Standard 4- Learning Environment: The competent teacher structures a safe and healthy learning environment that facilitates cultural and linguistic responsiveness, emotional well-being, self-efficacy, positive social interaction, mutual respect, active engagement, academic risk-taking, self-motivation, and personal goal-setting.
Artifact: Classroom Website
Rationale-
The growing surge of technology is at an all-time growing rate. Having access to the classroom 24/7 will allows the learner full-access to what they need to succeed. Designing a digital classroom allows for educators, colleagues, parents, and students to be part of a collaborative team that will ensure student success. Daily updates will provide all involved what is going on in the classroom. This will leave little room for miscommunication. The digital classroom builds off student's prior knowledge with the use of technology inside the classroom. Creating a safe and healthy environment will maximize the student's learning by providing a positive atmosphere that every can succeed in. Highlighting strategies and principles on the classroom website will ensure everyone is on the same level of understanding that will create an equal level of respect and management.
Standard Connection-
4A) understands principles of and strategies for effective classroom and behavior management;
4I) creates a safe and healthy environment that maximizes student learning;
Self-Evaluation-
The classroom website offered me substantial insight on the importance of communication via technology. My digital classroom put me in control of putting what are the important takeaways from my instruction in a one-stop location. Parents often want to know how their child is doing but may have a busy schedule that conflicts with the educator. Providing all of the classroom information on a website allows the parent to see how their child is doing. This also provides and excellent source of communication. A direct email link is given that will be linked the my teaching account. This greatly reduces miscommunication. Collaborating with colleagues can be difficult due to varying schedules. Co-teaching, student therapies, or IEP goals can be communicated directly on the site and allow for a positive learning environment for all involved. I would update the website throughout the year in effort to keep material and delivery relevant and current.
Student Teaching Artifact:
Rationale-
This lesson adheres to the evolving male body through the course of puberty. Puberty is a change all students will go through. Understanding the varying degrees of puberty will create a safe and healthy environment for all learners. Creating positive and social interactions given the specified gender will help the educator better understand factors that will influence motivation and engagement for the learners.
Standard Connection-
4D) understands factors (e.g., self-efficacy, positive social interaction) that influence motivation and engagement
4K) uses strategies to create a smoothly functioning learning community in which students assume responsibility for themselves and one another, participate in decision-making, work collaboratively and independently, use appropriate technology, and engage in purposeful learning activities;
Self-Evaluation-
During student teaching, I was approached by the head of the the curriculum coordinator in means to teach this year's puberty lesson to the middle-school boys. She had explained to me that the teachers in middle-school (all female) felt it would be appropriate for a male teacher to instruct the lessons. I accepted the task eagerly because I often feel this is subject that most skate past because of the awkward stigma attached to teaching such curriculum. To protect students, we must educate them on their growing bodies. Several parents have reached out in concern that their child needs resources regarding their bodies. I created several video lessons due to working remote along with social stories their parents can have access to for future resources. We must eliminate these stigmas attached to sex education and treat it like the other curriculum that we are comfortable putting focus on. Doing difficult or challenging tasks will allow us to grow, this will lead to increased success in the classroom.