Standard One
Content Pedagogy
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.
Artifact
Community Unit
Community Unit
Rationale
The main purpose in First Grade Social Studies is to help students learn about community. I created the community unit to help my students gain an enduring understanding of community as students identify people and their roles in their school and neighborhood, and explain how these roles change over time. Students accomplish this enduring understanding as they ask essential questions (e.g., "What is a community?" and "What is a role?") and participate in each daily activity (e.g., Day 1: Students will produce the “K” part of a KWL chart with their whole class and their teacher about “What is a community?”).
The main purpose in First Grade Social Studies is to help students learn about community. I created the community unit to help my students gain an enduring understanding of community as students identify people and their roles in their school and neighborhood, and explain how these roles change over time. Students accomplish this enduring understanding as they ask essential questions (e.g., "What is a community?" and "What is a role?") and participate in each daily activity (e.g., Day 1: Students will produce the “K” part of a KWL chart with their whole class and their teacher about “What is a community?”).
Community Unit Plan | |
File Size: | 102 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Two
Student Development
The teacher understands how children and youth learn and develop and can provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social and personal development.
The teacher understands how children and youth learn and develop and can provide learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social and personal development.
Artifact
Literacy Vision Statement
Literacy Vision Statement
Rationale
My vision statement as a literacy teacher is to help children, in any grade level, to be successful readers and writers by modeling positive behavior toward reading and writing, teaching explicit reading and writing instruction, teaching according to the needs of my students, and most importantly teaching my students why they need to learn how to read and write (i.e., the practical and empowering reasons). For this reason, I researched different reading and writing methods and strategies, and compiled them in a research paper to present my findings and how I would implement these findings into my own classroom.
My vision statement as a literacy teacher is to help children, in any grade level, to be successful readers and writers by modeling positive behavior toward reading and writing, teaching explicit reading and writing instruction, teaching according to the needs of my students, and most importantly teaching my students why they need to learn how to read and write (i.e., the practical and empowering reasons). For this reason, I researched different reading and writing methods and strategies, and compiled them in a research paper to present my findings and how I would implement these findings into my own classroom.
Literacy Vision Statement | |
File Size: | 121 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Three
Diverse Learners
The teacher understands how learners differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to learners from diverse cultural backgrounds and with exceptionalities.
The teacher understands how learners differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to learners from diverse cultural backgrounds and with exceptionalities.
Artifact
Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan
Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan
Rationale
In my reading comprehension lesson plan, I have differentiated the activity to allow students on all levels to learn how to comprehend the text according to their learning level and abilities.
Activity Simplified: Students will answer the questions on “Questionnaire #1.” On this questionnaire the student is only required to write down their “I wonder” question, and answer, about what they saw during their book walk or their reading, and the answers to the provided questions on the questionnaire.
Activity Challenged: Students will answer the questions on “Questionnaire #2.” On this questionnaire, students are required to write down their “I wonder” question, and ask and answer 2 more questions, as they do a book walk and read the book. They are also required to answer the provided questions on the questionnaire.
In my reading comprehension lesson plan, I have differentiated the activity to allow students on all levels to learn how to comprehend the text according to their learning level and abilities.
Activity Simplified: Students will answer the questions on “Questionnaire #1.” On this questionnaire the student is only required to write down their “I wonder” question, and answer, about what they saw during their book walk or their reading, and the answers to the provided questions on the questionnaire.
Activity Challenged: Students will answer the questions on “Questionnaire #2.” On this questionnaire, students are required to write down their “I wonder” question, and ask and answer 2 more questions, as they do a book walk and read the book. They are also required to answer the provided questions on the questionnaire.
Reading Comprehension Lesson Plan | |
File Size: | 114 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Four
Multiple Instructional Strategies
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage the students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage the students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.
Artifact
Inquiry Lesson Plan
Inquiry Lesson Plan
Rationale
First graders study about their local community (i.e., neighborhood and school). To help them develop a greater understanding about their local community, I made a community slide show and asked questions to help students develop a hypothesis about the different areas in their community (i.e., neighborhood, school, and downtown area).
This lesson provides the opportunity for all students, no matter their learning levels or abilities, to develop critical thinking as they develop a hypothesis, problem solve as they collaborate in groups, and performance skills as they present their rationales to the class.
