5.Instructional Delivery

This artifact was created in my EDUC 312 Class on November 11th of 2022. During this class we were asked to partner up with a classmate and create a co-taught lesson plan that we would teach our classmates using 5th  grade Illinois state standards. The central focus of this lesson was on comparing and contrasting. The purpose of this lesson plan was to be able to work together, collaborate with other classmates from the EDUC 312 class and future educators to teach students.

This artifact demonstrates and expresses how important co-planning and co-teaching is. In the indicator 5Q it states, "Uses effective co-planning and co-teaching to deliver instruction to all students;" (5Q). Myself and my partner planned a successful lesson for our classmates.  The students from EDUC 312 were engaged and participated well. It was great to see how working together with other educators can create a more inclusive and inviting environment. The students specifically were able to encourage one another through discussion using WH questions and evidence from their reading to promote higher level thinking. Specifically my teaching partner and I supported our students by providing reading strategies such as highlighting key words they did not understand as well as asking WH questions and using the texts provided to locate their answers to build their comprehension when comparing and contrasting. such as comparing and contrasting. There are many educators of which students engage with and it is important to successfully collaborate with one another in providing the best interests of meeting the needs and goals of the students. The students worked well myself and the co-teacher for this lesson. They were able to understand the material and apply the skills and knowledge taught to the activities that were created. There was flexibility and activities were paced where students can complete activities with the support of myself and the co-teacher. I found there to be great success and effective relationships built with the co-teacher and the students.

This lesson that was created taught me how important overall collaboration is in creating effective co-planning and co-teaching for students. My goal is to work closely with my future team of educators and provide successful and engaging lesson plans for my students. Working along with colleagues, building collaboration creates positive results and supportive materials for creating success. Specifically, I want to build a classroom where a variety of strategies can be used for all learners to promote continuous growth and development.

This artifact is called: Interactive Math Centers. These were math centers that were used in my pre-student teaching class with Kindergarten. It was used during Math Centers from August 23rd to December 21, 2022. These centers were used to support the learning, skills and strategies of the students during their math units.  These centers were used to support their development in understanding of practicing new and old skills. Students participated and were very much engaged in practicing their skills.  The students were able to practice and make 10 a variety of different ways. The students worked well and supported one another. 

It is important to me to ensure all of my students are able to learn in a variety of different ways. In this case the students were using manipulatives such as counters and 10 frames, where they were expressing and applying their knowledge of content taught. The students worked together in groups, using the IM (Illustrative Math) community language to support their thinking and skills as they are working through their centers. The students are using multiple strategies as they interact with their centers. The students used choral counting strategies for example, counting by 1's and counting by 2's as they would count their counters in total. The students would also practice using mathematical terms such as more or less. For example, during this center, students would shake out their counters and express, " I have more red counters than yellow counters". The students demonstrated great skill and mastery of using manipulatives to express deep thinking. The students would share their findings, express  active learning as they would share and compare their work. This artifact connects well to indicator 5I. Indicator 5I expresses, "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;" (5I). Having my students work together in groups builds their confidence, their previous skills and also helps them practice their present skills being taught.  The students are encouraged to be active in their learning, to engage and participate throughout activities. As a professional educator, it is important to provide as many opportunities to allow all students to build and encourage their skills and knowledge from previous and present taught concepts.

I feel that activities such as math interactive activity centers: Shake and Spill for example,  promotes and allows students to interact with manipulatives to understand the material that is taught. Some students need to work with manipulatives to better understand instructional practices and objectives of a lesson. I feel it is important to my development of teaching to provide as many positive and interactive learning methods. I loved watching my students engage and participate in the teaching strategies I taught of how to use the counters and the 10 frames. It is important for all subjects to find ways to encourage the learning of the students. Students build critical and creative thinking as they work in centers, many of their great answers come from the practice of active learning in activities such as Shake and Spill Math Center.