608 #5

Tammie Zentgraf

This course outlining the edTPA has been a series of aha moments where many of

our learnings over the last year have come together in a concrete way. While an

overwhelming process is still before me to formally go through the edTPA during my

upcoming student teaching experience, I believe I am substantially more prepared

for this journey as a result of this course. Having to wade through all this

information for the first time while also student teaching, would have led to extreme

frustration.

While I believe myself to still be a novice in the world of education, seeing the

expectations placed on the profession is both motivating and daunting. It is

fantastic that there is so much research based information on instructional

strategies and brain development. You can find information on virtually any area of

education youd care to know more about. This is a benefit I have already become

familiar with as I seek answers to questions for things I have not yet experienced.

The challenge in this to me is being able to sift through the information to find the

nuts and bolts of it and how it can benefit students in my classroom.

The piece of the edTPA that has challenged me the most was the planning

commentary. It forced me to really ponder why I was making the choices I was

planning and frankly resulted in constant adjustment of my lesson plans along the

way. The planning commentary demanded answers that I might not have been

willing to seek out in planning on a regular basis. The reality is this type of planning
is not going to be the rule, yet this experience will increase the depth and breadth

of my planning, bringing to the thought process more questions that will positively

impact future planning.

During my four years as a middle school mathematics teacher, I had developed

lesson plans that were very data driven, it is math after all. Our department was

always closely monitored for our schools academic yearly growth (AYP) as the

school I started teaching at was on academic probation for math. Using data to

show growth and progress was beneficial and did lead to good planning and even

measurable student achievement, however, I now realize there were aspects in my

planning that would have had strong impact if I had been asked to do this as a new

teacher in Texas. This class has helped corral the different research assignments,

articles and various other learning opportunities and translate that into effective

planning and teaching.

My teaching toolbox has expanded with John Hatties list of strategies and practices

that have the most and the least impact on teaching. This is a tool I will keep as a

regular reminder to focus on what will provide the best growth opportunity for

students and do away with ineffective, time-wasting fluff that I have both practiced

and witness in classrooms. One of the biggest surprises to me on Hatties list was

about the low impact of homework and summer school, two things I had believed

would be higher impact practices. Using this guide will help me keep in mind best

practices in planning and will be a great resource to go to when I am stuck in a

teaching rut or encounter a student who just needs something different.

Continuing to dig into Danielsons four domains will also be a part of my

professional career. The easy reference guides we have to remind and guide our

decisions for Planning and Preparation, The Classroom Environment, Professional

Responsibilities and Instruction will be another ready reference source that will be

regularly utilized. This class in particular certainly helped build my skills domain

one, but also really influenced domains three and four.

Danielson and Hattie are two individuals who have significant impact on education.

There are so many additional, worthy influences to read about and one of my goals

is to continue to read research; this will impact my decision making and add

additional thoughts, ideas and practices to my teaching classroom. My journey will

be filled with continued learning opportunities as I step into the classroom as both

teacher and learner. My students, colleagues and future professors will continue to

show me new growth opportunities and I too will develop skills to pass along to

those I can impact. I am thankful for what I have learned thus far and am excited

for the lessons that are yet to come. Thank you, Molly, for your impact and

tremendous help in learning about the edTPA. I hope our paths will continue to

cross!