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.