"The qualifications and professional development of program of study staff, including secondary CTE teachers, postsecondary CTE faculty, administrators, and other personnel."

What

I taught a lesson on fetal pig dissection to a ninth-grade class. This lesson was supposed to be taught on Friday the week before, so the learners knew a lot more of the content than the original date, but it was still something good to go over. There was also a change of students from 5 to 3 as of that day. For different interactive strategies, I implemented types of discussion and did a review game at the end of the lesson to help with the understanding of the content. An attention getter that I did right as a beginner was having the students stand up and face each other. I then proceeded to have them go to the left of their partner. This led to the discussion of why we need to know anatomical regions. Managing the classroom was based more on trying to keep students learning due to the small class size. 

So What

This practice teaching had me struggling a bit. I believe that I was ready to go and had my materials. I was not as confident in the content that I taught this time, and it showed in my teaching. There was a harder time getting into my teaching, and my confidence was changed because I was ready, and then I switched things around, and it felt off this time around. I was able to manage the classroom well, but it was not much of a struggle, other than making sure that the students were engaged in the lesson. I did keep a calm presence during my lesson, which helped with the environment. When looking at it from the perspective of ACTE Element 4(prepared and effective program staff), the lesson was done, but it could have been a lot more effective, and I could have been even more prepared. Having a different plan just in case is something that could be added. 

​Now What

My management of student behavior directly contributes to the classroom environment by creating a safe psychological environment. If this were a lab, we would have needed to practice physical safety. Since this was mainly a lecture and discussion, I made it my goal not cold call any students, but to have them discuss and keep them engaged. One specific strategy that I will carry forward into my student teaching is to have extra materials and things planned that we could do if there is a change in the class size or if the students get through the material too quickly. Finally, I will do this because it is always good to have backup strategies for when the student engagement needs shift.