1. Activity 6.

1: An A for Effort
a. To begin consider whether you think it is appropriate to award
students credit for effort as part of their academic grade.
I think that it is appropriate to award students credit for their effort as apart of their academic
grade.
b. Survey 10 of your friends of classmates and ask the same
question. Avoid influencing their answers or making them justify the response;
just ask.
Out of the ten friends most them also agree that effort should be credited.
c. What is your opinion now? Did you change your opinion from
when youd said in item 1? If so, why? If not, what evidence have you found that
supports your opinion?
My opinion is still the same as it was before I had done some research. My opinion did not
change because in the report that I read, effort is used towards an academic grade to help out
students with disabilities and learning deficits. Effort can be a cushion in a students grade and
can help those who take longer to learn and have disabilities.
2. Activity 4.3: Comparing Certification Requirements:
a. The internet makes a comparison of teaching certification
requirements in various states an easy task. Log on to
http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/ccseas.asp for departments of education/certification
agencies for all states. Use that information for the following tasks:
b. Locate the URL for your state and one other state (perhaps one
where you might teach or your home state of youre away at school). Select a
certification level of interest (such as middle school) and a secondary area (such
as English or chemistry) or a PreK-12 area (such as art or physical education).
c. Use the internet to find the certification requirements in your
selected states and areas of interest.
To get your teaching licence in the state of Iowa you will need, Baccalaureate degree from a
regionally accredited institution, completion of an approved teacher preparation program,
completion of an approved human relations component, completion of requirements for a
teaching endorsement, completion of the mandated tests in the state in which the applicant is
currently licensed (graduates before Jan. 1, 2013) OR completion of the Iowa mandated tests
(graduates after Jan. 1, 2013). To get your teaching license in the state of Florida you will need,
Bachelor's Degree with a passing score on the Florida subject area examination (for
subjects that require no more than a bachelor's degree) Bachelor's Degree with a valid
certificate issued by American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE),
Bachelor's Degree with a Major in the Content Area Bachelor's Degree with Required
Courses and 2.5 GPA in the Content Area.
d. How do the two states differ? Do they require, as some do, that
teachers have a course in the that states history? What are the differences in
terms of field experiences before or during student teaching?
The two states differ because Iowa requires a series of tests, and Florida does not. Neither state
has a requirement that you have a course in the states history. Iowa has a requirement that you
you have a completion of an approved teacher preparation program, but Florida does not have
a requirement.
e. Do you believe certification requirements should be standard for
all states in the country? What would be the advantages/disadvantages of such a
system?
Yes, I believe all states should have the same certification requirements. All states should hold
the same requirements and expectations for all teachers to be rightfully certified. The
advantages of this system would be that all teachers would have the same requirements, and all
teachers would have the same expectation, and it would give all states the opportunity of the
best and well trained teachers.