1. Language Competence
Teachers have a high degree of fluency in English, comprehend the linguistic and paralinguistic features of the English language, and recognize the processes through which languages are acquired in both formal and informal contexts.
Standard #1 addresses my comprehension of the English language. My coursework in Formal to Functional Linguistics demonstrates my knowledge of the linguistic and paralinguistic features of English. Below you will find language assignments I completed in class, reflection essays on learning language, and lesson plans for incorporating learning language and texts.
Artifact 1: Analyzing Academic Language (Attached Below)
This is a language assignment from my Formal to Functional Linguistics class, which was part of my ESL course sequence at Edgewood College. This particular assignment analyzes academic language in classroom resources. The assignment includes comments on my experience "unpacking" academic language and my awareness of the complex density of academic language.
Artifact 2: Identifying Texts in Social Studies (Attached Below)
This is another assignment from my Formal to Functional Linguistics class where I identify key types of texts in social studies. I analyze language commonly used in the texts that I identify and comment of teaching types of text within my content area.
Artifact 3: Intro to Imperialism Instructional Materials (Attached Below)
This artifact is from my student teaching experience where I taught a mini introduction unit to imperialism (artifact 3). This document includes the key instructional materials for the unit, which includes graphic organizers for vocabulary and for a primary source analysis stations activity. The vocabulary organizer demonstrates my ability to connect to student background knowledge or culture by providing students a chance to include examples, analogies, and visuals to help them understand and remember the vocabulary. The graphic organizer for the primary source stations activity breaks down the primary source analysis into concrete sections, which helps ELLs, students in special education, and students who struggle with reading and writing. These instructional materials demonstrate my ability as a teacher to include language and literacy scaffolds for ELLs and others who may need support.
Artifact 4: Intro to Imperialism Unit (Attached Below)
These are the lessons plans for the Intro to Imperialism Unit from my student teaching experience. The instructional materials for these lessons are also attached (artifact 2). These lesson plans incorporate various strategies for engagement, including station activities and interactive online discussions, which allows students to work with peers and use their background knowledge and skills to help them demonstrate their knowledge and skills for this unit. These lessons include strategies and supports for language and literacy, which support ELLs and others who may need support.