Instructional Practice

Through the Years

Since I started teaching at PS 45 Q, I have taught in various grades. Each year, I have been flexible and adapted to alter my teaching and planning to meet the needs of my scholars!

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

Kindergarten-General Education

2021-Present

Kindergarten-General Education

Below you will find my MOTP rating for the 2018-2021 school years.

You will notice I have maintained effective and highly effective ratings throughout my teaching career. Through the years, I have shown strength in managing student behavior as well as creating an environment of respect and rapport. I have also made great strides in engaging students in learning .

Teacher Observation Reports

Please click the links below to view my teacher observation reports throughout the years.

2020-2021 Observation Report

AdvanceReport03.19.21_Rubcewich (1).pdf

2021-2022 Observation Report

K Observation 2022.docx

REFLECTION

When looking through my observations, you will notice that I have been able to maintain effective and highly effective throughout my four years. As an educator, I am always striving to be the best I can be. I am always looking for ways to improve and grow.I am always reflecting on my teaching and finding ways to enhance my teaching in various areas . Examples can be found below.

3C. Engaging Students in Learning

For example, one of my goals was to improve upon the variety of ways I could engage my students in the learning process. I had received 3/4 effectives in 2020-2021. In early childhood, I believe that allowing students to become hands on in their learning is one of the best ways to engage and grasp all learners! Through a variety of resources, you will be able to see I have been able to use creativity and differentiation in my classroom to engage my students in the learning process.

Sharing our Work

I allow and encourage my students to share and enjoy each others work. I believe these types of activities provide opportunities to challenge student's thinking and allow them to make their thinking visible.

In the picture above, you can see one of my scholars sharing her writing with the class with the use of the projector. This resulted in active intellectual engagement with challenging content.

Hands on Learning

Finding different ways to engage my scholars is something I focus on daily. Being an early childhood educator, I have seen the importance of hands on learning. Being able to bring in different materials and manipulatives to engage my learners, I have seen the positive effect this style of learning has on my scholars.

In the picture above, you will notice one of my students using shaving cream to practice sight words and letter recognition!

2D. Managing Student Behavior

Managing student behavior is a very important area in the classroom. Classroom management is something that I focus on from the first day of school. With rules and expectations in place, this allows my young scholars to know what is expected of them at all times. When scholars are aware of their routine and classroom structure, this helps create an environment that is fully engaged in learning and growing!

Classroom Jobs

Teaching responsibility for ourselves and our belongings is an important skill that I try to instill in all my scholars. It is important that my scholars feel responsible for our classroom and together we make it a safe/ respectful area for all.
Classroom jobs is something I do each year. This allows my scholars to feel a sense of importance and responsibility in the classroom.
From the moment they walk into the classroom, they are aware of their expectations and routines such as unpacking, signing in and completing any individual job or task assigned to them.

Small Groups

Each day, we work in small groups for one period. This allows scholars to learn how to work together, with a teacher as well as independently. Students are taught the importance and rules of working in small groups. Once my scholars are in routine and know their expectations for small group work, my classroom becomes a place where all students are learning in a variety of ways!

In the pictures you will see my scholars busy at work during small group time! Anchor charts can also be found around my classroom, reminding students what is expected of them!

Star Charts

Star charts are used to motivate students for positive behavior as well as reading. This individual log allows students to be held accountable for their work and actions!

3D. Using Assessment in Instruction

Using assessment in instruction is something I am continually focusing on as an educator. I am finding there are many ways to assess students informally and formally throughout every lesson! Through picture cards, sentence frames for EL learners, exit tickets and clearly defined learning targets, you will see I have found many ways to assess my students during instruction.

Exit Tickets

This year the Kindergarten team has piloted a new math program (Eurkea Math). This program has created exit tickets that I am able to use after each lesson to assess my scholars.

Turn and Talk

Turn and talks are used often in my classroom. Turn and talks not only encourage my students to share their thoughts and ideas, but it is also a great tool I can use for assessment. While listening to their conversations I am able to listen or jot down what they are understanding as an individual learner.

DESIGNING COHESIVE INSTRUCTION:

UNIT & LESSON PLANNING

Below you will find some samples of my lesson plans throughout the years

EL Lesson Module 2.2.6.docx

Collaborative Planning

This year I am currently teaching Kindergarten. Each week, my grade team meets to look at data as well as planning! We meet with our Assistant Principal to take a closer look at data as well as share/ collaborate ideas for both reading and math. Through collaborative planning we are able to bounce ideas off one another and create meaningful and highly effective lessons.
Below you will find my weekly collaborations with my Kindergarten team!

Kinder Admin Meetings.pdf

Check out our planning process for our Character and Setting bulletin board!

As a class, we learned all about different types of weather and how to prepare for the different types of weather that can occur. One of the books we read was "Come on Rain!" by Karen Hesse. Through the lessons, students were able to learn about character, setting as well as the order of events! At the end of our unit, we were able to create our very own character along with the order of events/setting!

After creating our work, we hung it up to admire our work in the hallway!

Instructional Approach

I am a strong believer in using both small group and large group instruction. Throughout the day, you can find my students working with groups or partners often. Having my scholars work in both small group and large group instruction, I feel I am able to collect strong formal and informal assessment to drive my instruction.
My scholars really enjoy working together and have become great at their daily routine. When creating small groups, I find it is important to be flexible with my students and differentiate the groups in multiple ways. Through verbal instructions, modeling, anchor charts and routine, each group has clear defined instructions and expectations. I am also able to give specific groups support structures if needed to help them during their work time. Creating different groups throughout the school year, allows my my scholars to work with different peers and learning from one another. Scholars are able to make meaningful connections, learn from one another and even create social and emotional skills.

Take a look at how I utilized the walls in my Kindergarten classroom!

Visual Learning

I believe in creating a warm and colorful classroom environment. Students are encouraged to use the materials around the room to help them throughout the day. In my classroom you will find a word wall, anchor charts, students work as well as vocabulary and learning targets set for each day!

Student work displayed

Students work is displayed not only inside but outside the classroom with pride. All scholars work is connected to a learning standard. I also add the glows and grows of each scholars work, which allows myself as well as others to see each individuals strengths and something they are working towards!

Interactive Boards

Interactive areas are found around my classroom for all scholars to use. This includes weather charts, daily calendar, daily schedule as well as our daily sign in!

Charts

Charts are hung for scholars around the room. Charts are used daily to reinforce learning for all areas such as reading, math and fundations!

Page updated

Report abuse