Engaging Students: Using the Unit in Comprehensive Lesson Planning

by Dianna P. Beirne, Kathleen G. Velsor

Overview

It has become increasingly evident while working with in-service and pre-service teachers that educators are seeking meaningful solutions to teaching and learning. Engaging Students: Using the Unit in Comprehensive Lesson Planning provides the solution. Beirne and Velsor have constructed a new method to design, implement, and manage teaching and learning that blends the tenets of Constructivism, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Multiple Intelligence Theory—including their updates and revisions. The Unit introduces a systematic method of teaching and learning that assists educators at all levels in the implementation of this comprehensive approach to learning in a natural way. Providing direct instruction to educators in regard to the thorough planning of a unit and lessons with a special focus on objectives and assessments, Engaging Students is comprehensive and incorporates historical perspectives with cutting edge ideals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610488020
Publisher:	R&L Education
Publication date:	06/01/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	116
File size:	845 KB

About the Author

Dianna Beirne, EdD, has been teacher educator for over ten years and is currently working in that capacity as a contributing faculty member at Walden University. It is Dr. Beirne’s hope that this book will help to bring positive and meaningful educational experiences to the classroom.

Kathleen Velsor, EdD, is currently an associate professor in the School of Education at SUNY College at Old Westbury. Dr. Velsor feels that this new method will help teachers to create a constructive learning environment for all children.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Rationale—Setting the Stage for Lesson and Unit Planning
Chapter 1: Background—The Three Pillars of Planning
Chapter 2: Tying It All Together and Making It Work—Blending the Pillars of Planning
Chapter 3: Steps to The Unit Design—Designing the Lesson and Unit Plans
Chapter 4: Hands-On Activities—Using Bulletin Boards and Learning Centers
Chapter 5: Assessment—Constructing Assessment Systems for the Lesson and Unit
Chapter 6: Resources—Additional References to Extend Your Knowledge
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Lynnda Nadien

Engaging Students is a comprehensive and theoretically based book that will allow a ‘new’ teacher a framework for higher order instructional outcomes. The text provides a description of selected theories and how those theories can be applied within the context of the 21st century classroom. The units described are organized and practical in use for all educators. The primary focus relates to ‘constructivist’ theory and the manner in which children build upon prior experiences to gain new knowledge. In education today, we must examine the ‘whole’ and avoid fragmenting ‘parts’ which will only stifle a child’s learning capacity. This text will serve to provide a focused view of the tools needed to teach in our ever changing world and prepare our children for college readiness and higher order scholastic achievement.

Erin Nastri

Engaging Students is a must read for new and veteran educators! It incorporates the latest research of how and why students learn.It offers efficacious tools and advice to best meet the needs of all of students in the classroom.Using the constructivist approach, this book aligns nicely with the Common Core standards and the demands of the state assessments, while allowing for interaction and discovery.Engaging Students will make planning easier and more effective.

Carl Mirra

Engaging Students takes familiar concepts and presents them in an easy-to-understand form. Velsor and Beirne provide a valuable resource for teacher education students and anyone looking to develop effective lessons and units.

Barbara Fahlbusch

Engaging Students: Using the Unit in Comprehensive Lesson Planning is the answer to the question facing many teachers today, in a society driven by a culture of standardized test taking: 'How do I make learning meaningful and assessment authentic in my classroom?' In Engaging Students, the authors provide the tools needed to develop lessons, learning centers, interactive bulletin boards, and authentic assessments in a classroom where students are active participants in their learning. Using Constructivism, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Multiple Intelligence Theory,Beirne and Velsor explain and map out a plan of learning that will guide teachers in developing this process in their classrooms. Every new teacher should include a copy of Engaging Students in their repertoire, yet it is of equal value to the seasoned veteran! I am eager to implement ideas found in Engaging Students in my classroom.

Vanessa van der Graaf

Noted educators, Dianna P. Beirne and Kathleen Velsor provide teachers with a well-researched, essential, and informative book. Engaging Students delves deep into Constructivism, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Multiple Intelligence Theory, while providing teachers with practical strategies on how to accomplish learning outcomes. Teachers will appreciate the practicality of the chapters, making it a useful resource for their teaching careers.

Editorial Reviews

Engaging Students: Using the Unit in Comprehensive Lesson Planning is the answer to the question facing many teachers today, in a society driven by a culture of standardized test taking: 'How do I make learning meaningful and assessment authentic in my classroom?' In Engaging Students, the authors provide the tools needed to develop lessons, learning centers, interactive bulletin boards, and authentic assessments in a classroom where students are active participants in their learning. Using Constructivism, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Multiple Intelligence Theory,Beirne and Velsor explain and map out a plan of learning that will guide teachers in developing this process in their classrooms. Every new teacher should include a copy of Engaging Students in their repertoire, yet it is of equal value to the seasoned veteran! I am eager to implement ideas found in Engaging Students in my classroom.

Barbara Fahlbusch

Engaging Students takes familiar concepts and presents them in an easy-to-understand form. Velsor and Beirne provide a valuable resource for teacher education students and anyone looking to develop effective lessons and units.

Carl Mirra

Noted educators, Dianna P. Beirne and Kathleen Velsor provide teachers with a well-researched, essential, and informative book. Engaging Students delves deep into Constructivism, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Multiple Intelligence Theory, while providing teachers with practical strategies on how to accomplish learning outcomes. Teachers will appreciate the practicality of the chapters, making it a useful resource for their teaching careers.

Vanessa van der Graaf

Engaging Students is a must read for new and veteran educators! It incorporates the latest research of how and why students learn.It offers efficacious tools and advice to best meet the needs of all of students in the classroom.Using the constructivist approach, this book aligns nicely with the Common Core standards and the demands of the state assessments, while allowing for interaction and discovery.Engaging Students will make planning easier and more effective.

Erin Nastri

Engaging Students is a comprehensive and theoretically based book that will allow a ‘new’ teacher a framework for higher order instructional outcomes. The text provides a description of selected theories and how those theories can be applied within the context of the 21st century classroom. The units described are organized and practical in use for all educators. The primary focus relates to ‘constructivist’ theory and the manner in which children build upon prior experiences to gain new knowledge. In education today, we must examine the ‘whole’ and avoid fragmenting ‘parts’ which will only stifle a child’s learning capacity. This text will serve to provide a focused view of the tools needed to teach in our ever changing world and prepare our children for college readiness and higher order scholastic achievement.

Lynnda Nadien