The most helpful aspect of this field experience was that I was able to see the real-life effects of national, state, and local goals and objectives as they are incorporated into the classroom. I believe Ms. Iredale�s interview depicted this the best. Our classroom book, Methods For Teaching, states on page 63 that annual or long-range goals are �both philosophical and conceptual, in that these goals provide general direction regarding what knowledge students should acquire over the span of a course or term.� I think long-term goals can relate to the �No Child Left Behind� policy Ms. Iredale mentioned to me. President Bush�s policy is conceptual in that it envisions that �no child loses the opportunity for a quality education because he or she is trapped in a falling school (http://www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/execsumm.html).� At the state level, Ms. Iredale is heavily influenced by the TEKS goals and objectives for students. Likewise, the book states on page 63 that unit level goals �become less global and more focused� which provides teachers �a focal or beginning point for planning a unit of instruction without being too specific or directly measurable.� I feel that state objectives, such as TEKS, do just that: they give teachers direction for planning their curriculum, but still don�t specify how teachers should teach their lessons. Our book states that the local level of goals deals with the actual lessons teachers use in their classrooms and note that, �The focus at this level [of goals] is very specific and observable.� Looking back at Ms. Iredale�s class, she helps her students see the state objectives each lesson addresses by having them keep a notebook (a tangible and observable thing.) Additionally, she applies these objectives in warm-up TAKS review questions (yet another tangible and observable measure of performance.)
It is clear from these interviews that both core subject and elective course teachers are aware of the goals and objectives school districts, state governments, and the national government have for students. As a beginning teacher, I will need to consciously remember the importance of these goals and objectives when I plan my lessons, as well as the need to keep myself updated and informed on changes for state and national requirements.