The competent teacher differentiates instruction by using a variety of strategies that support critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and continuous growth and learning. This teacher understands that the classroom is a dynamic environment requiring ongoing modification of instruction to enhance learning for each student.
One lesson taught to my students was learning about the Trial of Tears, a two-part lesson that allowed them to be engaged in multiple ways. The first day consisted of the background of what laws Congress had passed for Indigenous Tribes to leave the land. The second day was reading about an account made by a U.S. soldier about the devasting travels the United States made the Indigenous Tribes walk.
The artifact below on the right shows the worksheet for students to read and fill out as I went over the lesson with them on the first day. The left artifact below shows the second-day lesson, however, at the end, we watch a video together to help them have a visual. The video shows the Indigenous People being kicked out of their homes and forced to walk the path. After watching the video, I had a hard time with students raising their hands to share their thoughts after the video, and or reaction. So, I thought quickly on my feet to pass out Post-It Notes to the students to write their thoughts/reactions down instead and stick them on the backboard before leaving. This demonstrates indicator 5H, which states, "Understands when and how to adapt or modify instruction based on outcome data, as well as student needs, goals, and responses." My goal was to make students feel the hardship and heartache the Indigenous People felt during this time.
Our class accomplished this with the Post-It Notes responses because they wrote great responses in understanding what the United States had put them through. We had read some out loud the next day, which demonstrated indicator 5l. This Indicator states, "Uses multiple teaching strategies, including adjusted pacing and flexible grouping, to engage students in active learning opportunities that promote the development of critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and performance capabilities." This small activity allowed the student to adjust their pacing to engage in active learning and have them reflect on the video they watched.
When learning a new concept that student cannot relate to yet because of their age, could be a difficult concept for them to understand. Our class had to do The Illinois Consitution which included them learning about different types of taxes. Doing this lesson could be difficult for their attention, especially since none of them own a home or receive a paycheck yet to understand how big of an effect this will have on them in the future.
I decided to make visual pie charts to help my students understand three types of taxes, such as sales taxes, income taxes, and property taxes. The artifacts below are the visual pie charts that were used while learning about these concepts. This demonstrates artifact 5O, which states, "Models and facilitates effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning." Using digital tools helped the students learn effectively by connecting life examples, such as my mom who owns a home, and used as an example of where some of her property taxes were going.
With learning this lesson I chose to plug in real situations that they could relate to more, and make the lesson more appealing to them. An example of this would be how they were hired to work as a teacher's assistant after school for two hours, Monday through Friday for $20 per hour. However, they were going to be taxed on their income because everywhere they work in Illinois, 13% will come out of their paycheck. In total, they make $400, but income taxes are taken out so they only make about $348 for the week. This demonstrates artifact 5F, "Knows strategies to maximize student attentiveness and engagement." A strategy that I found my students to be more willing to listen to is when I use photos or graphics to help them see what they are learning. This allowed my students to be more engaged in my lesson, and willing to participate in the lesson.
Pie Chart - Blank Presentation.pdfFirst slide: Students buying a bag of chips, would pay $12, but tax is about 7%, which means they would pay another $1 to add to their total.
Second slide: Students are paid $20 per hour for two hours a week after school for five days a week. They would be paid $400 at the end of the week, but are charged 13% of income tax. They would only make $348!
Third slide: This was an example of where my mom's property taxes go, such as nearby schools, forest preserves, or park districts. These were only some examples because they are distributed to other areas as well.