Curriculum 

Subject Skills

Lesson plan 

Develop and implement units and lessons based on standards, materials available, student interest, and cross-curricular subjects.

• Create lessons that are founded in the Common Core State Standards, and challenge students to apply basic concepts to real-world contexts.

• Promote literacy, critical-thinking, problem solving, collaboration and applications to everyday life for all students.

Assessment

Apply varied assessment methods to measure the knowledge gained by students and to improve student learning.

• Summative Assessment including use of pre and post tests to show growth and mastery of a concept.

• Formative Assessment to assess the need for adjustment in instruction to increase student learning.
  Example: When results of an exit slip showed students did not grasp the desired concept, instructional plans were adjusted. Using a different approach allowed students to learn the material, ensuring the method of instruction wasn’t what made the topic difficult.

• Informal Assessment – ongoing monitoring to evaluate student comprehension and modifying lesson plans as needed.
  Example: When a quick check on a whiteboard revealed students didn’t understand the lesson’s objective, instead of moving on I adjusted and revisited the topic through another method.

• Student Formative Self-Assessment to allow students to reflect on their own understanding of the lesson’s learning goal. (Master's Action-Based Research Project).
  Example: Allowed students to think and write about their understanding of a math lesson, explain their strategies and reasoning to solve problems and their communication of a solution.

• Standardized or Norm Tests, such as MAP testing or STAR testing, that use data to determine what needs to be a focus for instructional material.
  Example: Using MAP data to identify areas of improvement for Math and ELA standards, I designed and implemented units to develop these skills. For example, a unit focused on text structure and genre improved students’ MAP scores, and use of a common formative assessment as a pre and post-test showed students had a greater understanding of structural elements of text genres.
  Example: Reviewed STAR math and reading scores to see areas of weakness and strength in these subjects, as well as to determine how to group students based on ability, and to adjust groups as student understanding changes. After administering STAR test multiple times throughout the year, data showed average student growth increased by a grade level.

Differentiation and diversity

Working in both public and private, and in urban and rural schools, I have gained experience in diverse classroom settings. When creating lessons, I take students’ cultures, backgrounds, levels of knowledge/skills, and learning styles into consideration and provide multiple means of access to materials.

• Coordinate classroom learning to achieve a balance between whole group instruction, small group collaboration and individual work.

• Use diverse methods of instruction to allow for auditory, kinesthetic and visual learners to be successful.

• Utilizing technology resources to enhance lessons.
  Example: Incorporated Seesaw activities that allow students to practice and show the mastery of a math skill by drawing, writing or audio recording their math thinking.
  Example: In a collaborative project, students wrote, typed and shared a reader’s theater script with a classroom in another state. This allowed students to use technology while also working on literacy standards.

Lifelong lessons

As a teacher I aim to encourage life-long learning in all my students. Exposing students to opportunities beyond the classroom is one way to foster a love of learning.

• Take advantage of the surrounding environment to provide meaningful field trips that relate the content to resources or the history of where I’m teaching.

• Relating the material to students’ lives.
  Example: In an effort to promote literacy, I implemented novels that related to 4th graders. Interacting with the text by close reading and discussion with their classmates promoted a desire to read.

• Use personal experiences to teach students about the world beyond their community.
  Example: While teaching in a rural community, I shared stories of my urban life experiences (Chicago, Rome, Milan, Portland, OR) to broaden my students' view of the world beyond what they know.

Collaboration & Communication

• Maintain regular communication with principal. An open relationship promotes opportunities for support in the various areas of teaching including curriculum, behavior issues, parental involvement and other concerns within the school.

• Strong communication with parents and guardians is essential.

• Contact parents/guardians when problems arise, but also when a student has done something successful in the classroom to help develop positive parent-teacher relationship.

• Collaboration with fellow teachers to share ideas or provide support.
  Example: While a recent position didn’t have other same-grade-level teachers, I held frequent discussions with teachers from lower/higher grades on how curriculum relates to previously learned content and the skills and concepts needed for future applications of topics.
  Example: Worked with other same-grade-level teachers from other schools during Professional Development days to share and dissect best practices related to math standards.

Classroom Management

• I hold each student accountable for his/her learning to encourage him or her to succeed in the classroom.

• The classroom environment is one that fosters respect for all, responsibility for actions, and readiness to learn.

• Descriptive classroom procedures direct students to the type of behavior they are expected to demonstrate. Continual practice and opportunities for leadership allow students to develop habits that promote learning.

• Students develop independent work habits as well as collaboration with peers, through varied classroom opportunities.

• I have a high expectation for all students, requiring them to put forth the effort and work that they are all capable of. When a student doesn’t reach this expectation on a particular assignment, I give them the chance to reflect on what they did and provide the opportunity to improve on their understanding.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

– Nelson Mandela