Parent Letter

My name is Ms. Jordan, and I will be the student teacher in your child’s room this year. I will be working with Mrs. Woolsey. At the end of the school year I will be graduating from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s of the Art in Elementary Education with a focus in Science and Language Arts.

I was born and raised in Farmington, New Mexico. I grew up going to Farmington schools. I am engaged to my high school sweetheart and together we have three dogs. I have two red heelers named Luna and Emmit, as well as a long haired chihuahua named Lola. I also have four nephews that I love dearly. I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and playing with my dogs.

This year is going to be an explosion of learning for both the students and myself! I am so excited to be teaching your students this year. I cannot wait to get to know them!

Community Helpers Lesson Plan

Students will write a short opinion piece on who they think the best community helper is. Throughout the week, the class watch several videos, as well as read books about community helpers. The students then got to pick who they thought the best community helper was, and explain why they thought that they were the best.

Differentiated Lesson Plan

General Lesson Information:

• Teacher Candidate Name: Jordan Varnell
• Date & Time Frame of Lesson: October 9, 2019 – 1PM
• Title: “Can I Be Your Dog” Opinion Piece
• Grade Level: 2^nd grade
• Subject Area: ELA

Standards and Bench Marks

• Standard(s) appropriate to the lesson: RI.2.4 (ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.) RI.2.8 (Describe how reasons support specific points the author makes in a text.) W.2.1 (Write an opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.)
• Rationale for selecting standard: Common Core State Standards, as listed on the Farmington Municipal Schools pacing guide for 2^nd Grade Students

Specific Learning Goals and Objectives of the Lesson

For the lesson, I want to work on author’s purpose for writing the story, organizing information from the story, writing an opinion piece and connecting parts of the story to real life scenarios. For the opinion piece I want the students to write their opening statement, three reasons, and a concluding sentence. I have two boys that I will ask for more from and three students that I will ask for less from. I do not have any students that are language learners.

Preparation

Materials and resources

Can I Be Your Dog by Troy Cummings, white board, writing paper (letter format), pencils.

The Environment

I will read the story to the students while they are sitting on the floor, on the rug. I will then have them turn around to face the board as we review the story. The students will then return to their seats to write their opinion piece, and I will be at my table for them to bring it to me when they are done.

Diversity

Most of my students are able to perform on grade level. I have five students I will be providing differentiation to in order to encourage them to complete their work. My students are able to follow the directions that are given to them and work well in their groups. I do have a few students that will need reminders for them to stay on task, if needed they can sit at my table to complete their work.

Differentiation

I have two boys (MM and JW) that I will encourage to give four reasons. I also have three students that are lower, (JR, AY and BS) that I will only ask for two reasons only. Also, JR can orally tell him his opinion piece, and I will write it for him. He struggles with spelling, letter sounds, and writing.

Technology

N/A

Collaboration

JR will be receiving accommodations to help him finish his work, by being able to orally tell his writing to me and having me writing it. I will also be providing a coloring page for the students that are finished.

Instructional Procedures

Introduction

To begin the lesson, I will read the book Can I Be Your Dog? During reading I will review vocabulary that might be unfamiliar for the students and discuss the meaning of the words.

Instruction

Students and I will work together to come up with a list of pros and cons for why we should adopt Arfy. We will use details from the text to complete the list. Then, I will explain to students that they are going to write a letter to Arfy to decide if they should be Arfy’s person or not. Letter must include greeting, introduction statement, three reasons and a conclusion.

Guided/Independent Practice

Students will work on their letters to Arfy individually at the theirs seats. When they done, they may come up to my table for me to help them with spelling and grammar. Students will then be allowed to color a picture of Arfy.

Closure

Students will complete their writing and picture.

Assessment

Formative assessments will take place during the whole group activity of writing pros and cons of becoming Arfy’s person. Students will each get a chance to tell me the reason. Formative Assessments will also happen at the point that they are bringing me their work to proofread.

Summative assessment will be based on their spelling, and the quality of their writing. Students must have all the parts of their writing present.

Accommodations/Modifications

I have two boys (MM and JW) that I will encourage to give four reasons. I also have three students that are lower, (JR, AY and BS) that I will only ask for two reasons only. Also, JR can orally tell him his opinion piece, and I will write it for him. He struggles with spelling, letter sounds, and writing.

Week One: ELA Lesson plan - Ah! Music

Week Two: ELA Lesson Plan - Thanksgiving

Week Three: ELA Lesson Plan - Officer Buckle

Final Reflective Statement

I feel that I have learned a lot about the daily learning of a classroom. I chose to be here everyday during the semester, aside from a few sick days, and I feel that this has really integrated me into the classroom better and made my connection with the students that much better. I have learned a lot from my CT about grading, lesson planning and how to run the classroom. She has taught me about time management as well as classroom management. My students have taught me about life and the difficulties that they have. We had a wide variety of students from a wide variety of backgrounds and life experiences that I feel have prepared me for my own classrooms and struggles that I may have. I have very much enjoyed my time in the classroom and look forward to coming back in the spring for my full time student teaching.