Phase III
-How my understandings changed regarding the listed categories
-Describe how this might impact your future teaching experiences
1. Assessing Prior Knowledge- There where different ways to asses prior knowledge of the student. The strategy varies depending on the subject they were teaching. They quizzes to asses prior knowledge in math. They did KWL charts in science. Others had questions before their lessons and reviews to help them with new step or addition. This has helped me that there needs to be some form of formal testing to verify that the students are ready for another lesson.
2. Planning Instruction- Through all the lessons I believe my instruction was adequate for my lesson. Like I said before I added vocabulary so I would not use words like “the top number” anymore. This will gain more vocabulary in their repertoire. Also it would help it facilitate the learning in the future with more difficult problems.
3. Designing Instruction- Designing instruction has been changed completely. In this class I learned a whole new arsenal for Instruction with technology. For example the smart board can cover all the different areas of learning. Revolutionize the pencil and paper strategy of learning. What I liked the most about my peers presentation was how easily accessible they were without paying high amounts of money. For example many of my peers used you tube videos to further explain their lesson. This would attract the children’s attention. They use games as well to practice their learning and to internalize it.
4. Planning Assessment- My understanding of assessment changed as well. In their lesson plans many ask the students to be creative and use their imagination to present the information that was asked from them. The assessments ranged from a typical poster board that explained the differences between two countries to a picture story which was a total new concept to me. Therefore understanding of the assignment can be measures in varies different forms except I wonder how they rubric was like on grading.
5. Instructional Decisions/Teaching- My teaching skills where not my strong point. All my different differentiated instruction helped to compensate. My understanding of teaching was to have all the different accommodations for the students and the correct answers but teaching is not only that. I need more personality and spark so that the students pay more attention. Interaction is key to spark learning between the whole class. Another thing that I realized was that the class needs to be somewhat like a family atmosphere in order to function. This way all the children express their thoughts and opinions without being judged. This will help in the future to choose my words better with children and recognize their efforts in participation.
6. Assessment of Learning- The assessment of learning in some grades and setting really was not anything physical or concrete. In some lesson plans the assessment of the learning was the student’s participation and following along with the lesson. For example the lesson plan where the children sang the ABC’s songs the teacher assessed the students by their participation not by anything tangible. This brings a whole new meaning to me for assessment. Sometimes the students actually following along and paying attention is a great effort and that itself is something to take into consideration. Then after participation the teacher can build to paper and pencil assessments.
