Running head: DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION p.

Domain F Justification

William Pomfret

National University

September 4, 2019
DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION p. 2

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide justification as to why artifacts were chosen to

demonstrate understanding and growth in the TPEs contained in Domain F. The TPEs contained

in TPE Domain F are:

 TPE 12: Professional, Legal, and Ethical Obligations

 TPE 13: Professional Growth

The artifacts selected all apply to at least one of these TPE areas and fall under Domain F, which

is making subject matter comprehensible to students. The justifications as to how these artifacts

apply are listed below.

DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION p. 3

Self-Assessment of Professional Development Needs

Domain F contains the TPEs:

 TPE 12: Professional, Legal, and Ethical Obligations

 TPE 13: Professional Growth

I have identified my greatest areas of improvement to be improving student engagement and

differentiation for student groups. I feel that I have many strengths as a teacher, and I do a good

job of engaging my students and getting them interested in the material. I also work very hard to

be good at differentiating my lessons for all learners. However, I recognize the need and

importance of finding ways to improve in both areas. As teachers, we might engage 99% of our

students, but it’s the 1% that weighs heavy on our minds. Every year that I am in the classroom,

I am constantly trying to find new ways to engage more and more students and get them

interested in mathematics. As it is, I am constantly fighting the uphill battle of trying to get

students interested in a subject they already believe they are not good at. Differentiation is

another thing I am constantly working hard at. If I’m truthful, the majority of my lessons teach

to the middle. My lessons work to engage and bring up the students that are average in terms of

their comprehension. I then spend extra time working with the struggling students. However, I

am still looking at ways to improve the higher-level students without making them feel like they

constantly have extra work.

DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION
Professional Development Timeline
Year Professional Development
2019 SBCUSD Engagement
Training
Kagan Strategies Training
UCLA Curtis Center Trainings
2020 Biffle Observation
SBCUSD Differentiation
Training
Mathematical Reasoning
with Connections Training
2021 Google Suites Training
English Learner Training
Hattie Training
2022 CPI Training
Special Education Inclusion
Training
p. 4
Brief Description
Training on how to engage students and be culturally and
emotionally aware of student needs.
Training on Kagan strategies, which emphasize student
engagement through collaborative activities
Trainings on how to teach Freshmen students in
mathematics through a series of projects and games
I would like to go visit Chris Biffle and watch him with his
Whole Brain Teaching strategies during an actual class
session, since he teaches near by
I would like to learn more about how to teach the
Mathematical Reasoning with Connections class in
order to better understand how to utilize Common
Core standards for mathematics
I would like to learn how to better use Google for
assignments and assessments so that all of the student
work can be centrally located for both the teacher and
the students, which allows for smoother work
conditions for both
I would like to learn how to better engage students and
differentiate the education of English learner students
so that they are provided with the same opportunities
as English-speaking students
I would like to listen to John Hattie talk about his effect
sizes and Visible Learning strategies in order to understand
how best to address individual students needs
I would like to complete the Crisis Prevention Institute
training which teaches classroom teachers how to
protect the students in the classroom in case of a crisis
in order to create a safe learning environment
I would like to learn how to better adapt and assist the
special education students that are in my general
education classroom
DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION p. 5

SBCUSD Interventions I would like to learn how to appropriately deal with

Training troublesome students within the classroom setting, in a
manner that is compliant with the district PBIS policy
2023 SBCUSD Cultural I would like to find ways to adapt my material to
Responsive Pedagogy accommodate the interests and cultures that exist
within my class dynamics

SDAIE Strategies Training I would like to learn more about SDAIE strategies and
how to best implement in the classroom, in order to
engage and assist all learners, especially the English
learners and students with disabilities.

Reeves Grading Practices I would like to listen to Doug Reeves speak on

Training grading practices, especially with an emphasis on
learning more about his case against the zero and
menu assessment strategies
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Artifact 1 Justification

The artifact above is not necessarily a work of mine. Rather, it is a video by John Hattie that I

have watched and analyzed multiple times. He talks at length in various videos about what he

calls Visible Learning. He uses statistics to determine the effect sizes of various factors in

student education. The reason I placed this here in my own professional development is because

it provides somewhat of a blueprint into what we need to do as teachers. Often times, we have

methods of teaching that we feel comfortable with and try year after year with mixed results.

Hattie's effect sizes show us what IS most effective and what is NOT most effective in terms of

teaching strategies. I like to review his work from time to time just to remind myself of what is

important and what is not. There are a million ways to teach a topic, but not every way is the

most effective way. It is important to remind ourselves and reorient ourselves with statistic-

driven, proven best practices.

DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION p. 7

Artifact 2 Justification

The artifact above is also a video, but this one is by Chris Biffle, who is pioneer of the Whole

Brain Teaching system. Chris Biffle really is amazing because he gets so much out of his classes

and student engagement is the highest I've ever seen. When watching his videos, I honestly do

not know if I can match his energy and enthusiasm, and I definitely doubt I can match it every

day for an entire school year. However, the reason I included this is because it reminds me of

ways to improve student engagement. It inspires me every day that I don't have to match his

energy and enthusiasm, but that I need to try. I need to bring all of the energy and enthusiasm

that I have and put that energy into the class. It is also a reminder that students respond well to

teachers that can have fun and not take things so seriously, while still providing students with

important and meaningful lessons.

DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION p. 8

Artifact 3 Justification

The artifact above is a transcript from California State University-San Bernardino. He contains

the credits I obtained for attending months of training for the new Mathematical Reasoning with

Connections class that I am currently teaching. The class is a senior-level mathematics class that

consists primarily of college-level mathematics, such as Abstract Algebra, Number Theory,

Advanced Geometry, and Mathematical Constructions with Technology. I decided that it would

be best to go to these training opportunities in order to prepare to teach the class so that I could

easily recall the necessary information to teach the class. In the process, I also learned a number

of new teaching techniques that are specific to mathematics, which was incredibly helpful. So

much of the professional development opportunities that are out there emphasize literacy

primarily. However, this one was specific to mathematics, which made it the perfect class to

take in order to become a better mathematics teacher and be better prepared to teach a class that

was new to our entire school district.

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Artifact 4 Justification

The artifacts above are confirmation emails through San Bernardino City Unified School District

for upcoming professional development meetings that I will be attending. I have attended many

training opportunities, but these are the next ones that I will be attending. The two I am

attending next are specifically in the areas where I feel I have the greatest potential for growth.

Student engagement is difficult for all teachers, especially if your goal is 100% engagement. I

am hoping to learn a lot during that training in order to become more proficient in getting

students engaged in the material. The other one is in differentiation, which can be very difficult

at times. The middle students usually get what they need, and, depend on the teacher, either the

higher-level students or struggling students get what they need, but the opposite group usually

gets somewhat neglected. In my case, it is usually the higher-level students that don't get the

attention they need because I am focusing so much on the struggling and middle students.
DOMAIN F JUSTIFICATION p. 10

Artifact 5 Justification

The artifact above is a book review from the book Teach Like a Champion 2.0 by Doug Lemov,

Joaquin Hernandez, and Jennifer Kim. The book review was selected as an artifact because it

demonstrates my willingness to improve in my ability to teach. It takes a great learner to be a

great teacher. Student engagement, classroom management and making information relatable to

students are all areas of improvement for me, and this book provides lots of insight into how to

improve in all three of those areas.