- Content Knowledge
- Human Development and Learning
- Diversity
- Planning for Instruction
- Learning Environment
- Instructional Delivery
- Communication
- Assessment
- Collaborative Relationships
- Reflection and Professional Growth
- Professional Conduct
In my classroom I demonstrate a wide general knowledge and a deep knowledge of the content to be taught. I have done extensive research before hand on certain units I had to teach. Before I teach the unit, I conference with my mentor teacher and ask questions on the unit to make sure I understand and have a deep knowledge of the content. Besides demonstrating knowledge of the content when teaching, I also demonstrate knowledge of the content through bulletin boards. Above you you will find pictures of two bulletin boards in the classroom I created for math and reading. These bulletin boards show that I have a complete understanding of the content in math and reading.
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Human Development and Learning
The academic, social, and emotional growth of students is an important component of the classroom. I believe in providing activities that access my students’ different learning abilities or multiple intelligences. For example, stations give students an opportunity to explore their different abilities and talents. Besides having stations, I also have student’s complete individual work. These pictures show my students working together and by themselves.
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Diversity
The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
The classroom is a community of different students where they need to learn and get along with each other on a daily basis. As a teacher, the importance of teaching students academic, social, and emotional values builds character and respect for one another. In my classroom, my students formed that trust with each other due to certain lessons I implemented. In my multicultural lesson, I read aloud a book titled Lets Talk about Race. From this lesson students realized that they are made up of the same things inside but different on the outside. Here is a copy of my multicultural lesson.
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Planning for Instruction
The teacher understands instructional planning and designs instruction based upon knowledge of the discipline, students, the community, and curriculum goals.
I believe that instructional planning is a great strength for me as a teacher. My plans are thought out and designed to maximize student potential. The lesson plans I have created are based upon state and district standards and the needs of each student. Modifications for students are made if needed and assessments are included. In addition to planning for instruction, preparation is also needed. I am always prepared for the week in advance by having everything copied and prepared for by Friday. Besides planning and preparing for instruction, a key element to implementing meaningful lessons is to reflect upon the classroom, the students, and previous lessons. This helps to design activities that will meet the needs of all students. You will find an attached copy of a week lesson plan for social studies.
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Learning Environment
The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
Group activities as well as individual learning serves the needs of many students. I believe that students learn communication skills from each other in group situations. Group activities also teach students great social interaction skills. I had students work in groups for an Egypt unit. The above pictures show students working together on the Egypt unit. However, learning on an individual level gives students the self-confidence needed to feel successful. Overall, students were engaged in an independent activity as well as working with other students.
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Instructional Delivery
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
Throughout my experience, I have used a variety of strategies for lessons each day. The best instructional activities that are used are the ones tailored to the students’ needs. I believe that using whole-group instruction is important as well as individual instruction. In the pictures above you can see students working together and individually. Having the students work in groups allows them to work off each other ideas and develop socially.
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Communication
The teacher uses knowledge of effective written, verbal, nonverbal, and visual communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
On a daily basis I use an effective written and verbal communication tools. When giving directions to the students I think about how I am going to explain it in my head before I explain to the students. I feel this helps me have a clear verbal communication with the students. I have written several letters home to the parents to explain to them what is going on in their child’s classroom. When writing letters home I have my mentor teacher proof read the letter before sending the letter home. Here is a letter I sent home to the parents having tips for them during ISAT week.
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Assessment
The teacher understands various formal and informal assessment strategies and uses them to support the continuous development of all students.
Assessing student learning allows the teacher to keep track of the progress of students on an individual basis and as a whole class. I believe in state and district forms of assessment, such as the Illinois Standard Assessment Test (ISAT), and alternative forms of assessment, such as checklists and rubrics for students to follow. The above picture shows the District 108 I Can Do It Sixth Grade Standards. My lesson plans follow these district standards, and my students are aware of their expectations.
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Collaborative Relationships
The teacher understands the role of the community in education and develops and maintains collaborative relationships with colleagues, parents/guardians, and the community to support student learning and well-being.
As for collaborative relationships, I believe constant communication and interaction with colleagues, parents and the community builds a bond between all figures involved in a child’s education. Collaboration not only supports the students learning and achievement, it also gives educators the ability to work together as a team to enhance relationships inside and outside the classroom. I continue to work with an amazing team of staff that help guide me in my teaching. I collaborate daily with my mentor teacher, Mrs. Schmigdall. I also collaborate on a weekly basis with a reading specialist, Mrs. Stephens and the teacher next door, Mrs. Lawrence. In the above picture, you see a snapshot of a reading meeting we conduct on a weekly basis.
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Reflection and Professional Growth
Reflecting on lessons, behavior, interaction with students and colleagues, and my overall performance everyday in the classroom was one of the most important parts of my educational experience. Constant review of my instruction and management helped me grow into a confident teacher. I reflected everyday with my mentor teacher, Lisa Schmidgall , who gave me support and encouraging advice on how to improve for the next day. From daily, weekly, and monthly reflections, I learned how to strengthen my teaching skills and blossom as an educator. Here is a snapshot of a page from the coaching journal my mentor teacher and I kept.
Another way that I continued to grow professionaly occurred in the spring semester of my student teaching, when I attended four Illinois State University seminars discussing education events. From these seminars, I gained valuable knowledge about certificates, special education, classroom management techniques, and the first few years of teaching. Based on these meetings, I further developed my personal knowledge on education.
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Professional Conduct
Being a professional is an extremely important responsibility that demands the teacher to be a role model for students. I believe in order to demonstrate a professional attitude, a person needs to behave in a respectful manner towards students, parents, and especially other colleagues. I have had the opportunity this year to learn how to act professionally and show people that I have the confidence to be the best educator possible. The pictures above show my professional responsibility with other colleagues.
