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EDU 650 All Journals and Assignments
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EDU 650 Week 1 Journal No Excuses University Culture of
Universal Achievement
EDU 650 Week 1 Assignment Education Philosophy
EDU 650 Week 2 Assignment Classroom Management Plan
EDU 650 Week 3 Journal No Excuses University Standards
Alignment
EDU 650 Week 3 Assignment Different School Models
EDU 650 Week 4 Assignment Effective Lesson Planning and Design
EDU 650 Week 5 Assignment Assessment Matters
EDU 650 Week 6 Journal No Excuses University Interventions
EDU 650 Week 6 Final The Big Interview
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EDU 650 Week 1 Assignment Education
Philosophy

Your philosophy of education will influence all of your activities in
the classroom from how you teach, what you teach, how you manage
your classroom, how you connect and relate to students, parents and
colleagues, to how you engage in your own professional learning.
Being able to articulate your beliefs and educational philosophy is a
critical aspect of being an effective teacher and learner. In a two- to
three-page paper, in addition to a title and reference page, create your
philosophy of education. Please cite and reference at least one
scholarly source, in addition to the textbook, in this assignment. Make
sure your assignment is in APA format.
Below are some reflection questions to help you get started. Use these
questions to jump-start your thinking and to craft your educational
philosophy.
1. What should students expect of you as a teacher?
2. What should parents expect of you as a teacher?
3. What do you expect of yourself as a teacher?
4. What do you believe is the most important responsibility of being a
teacher?
5. What values in life are most important to you as a person? As a
teacher? As a parent? And as a learner?
6. What method of teaching do you rely on most often?
7. How do you think students learn best?
8. What do you want students to learn?
9. What should your students know or be able to do as a result of
being in your class?
10. How can your teaching facilitate student learning?

11. How do you as a teacher create an engaging or enriching learning
environment?
12. How do you engage with colleagues?
13. What type of continual learning do you engage in?
Think of this assignment as the one chance you have to land an
interview at the school where you have always dreamed of working.
In essence, your philosophy of education is the why, what, and how of
your teaching and thinking, so be clear about your philosophy and
provide specifics where applicable to make your points clear and
connected to your current and future practice. Because you are being
asked to choose only the most salient topics to write about, your paper
should not exceed three pages. Your paper should be written in the
first person and should be thoroughly edited. This paper should create
a vivid portrait of you as a teacher.
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EDU 650 Week 1 Journal No Excuses
University Culture of Universal Achievement
No Excuses University—Culture of Universal Achievement. Due by
Day 7.
“Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is
largely a matter of conscious choice, and
discipline.” – Jim Collins

Upon reading chapters 1-5 of No Excuses University (Lopez, 2013),
reflect on the foundational concepts of No
Excuses University addressing each of the listed points. Compose
your journal using first-person language.
1. Consider the structure of each chapter. Describe the key elements
you observed that make each chapter easy to follow or more readable.
2. Select one “Key Concept” and one “Theory to Practice” statement
from any of the first five chapters to reflect upon. Explain why it is
personally and/or professionally relevant to you.
3. Chapter five discusses the concept of having “your moment”. What
was your moment? When did you know that you wanted to be
involved in the lives of students or youth?
4. What are the most common reasons why educators become jaded?
What actions might ensure that we don’t lose sight of the
commitments that we once made as new educators entering the
profession?
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EDU 650 Week 2 Assignment Classroom
Management Plan
Choose a class you teach or one you hope to teach in the future and
describe your classroom management plan. Because a classroom
management plan refers to the things that a teacher does to organize
students’ time, space, and materials so that instruction and student