First graders study about their local community (i.e., neighborhood and school). To help them develop a greater understanding about their local community, I made a community slide show and asked questions to help students develop a hypothesis about the different areas in their community (i.e., neighborhood, school, and downtown area).
This lesson provides the opportunity for all students, no matter their learning levels or abilities, to develop critical thinking as they develop a hypothesis, problem solve as they collaborate in groups, and performance skills as they present their rationales to the class.
Inquiry Lesson Plan | |
File Size: | 101 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Five
Motivation and Management
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.
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.
Artifact
Classroom Management Plan
Classroom Management Plan
Rationale
I believe the best way to manage a classroom is through preventative strategies. The best strategy I have learned and been heavily trained in is Love and Logic. As I have taught with this strategy I have seen students change. They have become more autonomous and feel more self-confidence. I have also seen how choice makes a difference in the lives of children and helps them desire to make good choices.
In my classroom management plan, one will find mostly preventative strategies influenced by Love and Logic, but I have also included supportive and corrective strategies because all add necessary elements to successful classroom management.
I believe the best way to manage a classroom is through preventative strategies. The best strategy I have learned and been heavily trained in is Love and Logic. As I have taught with this strategy I have seen students change. They have become more autonomous and feel more self-confidence. I have also seen how choice makes a difference in the lives of children and helps them desire to make good choices.
In my classroom management plan, one will find mostly preventative strategies influenced by Love and Logic, but I have also included supportive and corrective strategies because all add necessary elements to successful classroom management.
Classroom Management Plan | |
File Size: | 160 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Six
Communication and Technology
The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, non-verbal and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, non-verbal and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
Artifact 1
Things Get Hot Unit
Things Get Hot Unit
Rationale
In the Machines Get Hot lesson plan makes use of a variety of technology. The lesson is supported by a SMART Board, PowerPoint presentation, and Pdf worksheet. The SMART Board will be used to display the PowerPoint presentation, the PowerPoint presentation will be used to introduce the students to the concept of friction (i.e., directions of what to do throughout the warm-up activity, the lesson, and the lesson activity), an the Pdf worksheet will be used to carry out the lesson activity (i.e., the scavenger hunt).
Also during the lesson, my students collaborate in groups as they collect data about machines, share this data with classmates, and defend their findings through verbal (presentations) and written communication (science journals).
In the Machines Get Hot lesson plan makes use of a variety of technology. The lesson is supported by a SMART Board, PowerPoint presentation, and Pdf worksheet. The SMART Board will be used to display the PowerPoint presentation, the PowerPoint presentation will be used to introduce the students to the concept of friction (i.e., directions of what to do throughout the warm-up activity, the lesson, and the lesson activity), an the Pdf worksheet will be used to carry out the lesson activity (i.e., the scavenger hunt).
Also during the lesson, my students collaborate in groups as they collect data about machines, share this data with classmates, and defend their findings through verbal (presentations) and written communication (science journals).
Machines Get Hot Lesson Plan | |
File Size: | 127 kb |
File Type: |
Machines Get Hot Slide Show | |
File Size: | 135 kb |
File Type: | ppsx |
Things Are Heating Up!.pdf | |
File Size: | 79 kb |
File Type: |
Artifact 2
Podcast Lesson Plan
Podcast Lesson Plan
Rationale
The lesson is intended for a First Grade class and is a follow-up to the Letter Sound Lesson Plan. Its purpose is to help students improve their oral language skills as they are interviewed about a page in their Alphabet Book. Since the lesson is intended to improve the language skills of students, a podcast presentation will be used as the publishing stage of the writing process.
The lesson is intended for a First Grade class and is a follow-up to the Letter Sound Lesson Plan. Its purpose is to help students improve their oral language skills as they are interviewed about a page in their Alphabet Book. Since the lesson is intended to improve the language skills of students, a podcast presentation will be used as the publishing stage of the writing process.
Podcast Lesson Plan | |
File Size: | 82 kb |
File Type: |
Letter Sound Lesson Plan | |
File Size: | 92 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Seven
Planning
The teacher plans and manages instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals.
The teacher plans and manages instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals.
