Sarah Ward ED 321 Culminating Reflection

First, consider the components of lesson plan design: planning/preparation, classroom environment, instruction, assessment, and professional responsibilities. Explain how, in this field, you have grown in one component in relation to previous teaching experiences. Which component do you feel you need to further develop as you plan for future teaching experiences? Why? One of the components of lesson plan design that I really got to focus on during this field was classroom management. Because I was more comfortable with myself and who I was as a teacher I got to focus more on how to manage a classroom. In my previous fields I was focusing on getting comfortable in front of a classroom and lesson planning/content. During our class time we discussed many ways to handle discipline issues, practiced how to get the students moving and engaged, and shared examples and ideas. I really tried to be more mobile in the classroom which I could immediately see an improvement with student interaction when I was able to move around the classroom. Also, I was able to tackle some of those minor discipline issues, such as chatter and staying focused. One component that I started to focus a little bit more on this field, but need to keep improving on is assessment. I was introduced to trying to expand what assessments could be in my classroom and the different ways to go about assessment. I tried to incorporate some smaller assessments in this field, however, I think in my fourth field and student teaching I will be able to incorporate a variety of assessments. While doing my backward design unit plan I was really able to explore types of assessments and I hope I can use a variety of formal and informal assessments in the future. Now, consider the Wisconsin Teaching Standards and the Alverno Education Abilities. Explain how you demonstrated your growth in two or more Wisconsin Teaching Standards and two or more Alverno Education Abilities in this field. Also explain how this field revealed two or more standards and two or more abilities that you want to further develop in the future. GROWTH WI STANDARDS WI #4 Teachers Know How to Teach During this field I really got some freedom in my lesson planning. I was able to use a variety of instructional strategies. For example, I used some of a textbook with comparing and contrasting ideas for my Russia/Soviet Union lesson plan. I got the students moving and in group work when learning about the Silk Road. I used individual instruction with my Vietnam lesson. Also, a variety of technologies such

Sarah Ward ED 321 Culminating Reflection

as a prezi, pictures, and history.com videos. I also introduced students to current events via video and slideshows with Sky City in Tokyo and Disasters. With the disasters lesson plan they had to problem solve, how can you as a 6th grader help those in need? I really got to explore different time periods, methods of teaching, and technologies in this field. WI #5 Teachers Know How to Manage a Classroom In this field I noticed that I did a lot of group work, so I expanded out of the group work method of teaching that I automatically went to. I encouraged active engagement of all students through a variety of group and individual work. Working in random groups encouraged the students to positively interact with all members of their class. They had to achieve the goal together and to do that they had to work together. I encouraged the students to ask questions and feel free to share their own ideas so that they would be motivated by each other. My lessons and my teaching also encouraged engagement of all students. Whether it was individual or group work, everyone was responsible for their own work and everyone was ready to share. WI #1 Teachers Know the Subjects they are teaching In this field I learned a lot about the importance of school standards and what needed to be covered. Also, I really wanted to focus on how I could relate geography and history to sixth graders. In the context of geography and history I covered a current event so that they could relate to what was happening now in their world. Tokyos Sky City covered the history of Tokyo, culture, and current issues that Asia faces today. This really got the students engaged and willing to share. With the Silk Road lesson I had the students compare the Silk Road to the internet, how are they the same? How are we spreading ideas now? Understanding the basics concepts of social studies and what objectives I needed to get across I was able to accomplish this by relating it to them as much as possible. GROWTH ALVERNO 8 PROBLEM SOLVING In this field I was able to see a problem happening in the classroom and then address it either right away or in my next lesson. After my first two lessons I saw a pattern of students that liked to chat during lessons or groups. I implemented an action plan to solve this problem. After conferring with my cooperating teacher

Sarah Ward ED 321 Culminating Reflection

and taking into consideration her comments, I was able to lessen the amount of chatter in the classroom. SOCIAL INTERACTION In the classroom I am always using social interaction. I used a lot of group work because the students were already separated into groups in the classroom. Often times we would come together as a class and the groups would discuss. I had to help facilitate the whole class conversation so each groups ideas were heard and understood. Also, by facilitating questions and guiding conversations I was able to help the students come to their own conclusions.
ANALYSIS

During this field I got a lot of freedom in the classroom, so I spent a lot of time independently thinking about my future lessons and the lessons that I had just done. Through my past experiences how was I going to better assess or manage the classroom? I really tried to take my cooperating teachers feedback from each lesson and apply it to the next. For example, my CT mentioned that I should leave more room for the students to discuss at the end and I really saw how ideas and conclusions were being made before they left the classroom because of that. Also, I used the knowledge I was gaining in my Alverno classroom and applying it to my field. Especially, the discipline and classroom management ideas. NEEDS IMPROVEMENT WI STANDARDS Teachers Connect with other Teachers and Community I havent really had the opportunity to connect with other teachers in my fields or with the community that my fields are in. This semester I did try and get more active in the school community, however it is difficult to do so when your only there for a limited amount of time. I know the importance of teachers being involved in the school and community and the great impact that involvement has on student learning. I really want to try and become more active in my fourth field and definitely while student teaching. Teachers Understand that Children Learn Differently In my past couple of fields I havent really had the opportunity to learn with a variety of different student levels so I havent really had to adopt my lessons plans that much. I really would like to focus on this, and I know I will be able to in the

Sarah Ward ED 321 Culminating Reflection

exceptional learners class. Also, I really want to try and focus on using the arts more in my lessons. I am not a very artistic person so it is hard for me to incorporate the arts in my lessons. I think that art would provide another approach to learning that some students would really excel at. NEEDS IMPROVEMENT ALVERNO 8 AESTETHIC ENGAGEMENT Like I said above, I havent really incorporated the arts into my social studies lesson plans. I really need to step out of the box and try to incorporate some of the arts in my lessons plans. I think that art could really get some values and meaning across that plan worksheets and discussion could not. VALUING I am definitely aware of my personal value systems and decisions and that of my students. What I really want to improve on is using and implementing valuing in the classroom. I want students to value each other and share their own values with each other. I was exposed to how willing students are to share their own cultures with each other, so how do I get that into the classroom and lessons.

Upload the following to the ED 321 Lesson/Reflection DDP performance: Self assessment tab: Culminating Reflection Work tab: Verification form Cooperating Teacher Final Evaluation Human Relations Code 2nd Observed Lesson, CT feedback, supervisor feedback and self assessment