Standard 3. Teachers create instructional opportunities that reflect an understanding of how children learn and develop.
Teachers…
3.1 understand how students use their prior knowledge to construct knowledge, acquire skills, develop habits of mind, and acquire positive dispositions toward learning
3.2 design instruction that meets the current cognitive, social and personal needs of their students
3.3 create age-appropriate lessons and activities that meet the variety of developmental levels of students within a class
Artifact #1: TrueFlix Climate Change digital book image, climate change student worksheet, Buncee student example
Description:
The TrueFlix Climate Change lesson incorporates a short video to introduce students to the topic, a digital book students read in pairs, a student worksheet to fill out facts as they read, and an option for how to present their findings in an online creation and presentation tool – such as Buncee, Storyboard, or Google Slides.
How artifact demonstrates meeting the standard:
This artifact demonstrates meeting standard 3 because I began this lesson inquiring if and how students had used the library database subscription of TrueFlix and why they thought it was useful and important to use instead of just a google search on the topic of climate change. Gaining this information on their prior knowledge of using the TrueFlix database was helpful to steer my teaching and demonstration as we moved forward into the lesson.
The lesson and activities contained many choices for completing their work which helped with the variety of developmental levels of students within all 5th grades classes. The TrueFlix digital books contain a read to me choice, which I demonstrated to help students who would benefit from this feature. Students who needed more guidance were given specific page numbers to search, met with me in small conferences to go over their work, and were given freedom to demonstrate their knowledge in whichever method they chose – different presentation tools or simple paper and crayon drawings.
Why I chose this artifact:
I chose this lesson to demonstrate mastery of standard 3 because students had a variety of choices, depending on their instructional needs, to complete the lesson and showcase their work. I had many students who were not able to read the text on their own; therefore, the read to me feature in the digital book allowed students to understand the content with confidence. In addition, students were given the freedom to showcase their understanding in a variety of ways, many choosing digital formats such as Google Slides and Buncee. However, I was also just as impressed with the paper and crayon drawings that some students felt more comfortable using to demonstrate their understanding. Another student even created a rap to go along with his partner’s slide presentation. These different methods to showcase student knowledge are great examples of personalized learning.
Buncee Student Example:
Artifact #2: Typing links in Library LibGuide
Description:
The typing links in the Paine School Library LibGuide cover multiple development levels, skills, and age-appropriate engagement activities. Kindergartners use the TypeTastic program to begin learning the location of the keys based on color-coded groupings. Through TypeTastic’s fun and engaging games, students develop their typing skills quickly and easily. First grade students use ABCya typing activities and Dance Mat Typing. Second – Fifth grade students are enrolled in Typing.com to track their progress. Students track their level completion, time, and accuracy. Student reports can also be downloaded by the instructor to keep accurate reports of each class and individual student.
How artifact demonstrates meeting the standard:
This artifact demonstrates meeting standard 3 because students are given appropriate typing activities based on developmental grade level. In addition, typing programs are chosen to meet the individual needs and progression of each student in mind. Students can progress through levels at their own pace and prove mastery based on their individual progression.
Why I chose this artifact:
I chose this lesson to demonstrate mastery of standard 3 because students love the different typing programs and choices they have to learn these vital typing skills that will enhance their learning now and in the future. No matter the skill of the individual typing student, there are engaging lessons and activities to keep them interested and actively learning. The Library LibGuide typing links are useful for all grade levels and all student developmental levels, proving to be a comprehensive learning unit during library classes.
1st Grade Typing Links:
2nd-5th Grade Typing Links:
