Title: Teaching Reflection Date: April 30, 2013 Artifact Description: My artifact for this experience is a lesson plan

and a reflection that were both written by me for a fourth grade math lesson. I taught the lesson to a class of 26 students while doing pre-student teaching, and it lasted approximately one hour. The lesson was observed by my cooperating teacher and my university supervisor. Immediately after the lesson was taught, I wrote down notes for improvements that could be made to the lesson. I also received feedback from my university supervisor following the lesson. Later, I wrote the complete reflection, including things that I thought went well and things that I could improve in the lesson. I then shared that reflection with my cooperating teacher to get his input on what he thought went well and to get his suggestions for change and improvement in the lesson. ALIGNMENT Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment I believe this experience best aligns with standard nine of the Wisconsin Teacher Development and Licensure Standards. This standard states that a teacher must be able to evaluate himself or herself and a teacher must continually evaluate the effects of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others. After writing the lesson plan and teaching the lesson I evaluated myself and reflected on my experience during the lesson. I also worked with two professionals to improve my teaching skills and improve the lesson for the future. UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skills, and Disposition Statement Alignment I believe this experience best aligns with KS4.a. of the UW-P School of Education Knowledge, Skill, and Disposition statements. This statement requires that the candidate makes an accurate and thoughtful reflection of his/her teaching effectiveness, is aware of specific elements of his/her teaching that contributed to successful instruction, and can offer alternative teacher action to predict the future successes of alternate approaches. I aligned it to this statement because of the reflection of teaching strategies that were implemented and collaboration with other professionals to identify and improve the weak areas of my teaching skill set. Collaboration with professionals shows that I recognize my professional responsibility for engaging in and supporting appropriate professional practices for myself and my colleagues. Secondary Alignments 1) KSD4.e.: Grows and Develops Professionally REFLECTION What I learned about teaching/learning: I learned that it is very important for a teacher to reflect on everything he or she does in the classroom in order to make sure the students are getting the best and most effective possible lessons and interactions. Reflection is a very important tool that a teacher or any person can use to grow as a person and a professional. It highlights strengths and weaknesses so a teacher can improve his or her overall teaching skill set.

What I learned about myself as a prospective educator: I learned that I need to improve parts of my teaching process. The part that I believe I need to improve on the most is keeping transition time down with smooth transition instruction and activities. To do this, it is important that I get to see other, more experienced teachers move from activity to activity in their classroom. Paying attention to the subtle instructions that keep students on task are very important to drive instruction, teach meaningful lessons, and keep every student attentive and interested.