Standard 6: Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication

Standard 6 - Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication – The competent teacher has foundational knowledge of reading, writing, and oral communication within the content area and recognizes and addresses student reading, writing, and oral communication needs to facilitate the acquisition of content knowledge.

In meeting with the Illinois State Standard 6: Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication, the artifact that I selected was a paper I composed that focused on my own philosophy of education. I chose to share this paper because it goes through my beliefs, feelings, and views on different philosophies of education. Throughout the paper, I discuss how my preferred philosophy of education is the progressivism philosophy approach. This philosophy takes the approach that students learn the best through hands-on experience. Students educate themselves best by choosing their own interests, questions, and answers; they become problem solvers through physical and cultural experiences.

While creating this artifact I wanted to stick to meeting the Illinois Professional Teaching Standard "Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication." Throughout this process I feel that I met with section 6A, which states, "the teacher understands appropriate and varied instructional approaches used before, during, and after reading, including those that develop word knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and strategy use in the content areas;" I did so by researching several different educational philosophies, choosing one that I must agree with, and combining my own personal views with the philosophy of my choice. I wanted to ensure that I was able to grasp the portion of the standard that states that the "competent teacher has foundational knowledge of reading, writing, and oral communication within the content area" by following this professional teaching standard I will be able to use my teaching philosophy to better serve my students in their learning.

In meeting with the Illinois State Standard 6: Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication, the second artifact that I selected was a 5th Grade Physical Fitness Assessment that I created in the Fall of 2021 during student teaching. The assessment was made during the physical fitness unit I was able to teach during my student teaching. This pre-assessment contains multiple-choice questions to test a student's knowledge of basketball-related skills before the unit begins. The pre-assessment was to determine whether or not students were able to master the physical fitness unit main concepts.

While creating this artifact I wanted to stick to meeting the Illinois Professional Teaching Standard "Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication." Throughout this process I feel that I met with section 6A, which states, "the teacher understands appropriate and varied instructional approaches used before, during, and after reading, including those that develop word knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and strategy use in the content areas;" I met with this standard by making a pre-assessment that allows the students to develop knowledge, vocabulary, and show full comprehension of the concepts that were taught.

After completing the artifacts I was able to evaluate my proficiency in reading, writing, and oral communication and how all three areas have a large impact on myself and the students I will be teaching. As I go on to teach different-aged children I will have to develop more strengths when it comes to diversifying their reading, writing, and oral communication skills. By acquiring these new skills and recognizing my own personal philosophy, I will be well prepared to teach my students in the best way I possibly can.