Florida Standards: A Handbook for Teaching in the Sunshine State

Florida Standards: A Handbook for Teaching in the Sunshine State is a book for elementary and secondary teachers in Florida's schools.  Focusing specifically on one geographic area the discussion is grounded using the language, resources, and policies as they currently exist in the sunshine state.  At the heart of this book is a focus on student learning.  Contextualized across domains of learning, school demographics, student needs, and curricular variance, this book is meant to provide readers with increased understanding about how to make a difference in the classroom.

 

FEATURES:

 

Outcome expectations-Goals and objectives for what readers should accomplish are presented in the introduction and at the start of each chapter.

Reflective prompts-To support readers as they monitor and self-assess, a series of reflective prompts are placed throughout the handbook.

Before reading features-As a window into the complex issues addressed in this handbook, Taking a Stance boxes are placed at the beginning of each chapter.  These open-ended statements invite readers to consider their positions and opinions before reading.

During reading features-Informing and Articulating Your Stance, mid-chapter checkpoints, and text boxes appear throughout each chapter, serving as prompts for further thinking, writing, and discussion.

After reading features-Toward the end of each chapter, Researching and Extending Your Stance, a series of questions revisit initial assumptions and offer suggestions for further research.

Evidence learning-Each chapter ends with a Summary section that contains specific questions aligned with the chapter's objective.  In addition, all writing completed during the reading of this handbook will document student learning and serve as artifacts in a professional portfolio.

Resources-Due to the constant shifts in standards and assessments, the primary resources offered in this handbook are Internet links.  Websites have been carefully selected to give readers the kind of specificity impossible to contain in an affordable text like this. 

Glossary-The specialized vocabulary of the standards movement as applicable to this book is defined in a short glossary.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: The Teaching and Learning Connection

 

A.  Teachers who make a difference

 

1.  What makes an effective teacher?

 

2.  Consider these beliefs

 

B.  The ultimate accountability

 

1.  Connecting teaching and learning

 

2.  Assessment and accountability

 

C.  Florida assessments of teaching and learning

 

1.   Florida Teacher Competency Exam (FTCE)

 

2.   Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT)

 

D.   Summary

 

E.  Preamble to continued reading

 

Chapter Two: Standards-based Learning

 

A.  A call to standards-based learning

 

1.   A conceptual model

 

2.   Defining “learning”

 

B.  National standards for teaching and learning

 

1.  Standards that guide teacher learning

 

2.  Standards that guide student learning

 

C.  Florida standards for teaching and learning

 

1.   Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAP)

 

2.   Florida Sunshine State Standards (SSS)

 

D.   Summary

 

E.  Preamble to continued reading

 

Chapter Three:  Planning for student learning

 

A.  The importance of planning

 

1.    Knowing how to begin

 

2.    Setting standards for learning

 

3.    Aligning assessments

 

B.  Planning procedures

 

1.   Choosing a delivery model

 

2.   Rethinking procedures

 

3.   Making accommodations

 

C.  Contextualized learning

 

1.  Literacy is the language of learning

 

2.  ESOL: Meeting the needs of Florida students

 

3.  The role of technology

 

D. Summary

 

E. Preamble to continued reading

 

Chapter Four:  Teaching for student learning

 

A.  Early childhood and elementary lesson plans

 

1.   Speak up! Sharing responsibility and classroom

   duties

2.   Listen and learn:  Memorizing the parts of

 speech! 

B.  Middle school lesson plan

 

1.    What a concept! Analyzing mathematical thinking

C.  High school lesson plans

1.              School violence: A critical conversation

2.              Discovering theories about the nature of energy

D.   Summary

 

E.  Preamble to continued reading

 

VI.         Chapter Five: Reflection

A.  Reflecting on teaching and learning

1.              Defining the reflective process

2.              Assessment in a reflective model of standards-based learning

B.  Seize the data!

1.              Formative assessment

2.              Self-assessment

C.  Reflections on Florida Standards: Linking teaching to learning

1.              Reflections on the first four chapters

 

2.              Reflections on the lesson plans

 

D.   Summary

 

E.  Preamble to continued reading

 

VII.    Chapter Six:   Collaboration

 

A.  Teaching and learning: A team effort

 

1.              Learning to trust teachers

 

2.              Communicating with stake-holders

 

B.  Professional credibility

 

1.              Learned societies

 

2.              Professional bibliography

 

C.  Florida resources

 

1.              Florida Department of Education

 

2.              State organizations

 

D.  Summary

 

E.  Preamble to continued thinking

 

VIII.  Conclusion