Standard 1.

Content Area Concepts The candidate understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry and structures of the discipline(s) within the context of a global society and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.

Description Students enter the classroom with different experiences and varied levels of prior knowledge. In order to be an effective teacher, I need to make sure that I assess my students before teaching a lesson in order to figure out how much they know. Pre-assessments will help me to tailor my lessons to the needs of my students and to find out about their prior experiences to make my lessons more interesting and enjoyable. Creating lessons that incorporate reading allows me to work on reading comprehension throughout the day. It is important for me to present the subject matter in multiple ways because students learn in different ways. Knowing about the content is important so that my students are learning the most current information. Taking undergraduate courses such as literacy I & II and math and science methods have taught me the most effective and useful strategies for my students. It is crucial for the teacher to understand how students learn. I need to build on students prior knowledge in order to create new learning. I also need to track each students progress so that I can determine strengths and weaknesses and to tailor my lessons to the needs of each of my students. Giving students responsibilities will help them to develop. I need to incorporate key learning theories that I believe in such as constructivism which is student-centered and promotes cooperative learning.

Reflection
Formative Assessment

II. Understanding of Development:The candidate understands how students learn and develop, and provides learning opportunities that support the intellectual, social and personal development of all students.

Cooperative Learning

III. Understanding of Learning:The candidate understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.

IV. Planning and Curriculum Development:The candidate recognizes the importance of long-range planning and curriculum development and develops, implements, and evaluates curriculum based upon student, district, and state performance standards.

V. Instruction for Critical Thinking: The candidate uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students development of critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills

VI. Literacy Development: The candidate has awareness of the different aspects of literacy development and related teaching procedures for both Native English speakers and students who are English language learners.

By understanding that students learn differently, I will be able to address each of my students strengths and needs during my instruction. I will incorporate multiple means of representation into my lessons. For example, I will present a chart for my visual learners, I will discuss the chart for auditory learners, and I will ask students to manipulate the chart for kinesthetic learners. I will also make sure that I know my students so that I can build on their prior experiences and to make my lessons relatable. As a teacher, I will tailor my curriculum to fit the needs of each of my students as individuals. I will incorporate an opportunity for a variety of learning experiences by creating interdisciplinary lessons. I will also challenge my students to learn from exploring and will encourage them to solve problems. It is my job to meet the needs of each student individually. I will also make sure to pay attention to my students strength and needs so that I can create both long and short term goals for each of them. Using a variety of instructional strategies and materials will allow me to address each of my students needs. I need to use technology because it encompasses a variety of ways to help students learn. By teachings problem solving strategies in all content areas, it gives students an option as to which strategy works the best for them. Literacy is a very important content area at the elementary level because it provides students the basis for their reading and learning. There are many strategies that I need to incorporate in order to address each of my students reading levels. I need to understand that a strategy that works for one student will not work for another and that it is very possible that students are struggling with different aspects of literacy. I need to also use instruction for students who are English language learners so that all

Literacy Instruction

English Language Learners

English Language Learners

VII. Meaning of Education: The candidate understands and can apply disciplinary knowledge from the humanities and social sciences to interpreting, and bringing normative and critical perspectives to bear on, the meanings of education and schooling in diverse cultural contexts.

VIII. Learning Environment: The candidate 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 selfmotivation.

IX. Classroom Communication: The candidate models effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interaction in the classroom.

X. Assessment: The candidate understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social and physical development of the learner.

students feel included in my classroom. By understanding the No Child Left Behind Act and the guidelines of IDEA, I will be able to better help my students and to meet each of their needs. By analyzing and comprehending the IEPs of each of my students, I will be able to help them to work toward their individual goals throughout the year. Attending CSE meetings will help me to address the needs of my students and to get them all of the support that they need. I need to read articles about education in order to stay current about the current issues and topics being discussed. By creating a positive learning environment, students will feel safe and welcome in the classroom. It will promote learning in the classroom and they will be rewarded for good behavior. I will make sure to have rules so that students know what is expected of each of them. I will teach lessons that require students to collaborate with one another. Students will be self-motivated to reach their own individual goals. It is important for me as a teacher to model acceptable behavior so that my students know how they are expected to act and behave. I will make sure to collaborate with my students and to establish an open line of communication. I will communicate both verbally and non-verbally with my students in order to check for understanding and to monitor behavior. By incorporating informal assessments into my classroom, I will be able to monitor my students understanding. This will help me to tailor my lessons to the needs of my students. I will be able to explain something more clearly if I notice that a lot of students are having trouble with a specific area. I will also be able to evaluate the effectiveness of my lessons and make changes accordingly. Formal assessments will help me to collect data about the overall

Cooperative Learning Literacy Instruction

Formative Assessment

XI. Reflection: The candidate is a reflective practitioner who continually assesses the effects of choices and actions on others. This reflective practitioner actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally and utilizes the assessment and professional growth to generate more learning for more students.

XII. Relationships :The candidate fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and educational partners in the larger community to support student learning and well-being; The candidate fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and educational partners in the larger community to support student learning and well-being.

understanding of my students. I will use different types of formal assessments such as unit tests, portfolios, and authentic assessments. By asking students to assess themselves, I will gather information about how comfortable students feel with the material and how they think they are doing. By saving records of my students work, I will be able to track their progress. By keeping an open mind, I will be able to learn about new teaching practices and I will keep my teaching up-to-date. I will do everything I can to attain as much knowledge as I can so that I can help my students to grow and learn. I will collaborate with my colleagues and I will attend seminars and professional development courses so that I will be able to learn from others and to be more aware of the world of teaching. It is important for me as a teacher to reflect on my teaching practices so that I can learn from my mistakes and make changes. By creating a relationship with colleagues in my school, it will enable me to feel comfortable collaborating and asking for advice. I will also make sure to communicate with parents so that they feel that they can talk to me about an issue with their child. Having open communication will enable parents to feel that they can trust me and to help break down the barrier. I will become involved in the community by attending school-sponsored and outside events and by being in charge of a club so that I can form different types of relationships with my students outside of the classroom environment.