Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge

Artifact Description: I created this anchor chart as a visual to provide support and reference to students.  This problem-solving strategy supports student’s thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving while trying to solve word problems in mathematics.

IPTS Connection: This anchor chart connects with the second IPTS and knowledge indicator “understands the cognitive processes associated with various kinds of learning (e.g. critical and creative thinking, problem-structuring and problem-solving, invention, memorization, and recall) and ensure attention to these learning processes so that students can master content standards” (2C). CUBES is an acronym that helps students problem-solve word problems by following the following steps: circle numbers, underline question, box key words, evaluate steps to take, and solve the problem.

What I learned: I learned that anchor charts are a great visual tool that students reference often throughout their day, in any subject. I learned of five types of anchor charts: acronym charts, interactive charts, strategy charts, procedure charts, and interactive charts. 

Artifact Description: Heart words are high-frequency words that contain a letter or letter combination that doesn’t follow the letter-sound correspondence.  Flash words are also high-frequency words but consist of regular spelling and decodable.

IPTS Connection: Heart words connect with the second IPTS and performance indicator “adjusts practice to meet the needs of each student in the content areas” (2P)  Students get to practice segmenting sounds and writing independently or in small groups. This heart word method helps students decode letters and sounds. Students also practice creating sentences of their own. Students got into the routine of completing heart words and receiving assessment by the end of the week.  

What I learned: I learned the difference between heart words and flash words. After practice, students were eager to share the tricky part of the heart words as well as their sentences out loud.  I also learned to add introduced words onto the bulletin board to organize all words.