Summary

A classroom is a diverse and dynamic environment that holds unique and ever-changing needs. While lessons are expected to be meticulously planned out, the ever-changing needs of a classroom must be accommodated. So, it is essential for a teacher to have the skills and feedback necessary to constantly adapt their classrooms in order to provide the most effective learning experience for their students.

Proficiency Criteria

Analyzes results from a variety of assessments to determine progress toward intended outcomes and uses these findings to adjust practice and identify and/or implement differentiated interventions and enhancements for students. (1)

Evidence

During my practicum, I learned and developed invaluable skills, but not without making mistakes in the processes. Mistakes are always a part of the learning process for both the students and the teachers. So as a developing teacher it is essential to acknowledge when and how you can be more effective and then implement those changes to the next class you can. Below I've attached 2 worksheets from my Engineering Principles class EDP unit. I presented and explained the first worksheet on the left and had no questions or visible confusion from the class. Well, the next day it was obvious my directions and expectations were unclear. Student work varied drastically in quality and content. While a teacher might assign fault to their students, there was clearly a better way I could communicate my expectations and the purpose of my assignment. I decided to scrap the last assignment and I allowed students to redo part 3 with new directions and written out example work as you can see on the left. It was not a perfect solution but student comprehension increased and the new work they turned in better served the purpose of the lesson. It was essential for me to revisit this lesson aswell as many others in order to use class feedback in order to develop more effective teaching strategies.

3 - Tower Design Challenge - EDP

Original worksheet for Engineering Principles EDP lesson

3 - Part 3 Redo

Revised worksheet with added examples and clearer expectations from student feedback

Resources

  1. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. (n.d.). CAP Guidelines. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www.doe.mass.edu/edprep/cap/guidelines.html