Message from UA Dean Marx: March 2013

M E S S A G E

F R O M T H E D E A N

RONALD W. MARX

March 2013

DISRUPTIVE CLASSROOMS?

We received tremendous response to our first issue of the Message from the Dean. This is a great way to open the lines of communication.

In fact, one veteran teacher wrote to ask:

"I would like to know how the College of Education is helping new teachers be prepared to teach children who have no interest in learning. The classrooms today can be so disruptive that so much learning time is wasted on discipline. Can you share with me how this is being addressed in the teaching prep curriculum?"

Our extended clinical preparation in all of our programs addresses this issue. Because of the way we've structured our programs, our students have ample opportunities to study important education theory and research and to apply it in real classrooms with real children --- with all the challenges and opportunities children bring to school.

The college's Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies Professor Walter Doyle, a widely acclaimed expert on classroom processes, curriculum theory, and teacher education, adds, "During the first semester of our program, students take TTE 300 (Classroom Processes and Instruction), which focuses specifically on helping prospective teachers learn how activity and task processes in classrooms organize and capture students' attention and interests and how these processes can be managed to engage all children."

Work on these ideas is summarized in Professor Doyle's chapter, "Ecological approaches to classroom management," in the Handbook of Classroom Management.

In our teaching methods classes during subsequent semesters, we focus on ways to engage children by connecting curriculum to the understandings students already have and to the cultural and linguistic resources they bring to the classroom. These ideas are nicely covered in a recent article by Assistant Professor Erin Turner and her colleagues, "Making connections in practice: How prospective elementary teachers connect to children's mathematical thinking and community funds of knowledge in mathematics," in the Journal of Teacher Education.

The classroom processes course includes 45 hours of field experiences in classrooms, and the methods courses are taught on site in elementary schools with placements in experienced mentor teachers' classrooms.

Teacher
Day at UA

is April 27!

Don't miss this great event, which launches the national Teacher Appreciation Week.

We will offer professional development sessions for teachers and provide helpful UA resources. A free luncheon with guest speakers is another benefit for all teachers. Those at the luncheon also will receive a gift bag with goodies from local vendors. Reservations for lunch must be made by April 1. Details here.

TICKLER: Who are the three College of Education faculty members recently named Visiting Fulbright Scholars? We'll be represented in far parts of the world with these three. More next time.

Saying Goodbye

We recently lost three of our closest friends, two of whom are alumni. Tucson native and civil rights advocate Hank Oyama was featured in the fall 2010 issue of Imagine (see page 22). Dorothy Finley was passionate about education. You can read about her life in this recent article in the Arizona Daily Star. Grocery magnate Eddie Basha wasn't an alum of the college, yet he was a strong supporter of education. Here's a story from azcentral.com.

Combating Cyberbullying and Cybervictimization

Exciting new research from Austria and Germany sheds light on global concerns about violent video games and cyberbullying and examines a promising program to reduce cyberbullying and cybervictimization. Two speakers from Austria will be at the college April 15 at 10 a.m. to discuss the latest research. The event is free and open to the public. Here's the flier.

Honorary Doctorate for Paul Lindsey at May 10 Commencement

There is no question that our friend and supporter Paul Lindsey represents the kind of active citizen that makes our democracy flourish. His energy is unflagging, his commitment to our region, state, and country is unquestionable, and his heart is made of pure gold. He is the very reason why we have an honorary degree program at the University of Arizona to signal the contributions of such extraordinary citizens to the community and the university. Read more about him in the fall 2011 Imagine (see page 2). We will hold a celebration at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, in the college's room 453. All those wishing to congratulate Paul are welcome. RSVP here.

Arizona Universities Reception in San Francisco

You are invited to join University of Arizona College of Education alumni, friends, and colleagues for a reception sponsored by the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, and Arizona State University at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting.

Saturday, April 27

7 - 10 p.m.

Grand Hyatt Hotel

Grand Ballroom West

San Francisco, California

Please join us! No RSVP required.

Zoom in on Project FOCUS

There's been quite a bit of focus on the college's Project FOCUS, a program that offers a path to college for the intellectually disabled. Check out these recent stories:

KVOA

Arizona Illustrated

People

Decolonizing Dialogues is a series of events we are hosting at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York from April 22-24. These events are in honor of Linda Tuhiwai Smith's visit with us from Te Whare Wânanga o Waikato/The University of Waikato in Aotearoa, New Zealand. College faculty attending are Assistant Professor Sheilah Nicholas, Associate Professor Leisy Wyman, and Professor Perry Gilmore. Three graduate students also will attend: Luz Jimenez Quispe (Aymara), Joaquin Munoz (Yaqui), and Kari Chew (Chickasaw). TLS faculty and students have been engaged in an exciting study group this semester preparing for these events. A private meeting with Graham H. Smith (Linda T. Smith's husband and distinguished Maori scholar activist) will be held to continue our dialogue and planning for the International Indigenous Polycom Seminar. For more information, contact Professor Gilmore.

TLS Professor Kathy Short wrote a guest column about how stories frame our world on the UA News blog.

TLS graduate student Kathy Stoehr received the Myra Sadker Dissertation Award. The award is given to a doctoral student for excellence in research on gender equity. Read more here.

Time to sign off to watch the Wildcats play Ohio State!

Dean Ronald W. Marx

We want to hear from you! Send your news to anat@u.arizona.edu.

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