Artifact
Plan Book
Plan Book
Rationale
Above is an image of my plan book during my student teaching. The week displayed is when I taught a portion of my community unit (see standard one artifact). The theme for this week was "Then and Now," so I prepared centers, lessons, and activities for my students to help them understand the concept now and then. One of my favorite activities of this week occurred Thursday. On this day my students did a compare and contrast writing on how they have changed over time as they looked at a baby picture they brought and a school picture I provided.
Above is an image of my plan book during my student teaching. The week displayed is when I taught a portion of my community unit (see standard one artifact). The theme for this week was "Then and Now," so I prepared centers, lessons, and activities for my students to help them understand the concept now and then. One of my favorite activities of this week occurred Thursday. On this day my students did a compare and contrast writing on how they have changed over time as they looked at a baby picture they brought and a school picture I provided.
Standard Eight
Assessment
The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of his/her learners.
The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of his/her learners.
Artifact
Diagnostic Interview
Diagnostic Interview
Rationale
Diagnostic interviews are a great way to assess students. By conducting a diagnostic interview during my student teaching, I determined the strengths and weaknesses of 3 of my first graders. I assessed them using a simple rubric (see image above) and story problem. They were asked to solve it using any method. The experience was eye-opening because I found out what I needed to teach to help these individual students more effectively solve story problems.
Diagnostic interviews are a great way to assess students. By conducting a diagnostic interview during my student teaching, I determined the strengths and weaknesses of 3 of my first graders. I assessed them using a simple rubric (see image above) and story problem. They were asked to solve it using any method. The experience was eye-opening because I found out what I needed to teach to help these individual students more effectively solve story problems.
Diagnostic Interview | |
File Size: | 70 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Nine
Reflective Practice
The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of her/his choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of her/his choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
Artifact
Research Paper
Research Paper
Rationale
Due to the wealth of information technology provides, it allows students to work at their own pace, explore the world around them, and enhance their understanding. However, many people are behind in the “digital age,” especially students. With the research presented in my paper, I will help the reader understand the reasons for the digital divide and the ways to resolve the problem.
Due to the wealth of information technology provides, it allows students to work at their own pace, explore the world around them, and enhance their understanding. However, many people are behind in the “digital age,” especially students. With the research presented in my paper, I will help the reader understand the reasons for the digital divide and the ways to resolve the problem.
Digital Divide Research Paper | |
File Size: | 102 kb |
File Type: |
Standard Ten
School and Community Involvement
A teacher communicates and interacts with parents/guardians, families, school colleagues, and the community to support the students' learning and well being.
A teacher communicates and interacts with parents/guardians, families, school colleagues, and the community to support the students' learning and well being.
Artifact
Service Learning
Service Learning
Rationale
First Grade Social Studies is all about learning about community. A great way to build community is by giving service. As a class, my students and I talked about the kinds of service we could give. My students gave suggestions like “I can give a Band-Aid to someone who needs one” or “I could play with someone who is alone.” Foreseeing these types of small service ideas, I told my students that although those are great ideas and they should be done, we would vote on one of these options: Elderly Pen Pal Letters, Primary Children Patient Letters, or the “Neighbor to Neighbor” program. After a week to think about what service we would like to do, my students voted to write letters to elderly people at the Hillside Rehabilitation Center and develop a pen pal relationship with them.
Although only some of my students received reply letters, the service project was still a success because writing letters to the elderly to form pen pal relationships was a great experience for my students (see Summer's Thank You Note).
First Grade Social Studies is all about learning about community. A great way to build community is by giving service. As a class, my students and I talked about the kinds of service we could give. My students gave suggestions like “I can give a Band-Aid to someone who needs one” or “I could play with someone who is alone.” Foreseeing these types of small service ideas, I told my students that although those are great ideas and they should be done, we would vote on one of these options: Elderly Pen Pal Letters, Primary Children Patient Letters, or the “Neighbor to Neighbor” program. After a week to think about what service we would like to do, my students voted to write letters to elderly people at the Hillside Rehabilitation Center and develop a pen pal relationship with them.
Although only some of my students received reply letters, the service project was still a success because writing letters to the elderly to form pen pal relationships was a great experience for my students (see Summer's Thank You Note).
Parent Letter | |
File Size: | 2365 kb |
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Letter to Elderly | |
File Size: | 2246 kb |
File Type: |
Pualine's Response Letter | |
File Size: | 4616 kb |
File Type: |
Summer's Thank You Note | |
File Size: | 2368 kb |
File Type: |