Planning

Winter 2023 - 4th Year

Goal: My goal for planning in my final practicum is to have more intentional differentiation implemented into my lesson plans. Utilizing RTI and Universal Design.

Growth: Throughout this practicum I was able to effectively plan my lessons using the RTI model. I had a varying level of student needs in my classroom, with a number of students who needed targeted support. I highlighted using the 3 tiers in my planning, specifically for math and writing.

RTI provides a framework for identifying and supporting students who may be struggling academically or behaviorally, and allows for targeted interventions to be implemented to improve their outcomes. By implementing the RTI model, I was able to go through screening and progress monitoring of all students, which helped identify students who were at risk of falling behind.

After implementing strategies according to the various tiers, such as small group instruction and targeted interventions, visual aids, the use of manipulatives, one-on-one instruction and support from EA’s or specialists.

Fall 2021 - 3rd Year

Goal Before Practicum: My goal is to develop a deep understanding of each student's development as well as their differences and use this knowledge to plan enriching and effective learning experiences. I will strive to develop good relationships with the students as well as utilize assessments to gain a deeper understanding of each student.

Growth: Coming into this practicum I was nervous about being able to develop deep relationships with my students due to factors such as Covid-19 restrictions as well as having 43 students in one class. However, as the weeks went by I was able to connect with all of my students on a very personal level. Through this, I was able to better understand what types of struggles each student had and what kind of supports the best responded to. There was one student in particular who was diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities that I was really able to connect with. To motivate him to do his work I set up a special spot for him at my own desk. This made him feel seen and valued which contributed to his engagement in tasks. This particular student was working 2 years below grade level and struggled with writing. To differentiate for him, I would instead have him communicate his thoughts through drawing (a hobby he really enjoyed), and then together he and I would work on labeling the image or writing a sentence.

Future Goals: A future goal that I would like to set for myself is to explore more resources that will help me to authentically and accurately represent more FNMI into my teaching practice.

A differentiated letter writing assignment used for this student.

"An example of her personalized, kind, and caring way is exemplified by her work with a child who was recently diagnosed with many different learning disabilities. He thrived under Sarah's guidance."

-Rebecca Thouin, Mentor Teacher

This is an excerpt from my final evaluation in reference to this particular student.

NOVEL STUDY UNIT PLAN

Gr. 5 Bridge to Terabithia Novel Study Unit Plan

Winter 2021 - 2nd Year

Linked on the left is a novel study unit plan that I created with my peers for a grade 5 class. The novel study has helped me to translate outcomes into coherent short, medium, and long-range plans (PL 4) and to develop varied activities and assignments that are relevant, clearly aligned with learning goals, require deep thinking and support student engagement, collaboration, and choice (PL 7).

This assignment was a great way for me to familiarize myself with the Program of Studies outcomes as well as tap into my creative side to create activities and lessons that kept students engaged throughout the unit.

GOAL: My goal is to keep in mind my long-term plans while I execute my short and medium range plans. In addition, to highlight my learning outcomes in every aspect of my planning.

Fall 2020 - 2nd Year

Planning is an essential part of being an effective teacher. It helps with being prepared and aware of what one plans on teaching and the direction of the lesson and its outcomes. This semester I completed an assignment that allowed me to explore the ELA program of studies and set learning goals (linked on the right). I was able to delve deeper into learning how to assess through outcomes as well as explore different genres and topics of books, such as STEAM, and ways to incorporate them into meaningful ELA activities.

GOAL: The goal I am setting for myself is when planning literature lessons in the future and determining which books to use, I will first look at what outcomes I can pull from the story, what essential understandings the students could draw, and what kind of engaging activity would highlight these.

Reading Log.docx

My Reading Log

Here is the book my lesson was based on with a link attached to my full lesson plan

Winter 2020 - 1st Year

This semester I had to prepare and teach my first lesson. The detail and depth that goes into planning a lesson is defiantly an extensive process. It is a time when we envision the learning we want to occur and analyze how all the pieces of the learning experience should fit together to make that vision a classroom reality.

My field experience class was a split of grades 4, 5 and 6 which added an additional challenge to planning my first lesson. A lot of anxiety came from wanting to make it fair and profitable for all students. Through this lesson, I was certainly able to strengthen my differentiation skills.

Through backward design, I was able to set my goals for each grade and then come up with content and instructional methods that satisfied them all. This approach allowed me to be completely focused on the outcomes of my lesson instead of stressing about the process, as once I had my program outcomes set, my creative ideas for facilitation just fell into place.

GOAL: My goal for the future is to come up with practical "back-up plans" in addition to my original lesson plan.

Fall 2019 - 1st Year

I have quickly learned in my first semester of the education program that thorough planning is essential for the success of the teacher, and therefore the success of the students.

This semester I was lucky enough to be placed in a field experience classroom that was based on a Montessori program. As a result of the program, my mentor teacher had taught 90% of her students in multiple previous years. This gave her an advantage of truly knowing how to best provide for her students; she thoroughly understood each students strengths and weaknesses. In using this advantage, she was able to curate lessons in methods that she knew would best be absorbed by her students. The differentiation was almost a second nature to her, which had a great positive impact on the quality of their education.

GOAL: I hope to gain a better understanding of the curriculum my field experience class is learning so that I can enhance my ability in supporting the progression of their knowledge.

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