Building a learning environment in which students use respectful communication skills demonstrates the importance of creating safe, positive spaces inside and outside of the classroom. By modeling these questioning strategies, teachers provide examples of how to communicate in collaborative and social situations.

Prior to your field experience, review the requirements of all clinical field experiences for this course. Create a document to share with your mentor teacher detailing your requirements for all field experiences for this course, as well as what is being requested of your mentor. This document should include the scheduling required to complete all assignments.

Allocate at least 4 hours in the field to support this field experience.

Observe a minimum of two social studies lessons taught by a certified K-8 grade teacher. During your observation, take note of questioning strategies utilized by the teacher, and the communication those questions fostered.

After observing the social studies lessons, create four supplemental questions that are reflective of the content taught, identifying the alignment of each question to a DOK level. Share your questions with your mentor teacher seeking his or her feedback.

Use any remaining field experience hours to assist the teacher in providing instruction and support to the class.

Compose a 250-500 word reflection summarizing the lessons you observed and your discussion with your mentor teacher. Include the supplemental questions you created and any revisions you would make based on the feedback you received from your mentor teacher.

Thinking about your future professional practice, explain how you will apply what you observed about using questioning strategies in social studies instruction to increase students’ critical thinking skills and depth of knowledge