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A student uses Mursion during the WYTeach competition

WYTeach Resources

WYTeach Home  |   Contest Info |  What is Mursion?

Templates and Rubrics

Click the links below to download templates and rubrics that will help you prepare for the contest.

Tutorial VideoS

View the below videos to better prepare yourself for the competition. You will gain insights from experts that will help you ask questions, establish your teaching presence, and assess what your students are learning.

 

Asking Questions

Why do we ask Questions?

  • Encourage deep thinking
  • Encourage reflection and metacognition
  • Create a context for learning
  • Assess learning and use responses to guide and adjust instruction

Tips for asking questions

  • Avoid yes or no questions
  • Engage your students in higher level thinking
  • Ask essential questions that are straight to the point
  • Use Bloom's Taxonomy to ask higher levels of questions
  • Be mindful of when it is best to use literal vs. inferential questioning
  • Probe for more information and ask follow up questions
  • Allow time for thought and reflection
  • Allow for thinking aloud and processing
  • Create an environment of respect
  • Create structures that engage all in responding
  • Be careful to limit to a small amount of well-crafted questions

Dr. Amy Spiker
Director, UW Literacy Research Center and Clinic

Dr. Spiker shares why teachers should be asking questions when teaching and provides insight into methods you can use to ask better questions during your lessons.

Establishing Presence

Be Yourself

  • Answer questions honestly
  • Admit mistakes and apologize
  • Be excited to help them learn what you know
  • Let them know that you are still learning
  • Share who you are as a person

Project confidence

  • Have an active voice Speak actively and expressively
  • Enunciate clearly Keep your voice calm and steady
  • Vary your voice
  • Open and welcome posture
  • Move around the room
  • Make eye contact
  • Be aware of the messages you send with your body
  • Be prepared

Value Student Voices

  • Use students names
  • Weave student thoughts into classroom discussion and activities
  • Provide opportunities for students share ideas, collaborate, and to reflect together
  • Give students the opportunity to work with a partner or small group

Dr. Leslie Rush
Director, Wyoming School-University Partnership
Professor, UW College of Education

Dr. Rush shares some tips on how to establish your teacher presence to gain control of the classroom and earn the respect of your students.

Assessment

Assessment is a cycle

  • Learning Happens
  • An assessment is used to collect data on student understanding
  • Teacher reflects on data
  • Teacher makes adjustments and/or plans and starts from the beginning of the cycle

 

Assessments do not have to be tests

  • Assessment format should match the concept or learning task
  • Be creative and allow students to show their creativity in demonstrating their understanding

 

 

 

 

Lindsey Freeman
Assistant Professional Lecturer, UW College of Education
Lindsey explains the importance of assessment in the education process.