Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge 

Standard 2 - Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge – The competent teacher has in-depth understanding of content area knowledge that includes central concepts, methods of inquiry, structures of the disciplines, and content area literacy. The teacher creates meaningful learning experiences for each student based upon interactions among content area and pedagogical knowledge, and evidence-based practice.

All About Me Poster

Artifact Description:  During student teaching a 1st/2nd grade bilingual class, after students read the book entitled "Spookley the Square Pumpkin", they were asked to create their own unique pumpkin and write a sentence describing their  pumpkins.  This not only had them practice their writing but also  aligned to what they had learned in  their Math geometry class about shapes.  Students had to write about the shape, vertices, and the color of their pumpkin.

IPTS Connection:  This project connects with IPTS Standard 2P) adjusts practice to meet the needs of each student in the content areas.  Some of the students did not know how to write sentences so there were some sentence starters that their worksheets had so they could trace to practice their writing and then add some of the main components that described their pumpkin.

What I learned: I learned that students struggle more if they are not confident in themselves in their ability. By having sentences starters it made the students feel more confident in their ability to finish the parts that were not filled in. Having key words or previously talked about key words on the board also helps the students in their writing and in their confidence of being able to write. 

All Number of the Day

Artifact Description:  During student teaching a 1st/2nd grade bilingual class, during morning work students practiced their number of the day daily. This number is the number of days they have been in school so they can relate that number to school days and it changes every day they are in school. The picture on the left is the slide that they see daily and then they count how many bundles or singles in each category. This then helps them to fill out the worksheet because they can add or seperate the ones, tens, hundreds and see how the numbers can be displayed in different ways as well as what other numbers are surrounding that number. Students are able to use a number chart if they are not sure what numbers come before or next.

IPTS Connection:  This project connects with IPTS Standard 2K) engages students in the processes of critical thinking and inquiry and addresses standards of evidence of the disciplines.  Students are able to learn different ways to represent the same number as well as  numbers surrounding that number.  Students are able to use a number chart to  assist if needed.

What I learned: I learned that students enjoy learning different ways to represent something. This helps various learners because if they already know that method it will make them more confident and if they don't know it then they will be able to practice learn it. Students learn different ways so this is a good way to capture some of those different learners all at once.