learning can effectively take place, your plan should discuss these
factors and demonstrate your ability to create a climate conducive to
learning. Your plan should also establish high expectations for student
behavior and learning. At a minimum, your plan should do the
following:
1. Explain the goal of the plan, including the grade level(s) it
addresses.
2. Generate a set of rules and expectations.
3. Examine and explain the role students have in the classroom.
4. Examine and explain the role you play in the classroom.
5. Create an implementation plan (how this plan will be implemented
in the classroom).
6. Construct a visual representation of the physical arrangement of the
classroom.
Your plan should be between three and five pages, in addition to a
title and reference page, and be divided into sections clearly
delineating what is being addressed. The items outlined above should
serve as a starting point for your sections. Other sections of your
choosing may be added. Given that we are teaching and learning in an
increasingly connected digital society, you will also need to review
the ISTE Standards for Teachers and identify
at least two aspects of the standards you will address in creating an
effective learning environment. Please use APA format to cite and
reference at least three scholarly sources, including the course
textbook, in this assignment.
Preparation for Week Three Assignment:
Remember, your Week Three assignment requires you to visit and/or
interview two teachers, principals, or teaching support staff members.
By now you should have either conducted your observations and
interviews or have plans to do so.
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EDU 650 Week 3 Assignment Different School
Models

Part One: There is a range of school models that exist within our
school communities, all of which have the goal of helping students
achieve their potential. You will need to interview two teachers,
principals, or teaching support staff members from two different
schools to complete this assignment. Although it is not necessary, you
should try to visit each site. Each school must be a different school
model as discussed in the readings. Compare and contrast the two
schools based on what you learn from your visits and/or interviews.
The goal is to analyze the two different school models, compare the
type of teaching and learning that occurs within each, understand
what each school has identified as a priority, and understand what
each school or classroom has determined is the top issue(s). In
addition to identifying key statistics, such as the type of school,
demographics, and student-to- teacher ratio, use the following
questions as a guide for your observation/interview:
1. What are the most important issues you currently face in ensuring
all students achieve their potential?
2. How are you addressing these issues?
3. What role does technology play in classrooms to support teaching
and learning?
4. If you had to choose one subject area that your students need the
most support in mastering, what would it
be?
5. What do you see as the most important skills to be taught?
6. How would you identify 21st-century skills?
7. How would you describe the teaching in your classroom?

1. What role do you see students having in the teaching and learning
process? Teachers?
2. How has teaching changed over the years?
3. What are the key issues you currently face?
Part Two: Place the information you glean from your interviews in a
chart similar to the one below. This project is designed to give you
insights into the real-life issues, topics, and complexities that
practitioners address daily while also providing a forum for you to
reflect on your beliefs and practices. Once the chart is complete, you
should include a two- to three-page summary, identifying the
implications of what you gleaned from your research on your own
practice. Questions to consider in your summary are:
1. What did you learn from the visits?
2. What are the implications for your own teaching and learning?
Your philosophy of education?
3. What areas of new knowledge do you plan to explore?
4. How was your thinking different or similar?
5. How would you address some of the issues in your classroom?
6. How would you prioritize the work in these classrooms if you were
the teacher?
7. What role could technology play in assisting with the work?
8. Reflect on the ISTE Standards for Teachers you reviewed last week
and share any insights related to your
research.
Differences/Similarities identified between schools. Points to
consider.
School A
School B
Type of School
Total Population/
Demographics
Student to Teacher Ratio
Key Issues Facing
Role of Technology
21st Century Skills
.......

Please support your claims and assertions with the literature and
information from the interview. For your references, you should use
the course textbook, the videos, and resources for this week, as well
as at least two peer-reviewed articles from the Ashford University
Library. This assignment should be three to five pages in length plus a
title page and reference page. Be sure to also save a copy of your
assignment for your Final Project and for future professional
development
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University Standards Alignment
“The rubric is the lens from which the student focuses, to find
understanding. The rubric is the lens from which
the teacher focuses, to measure that understanding! – Jackie W. Kyger
In Chapter 7, Lopez emphasizes the importance that standards have
on a school’s accountability to its students and their parents. He also
acknowledges that many disagree with the need for standards and/or
they have different expectations for standards. Consider what the
author shares regarding the importance of aligning standards as well
as the common mistakes made when aligning. If you do not have
direct classroom experience, you may respond
to these questions based on your own understanding of what occurs in
your own children’s school, or a professional or volunteer position
you’ve held outside of a school setting.

