for answer choices that promote higher-order thinking and align with Bloom's Taxonomy, a classification of learning objectives.

💡Student-Centered Learning

Student-centered learning is an educational philosophy that places the student at the heart of the learning process, encouraging active engagement and self-directed learning. Kathleen contrasts this with traditional teacher-centered methods, advocating for strategies that give students more control over their learning journey.

💡Vocabulary in Context

Using vocabulary in context involves teaching and assessing students' understanding of words through their usage in sentences and real-life situations. Kathleen advises against rote memorization and dictionary copying, instead promoting the integration of vocabulary into meaningful contexts to enhance comprehension and retention.

💡Authentic Learning Experiences

Authentic learning experiences are educational activities that connect classroom learning to real-world situations, making abstract concepts more tangible and relevant. Kathleen gives examples such as using current events in social studies or hands-on models in science to illustrate complex ideas, emphasizing that such experiences are more effective for student understanding.

💡Culturally Responsive Teaching

Culturally responsive teaching is an approach that respects and incorporates the cultural backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of all students. Kathleen discusses the importance of this approach, noting that it involves not only teaching about different cultures but also celebrating them and presenting diverse individuals in positive roles. This helps to create an inclusive and respectful learning environment.

💡Positive Behavior Support

Positive behavior support is a proactive approach to behavior management that focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors rather than punishing negative ones. Kathleen explains that this method is more effective and sustainable than punitive measures, aligning with current educational research and best practices.

💡Bilingual Education

Bilingual education is an educational approach that uses two languages as mediums of instruction, aiming to develop proficiency in both. Kathleen argues against 'English-only' practices in the classroom, stating that they do not support effective language acquisition and can be detrimental to students' learning. Instead, she advocates for supporting students' home languages while teaching them English.

Highlights

Good words strategy helps locate correct answer choices on certification exams.

The strategy focuses on scenario-based questions which are typically difficult on exams.

Good words to look for in answer choices include 'standards' and 'alignment', indicating adherence to state standards.

Data-driven decisions are crucial, using both quantitative and qualitative data to inform instructional choices.

Differentiated instruction is key to meeting the needs of all students, regardless of their current academic level.

Scaffolding in instruction helps support students in meeting high standards.

Promoting critical thinking and higher order skills is essential for student engagement and understanding.

Student-centered learning empowers students to take charge of their own learning process.

Vocabulary should be taught in context to enhance understanding and meaningful learning.

Authentic or real-world learning experiences make abstract concepts relatable and engaging for students.

Culturally responsive teaching ensures that all students see themselves represented in a positive light.

Avoid 'bad words' like extra homework, multiple choice tests, extrinsic rewards, and punitive measures.

English-only practices are counterproductive for English language learners and should be avoided.

Homogeneous grouping can limit learning; mix different levels of students for more effective learning.

Vocabulary acquisition is not effectively achieved through copying from a dictionary; context is crucial.

The good words strategy not only helps pass tests but also promotes best practices for being an effective teacher.

Positive behavior support is more sustainable and effective than punitive measures in the classroom.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Certification Exams Teaching Strategies Standards Alignment Data-Driven Differentiated Instruction Cultural Responsiveness Critical Thinking Student-Centered Authentic Learning Education Tips Positive Behavior Support