las2

| Standard Two |

**A Scenario ** In fall 2009, my Curriculum and Instruction professor asked our class to create a made-up scenario, which I later used during student teaching, to introduce critical thinking and encourage discussion in the classroom. While the scenario is short, it includes information that the students need in order to answer the discussion questions successfully.

The scenario is an example of proper writing skills as well as practice in effective verbal communication skills. The questions beneath the scenario are meant to get the students to think critically about the information presented in the scenario. By requiring the students to take a specific stance on the issue in the scenario, they are forced to think about how they would react, should they be faced with a similar situation. Furthermore, when students responded with ideas and opinions of their own, I had the opportunity to repeat what I heard back to them, which helped the student understand the clarity of their comments. I also considered having the students write down their opinions and answers to the questions before reconvening as a group to see how effective their written skills were, but the discussion worked out very well.

As a teacher, having proper writing, listing, and verbal skills are critical if I expect students to understand what I want them to learn. this standard reminds me that I should always tell my students the objectives for the day so they know what will be happening during class on that specific day. It is also especially vital that I proofread and structure worksheets and projects/activities so students have all the information they need to succeed. Communication skills are necessary in every field and I know that as a teacher, I should model these skills at all times.

||