Using first-person language, address the following points in your
journal;
1. How has your own viewpoint regarding educational standards
changed or been validated by what you
read? What will you differently and/or add to your current/anticipated
professional role to reflect this?
2. What can be done to change the mindset of the naysayers the
author addresses in his disclaimer on p. 82?
3. Can you name the standard or sub-standard that is your grade level
or department’s greatest area of need?
If so, how do you know?
4. What encourages you to make changes?
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used
to evaluate your journal entry.
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EDU 650 Week 4 Assignment Effective Lesson
Planning and Design
EDU 650 Week 4 Assignment Effective Lesson Planning and Design
Chapter 9 of the textbook focuses on the importance of designing
effective lessons. For this assignment, you will create a presentation
using PowerPoint, Prezi, or another presentation tool of your choice
to analyze effective practices in designing effective instruction for
students.
Scenario: You have been asked by a colleague or administrator to
support other educators in designing effective instruction. It has been

observed that most of the educators have been planning instruction
using a traditional model. The objectives of the presentation are to
explain the backwards design model of designing instruction, to
provide an overview and rationale of the process, to compare and
contrast the two models, and finally to provide an example that other
educators could use as a model for their own planning.
The presentation will consist of three parts:
Part One: Effective Lesson Design and Backwards Design
In this
a. b. c.
d. e. f.
section of the presentation, you will need to discuss the following
topics:
What are the most important elements of effective lesson design?
Why are good learning objectives critical to planning effective
instruction?
Provide an example of a good learning objective aligned with the
Common Core State Standards. What makes this a “good” learning
objective?
What are some common pitfalls in planning effective lessons? How
can we avoid these pitfalls?
What does backwards design mean?
How does the Common Core State Standards Initiative play a role in
designing effective instruction?
Part Two: Compare and Contrast Backwards Design and the
Traditional Model
In your presentation, include a visual representation using a chart,
diagram, concept map, infographic, or any other visual that compares
and contrasts the backwards design model with the traditional model
of lesson planning.
Part Three: Backwards Design Activity
In this section of your presentation, you should demonstrate the
process of planning a brief lesson (not an entire unit) for any grade
level through a backwards design approach. Your example should be
a specific example that starts with planning for stage one (identifying
desired results), then stage two (assessment evidence), and lastly,

stage three (the learning activities). Your activity must be aligned to a
Common Core State Standard.
Optional: If you are interested in honing your professionalism and
speaking skills, consider delivering your presentation to an audience
and videotaping it (you can include a YouTube link in the slides) or
creating a screencast of the presentation using Screencast-o-Matic or
Jing and recording yourself presenting the information. If you choose
to record yourself or do a screencast, be sure to have relevant
information on the screen (such as your presentation slides) while you
are speaking and include the link in your presentation for your
instructor. This could be a great addition to your professional
portfolio and to any professional networks in which you are involved
(i.e., LinkedIn, Twitter, or any professional organizations). Such a
presentation can provide you an opportunity to demonstrate your
knowledge, skills, and professionalism to others and to gain
meaningful feedback.
In your presentation, you should cite your sources both in your slides
and in your references using APA format as outlined in the Ashford
Writing Center. You must cite the course textbook as well as at least
one other peer- reviewed source. The presentation should be 12 to 20
slides in length, not including title and reference slides. Be sure to
also save a copy of your assignment for your Final Project and for
future professional development.
**************************************************
EDU 650 Week 5 Assignment Assessment
Matters

As a teacher, you need to have solid knowledge of formative and
summative assessment and how each can help you ensure students are
mastering key contents and skill. You also need to be able to take the
information gleaned from assessments and make decisions that
support the learning of all your students. This week, you will build on
your previous assignment from last week and integrate the knowledge
from your research and the readings.
Watch the following videos:
• Rick Wormeli: Formative and Summative Assessment
• TEDxSoCal – Dr. Brian Stecher – Cultivating Thriving Schools
Both videos examine the role of accountability and how they can and
do impact our work in schools. Brian Stecher specifically discusses
three indicators that drive everything that happens in schools, while
Rick Wormeli outlines how different types of knowledge are
assessed.
In this assignment, please address the following topics and questions:
1. Analyze the roles of assessment and evaluation in school
improvement and in measuring educational quality.
2. Examine and explain your perspectives on the roles and trends
related to assessment in education.
3. Evaluate the value of both types of assessment and, specifically, the
role you see assessment playing in your classroom.
4. Evaluate the roles of both formative and summative assessment in
the classroom. How does each form of assessment support learning?
In what ways can the teacher use the data from assessments to
influence learning in the classroom?
e. Review your work from your Week Four Assignment and provide
specific details of what you see as the next step in developing an
assessment for the Common Core State Standard you identified in the
activity you presented.
Please support your claims and assertions with the literature, using the
course textbook, the videos, and resources for this week, as well as at
least one other peer-reviewed article from the Ashford University
Library. You must have three to five references total and use in-text
citations throughout your paper. Please format your assignment,
citations, and references in APA style. This assignment should be four
to five pages in length, in addition to title and reference pages. Be

