Volume 26, Issue 1 October 2015
Feature Article The Domino Effect: Saving Sea Turtles by Teaching Teachers about Sea Turtle Conservation This article coincides with the SRATE conference session by the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island and focuses on the effectiveness of sea turtle workshops conducted
along the Georgia coast. Increased knowledge and improved attitudes and behaviors toward sea turtle conservation for educators who participated in focus workshops were compared
to those who visited the Center as a school field trip. The study revealed an increase in knowledge of sea turtles and a high level of concern for conservation in all participants.
Integrating the edTPA in an Existing Internship Seminar: Lessons Learned
GATEways to Teacher Education
GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF TEACHER EDUCATORS
Beginning in 2015, teacher candidates in Georgia are required to pass the edTPA portfolio assessment to be
eligible for a teaching certificate. This paper describes the design of candidate support in one
educator preparation program during a pilot of the edTPA in the year prior to full implementation.
Modified Course Agreements: Tools for Student Success A Modified Course Agreement is specifically designed for students requiring modifications in content area classes. The general and special educa-
tion teachers collaborate on the MCA so students can be held responsible for, become successful in, and learn content area curriculum. This tool gives
teachers a method to assure that learning pertinent information required in content areas can be achieved by students with low incidence disabilities.
Power in Collaboration: First Year Teacher and School Library Media Specialist Design and Deliver Projects The team of teacher and school library media specialist form a powerful combination in curriculum development and delivery of instruction due to the
specific training of both roles. This case study revealed how collaboration between a first year teacher and a school library media specialist impacted student
achievement based on each student’s specific identified learner style, with a primary focus on visual learners.
Preparing Teachers to Combat the R Word This article discusses how the R word referencing individuals with special needs impacts the culture of schools. The authors
examine how using the R word creates a hostile school environment that causes a “normal” versus “different” binary opposition and continues to
dehumanize a segment of the school population. They postulate the word should be eradicated from the schooling process.
Understanding the Influences of ESOL Preservice Teachers’ Prior Experiences in Their Learning Process This investigation explored the ways ESOL preservice teachers’ prior experiences shape their learning and growth in teacher preparation programs,
particularly in the area of reading instruction. The study found that ESOL preservice teachers’ prior experiences influenced their learning and growth
Inside this issue:
The Domino Effect: Saving Sea Turtles Integrating the edTPA in an Existing Seminar
1 8
Modified Course Agreements: Tools for Success
13
Power in Collaboration
21
Preparing Teachers to Combat the R Word
33
Understanding Influences of ESOL Teachers’ Experiences
40
in the development of professional expectations, views of reading and articulation of visions of reading instruction, and professional dispositions.
Don’t miss the back cover! Special points of interest: GATEways article submission requests GATE 2015 Conference information