The competent teacher has in-depth understanding of content area knowledge that includes central concepts, methods of inquiry, structures of the disciplines, and content area literacy. The teacher creates meaningful learning experiences for each student based upon interactions among content area and pedagogical knowledge, and evidence-based practice.
My senior capstone class was based on writing a 20-page paper about any topic in history that was of importance to me. I combined two of my favorite items such as education and women's history. I had four months to complete this paper, which consisted of multiple rough drafts and looking at different sources. This allowed me to create the thesis of my paper, which stated, "Becoming a teacher developed Dorothea Dix’s characteristics which would help her become a mental health prison reformer: being a lifelong learner, passionate, compassionate, and determined.
This process consisted of looking through different sources by locating journal articles, books, websites, etc. The artifact below showed in my footnotes and reference page for what primary and secondary sources were used that helped me strengthen my argument of my paper. This demonstrates indicator 2F, which states, "Knows how to access the tools and knowledge related to latest findings (e.g., research, practice, methodologies) and technologies in the disciplines." During the hours of researching for what points should be make within my paper, I had to piece together Dorothea Dix's life from multiple different perspectives to help understand who she was. From there, I had to make an inference in how I wanted to develop the thesis of my paper.
The paper allowed me to take what I had learned in the four years of writing multiple research papers, use all my knowledge from all previous classes, and display that within one paper. This demonstrates indicator 2C, which states, "Understands the cognitive processes associated with various kinds of learning (e.g., critical and creative thinking, problem-structuring and problem-solving, invention, memorization, and recall) and ensures attention to these learning processes so that students can master content standards." This paper allowed me to grow by using all my knowledge that I have obtain and grow into the teacher I have become. I displayed my critical thinking skills when it came to evaluating sources, making inferences to make a point within an essay, and elaborating on them with evidence found.
The project below is called a Zine, this project was given out in one of my education classes, and I had to pick out four topics that were discussed in our class that semester. These topics were important to me because in the classroom these topics are and do not get the attention they deserve. In each topic regard privilege, segregation, disability, and sexism there are videos, further readings, examples, and or quotes to represent the topic. This project helped me have a better understanding of what I would be able to use one day within my classroom to help my student have knowledge about these issues and should not be afraid to discuss in a classroom.
When my students start on the unit of segregation, they will hear the quote from me, " Separated by equal." This should make them think about how those who were black are looked down on and did not have the advantages of those who were white. However, in society they can still see who has privilege in the world today and having my classroom as a space to have an opportunity to have this discussion. The artifact below is the video I will be able to play for my students to have a better understanding of privilege with the person asking questions, and the people would either take a step forward or backwards. This demonstrates to indicator 2I, which states, "Evaluates teaching resources and materials for appropriateness as related to curricular content and each student’s needs." I would make a sheet with different questions, such as, "What do they think privilege is?" After watching the video, we will have a discussion about, "How did the video make you feel?", "What would be their definition of privilege now?", and "What other questions do you have?" This would allow our class to have further discussion about what the students' thoughts are and how we can be aware of this topic.
A lesson in Social Studies classrooms that do not get enough attention is the unit of "Women Equality-Women Reformers." This allows the class to have a conversation about the topic of sexism of how males look down upon women because they feel as they are lower than them. These could be not having the right to education, equal pay, voting, etc. The artifact below on page 6 has an example about a Disney movie named, Malan, which is about a woman who cannot go into battle because she is a female and not a male. This demonstrates indicator 2N, which states, "Facilitates learning experiences that make connections to other content areas and to life experiences." This is an example to help my students recognize how women are seen as weak, and be able to connect this to a real live experience s of how females were put as nurses instead of in battle. In my classroom, I would put different examples on the board to represent why these experiences are considered sexes. This topic is important to everyone in the classroom, not just the females students, but male students in the room too, because they have to be made awareness to themselves about this matter.
FINAL ZINE PROJECT.pdf