sure to also save a copy of your assignment for your Final Project and
for future professional development.
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EDU 650 Week 6 Final The Big Interview
The Big Interview. Due by Day 7. The Final Project requires you to
integrate the work you undertook throughout the course into a
multimedia presentation. You can use any of the following
multimedia tools; Present.me, Jing, Screenr, or VoiceThread
Scenario: The school you researched during this course is being taken
over the by the state for poor performance. Based on your educational
philosophy, your classroom management plan, lesson plan, and the
learning activities and assessment you developed in this course, the
new principal has asked you to interview for the lead teacher position.
This position would allow you to teach the grade of your choosing
and give you the authority to enact significant changes across the
school. You are one of only 20 candidates asked to apply for this
prestigious position. You have been asked to submit a multimedia
interview presentation instead of interviewing in person. The principal
has requested that you include the following in your presentation:
1. Create a PowerPoint presentation of eight to ten slides that
includes:
o A slide that includes a brief self-introduction and summary of the
position for which you are
applying
o A slide on your Philosophy of Education (from Week 1)

o A slide on a Classroom management plan (from Week 2)
o A slide on Different school models (from Week 3)
o A slide on Effective lesson planning and design to include the
Student’s Role in the learning
process (from Week 4)
o A slide on Assessment Matters (from Week 5)
o A slide on Professional Learning Communities (PLC) (from
Newman (2012) Chapter 14 and in
Week Six-Discussion One)
o A slide that lists the references in APA style (minimum of three)
used in your presentation.
Consider using the references from the previous weeks’ assignments.
2. Create a multimedia interview of no more than eight to ten minutes.
You can use any of the following
multimedia tools; Present.me, Jing, Screenr, or VoiceThread . Present
your PowerPoint from Step 1 as if you were interviewing for the
position remotely. As you present your slides in the multimedia
interview, use the audio or video feature to record yourself discussing
the following:
o Introduce yourself and the position for which you are applying
o Describe your philosophy of education
o
essful classroom management plan
recommend that the school should
implement
in the learning process
matters in relation to the role for which
you are interviewing
Learning Community (PLC), and
what you would expect to see if you entered a PLC-focused classroom
What to submit to Waypoint: In a Microsoft Word document, paste
the link to your multimedia presentation. Before you submit your link
as your Final Project, send it to yourself in an email, and access the
link that you sent yourself to ensure that it opens. If your professor

cannot click on the link to view your presentation then it cannot be
properly graded.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used
to evaluate your assignment.
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University Interventions
“Those who are in a position of strength have a responsibility to
protect the weak.” – Thomas Cushman
Compose your journal using first-person language. Follow APA
formatting including in-text citations and a reference page covering
the discussion points below.
In Chapter 10 of our text by Lopez, the term intervention is defined as
“taking action so as to improve a situation” (2013, p.123). Lopez also
discusses the theory of “fixing” versus the provision of “extra”
support and proposes that investing and using one’s time
“intentionally” is a better investment than money.
a. Describe how your understanding and application of the term
“intervention” has changed after considering Lopez’s remarks in
Chapter 10.
b. Make a list of interventions currently taking place both inside and
outside of today’s classroom.
c. Make a list of interventions that you would like to see take place
inside and outside of today’s classroom. d. Which interventions are
the result of money, time, or volunteers?

e. After you had addressed questions 1 through 4, what gaps do you
see in interventions? What advice
would you give a school in creating an exceptional intervention model
that could fill those gaps?
If you do not have direct classroom experience, you may respond to
these questions based on your own understanding of what occurs in
your own children’s school, or a professional or volunteer position
you’ve held outside of a school setting.
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