Mr. Botts - Domain 3: Instruction

Domain 3: Instruction

Communicating With Students

When planning and prepping for activities and lessons, it is easy to think about how you are going to explain and demonstrate the assignment to your students and what you expect of them daily. Students, though, often need reminders and have trouble remembering the exact expectations. This is why communicating with students on a consistent basis is so crucial. Students are, often, absent and need caught up with work and missing assignments. It is my job and my responsibility to constantly communicate with them and help them in any way that I can. When giving directions, I ensure that I am going slow and that students are listening. Additionally, I always give verbal instructions twice followed by written instructions that are passed out and on the front board for constant reference.

Communicating With Parents

In addition to talking and communicating with students, it is crucial to remain in constant contact and communication with parents/guardians. It is important to remember and note that parents should be contacted on a regular basis for ALL reasons, not just for bad behavior or something negative. Parents want to hear about the good that their child does and, as a teacher, you should want to share that with them as well. Always find the positive in your kiddos' work and behavior and always share with parents/guardians. In my High School Placement at Loyalsock, I interacted with parents at parent-teacher conferences. I was able to share all of the work their child had completed and take some time to get to know them better and build that relationship further. In my placement at the Middle School, my cooperating teacher and I planned on sending out postcards to parents/guardians with little notes about their kids and the excellent work they were doing in 7th grade!

Engaging Students in Learning

During my time Student Teaching at Loyalsock Township High School, I was able to successfully plan and deliver numerous lessons that allowed students to explore topics in unfamiliar ways. One of these lessons was on the transcontinental railroad. I, first, introduced the topic and what it meant for 19th century America and westward expansion. I have found, in most cases, that lack of engagement and lack of relevancy to real life are the main reasons why students do not like or enjoy social studies. So, I did just that, I related the transcontinental railroad to a proposed high-speed rail system that students were tasked with designing. The class now was split into two different groups and had to debate, on a variety of factors, whether or not the high-speed rail project would begin construction.

Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness

The able to adapt and adjust at a moments notice is a skill ALL teachers must possess. During the last couple months in my professional semester, I have learned more about adjusting and being flexible than anything else. First and foremost, never count on technology to work flawlessly. Something will always go wrong and you must adapt and be ready for anything. With the recent spread of COVID-19, it is no surprise to anyone that all teaching and instruction, from this point forward, is done online. No one was expecting the closure of all schools and it came to a surprise to most people, but teachers needed to adjust and adapt their lessons quickly. I, along with my cooperating teacher, began to record lessons online through Screencast-O-Matic. Using this, students are still able to learn content material and hear from their teachers. One specific example of using Screencast-O-Matic was when I taught an entire lesson on the Mayan and Inca civilizations. I used the program to go through the students' online textbook and add notes and additional information as I went through it. Additionally, I have used Zoom to meet with students and classes in an effort to continue to help them and build relationships with them. I also held office hours through Zoom, which gave students an opportunity to ask questions and continue to seek help/guidance on assignments. Once again, expect the unexpected and be able to shift and adjust at the very last minute.

Cody Botts, Pennsylvania State-Certified in Secondary Social Studies (7-12)

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