During my practice, lesson planning was a fundamental process in my development as an educator. This skill is based on effective planning that not only takes into account curricular objectives but also a deep understanding of my students, their context, and their needs. At the beginning, I found it a bit challenging to properly create lesson plans, as I had to balance multiple aspects at once: the students’ interests and needs, academic goals, and the integration of different pedagogical approaches. However, over time and with practice, I was able to refine my approach and develop more effective lesson plans tailored to my students.

One of the aspects I emphasized in my planning was the integration of activities that leveraged both the subject knowledge and the students’ prior knowledge. At the start of the semester, I conducted a student inventory to understand each student’s strengths, interests, and learning styles. This information was key in designing activities that allowed students to interact with the content in a meaningful and personalized way, ensuring their active participation and the development of their skills. For example, in the unit of robots, I organized activities that combined the use of technology, teamwork, and creativity, which proved to be very engaging for the students, especially because it linked academic content with their interests.

Additionally, in the unit on Making Inferences, I planned in a way that integrated various strategies to facilitate understanding of the topic. I used songs, interactive games, and hands-on activities involving inferences, which allowed students to practice the concept in a dynamic and accessible way. To assess their understanding during the unit, I implemented various types of assessments such as observations, quizzes, and group activities. These methods helped me identify areas where students showed greater understanding and those they needed to reinforce. The results of these assessments provided valuable information that I used to adjust activities and ensure that all students were well-prepared before the final exam.

The planning was also aligned with the curriculum goals but was flexible enough to adapt to the emerging needs of the students. Throughout the classes, I continuously assessed how well the students were understanding the topics and adjusted my activities when necessary. On some occasions, I used interactive games and group dynamics to reinforce concepts that students found challenging, such as in the case of solving math problems. This flexibility in planning allowed for continuous and effective learning and fostered an atmosphere where students felt supported.

On the other hand, I made sure my lesson plans also took into account the context of the school community. Actively participating in extracurricular events and activities gave me a clearer view of my students’ social and emotional environment, which helped me integrate aspects of the community into my lessons. For example, by learning about the students’ cultural interests and local traditions, I was able to incorporate examples and situations that resonated better with them, making learning more relevant.

In summary, although lesson planning was challenging at first, I overcame those difficulties and, over time, was able to create lessons that not only met academic standards but also adapted to the needs and realities of my students. Thanks to this approach, I was able to foster a dynamic and meaningful learning environment that supported both the academic and personal development of the students.

With this evidence, I showcase my full command of various skills inherent to this competence. In completing this final project alongside my colleague Anieris, we crafted a class plan integrating different subjects, including Social Studies, Art, and Spanish. To ensure the plan's effectiveness, we consulted the standards of the Puerto Rico Department of Education to ensure compliance, thus enabling us to establish clear objectives for the tasks students would undertake. Additionally, I opted to observe a class of the selected grade to gain insight into the social context and student interests. This collaborative effort involved leveraging our respective expertise, with Anieris specializing in Spanish and myself in English.

To illustrate how this evidence relates to competence, I must highlight the significant learnings gleaned from designing this plan. Notably, I demonstrated my ability to effectively organize the steps and components involved in creating a comprehensive plan encompassing various subjects, each aligned with the central theme. Furthermore, this experience provided valuable exposure to the required standards for each grade and subject, enhancing my understanding of elements within a lesson plan that, while familiar, I had not fully implemented or fulfilled until now.