Utah Effective Teaching Standards
The Learner and Learning
Teachers need to understand that learning first begins with the learner. It is all about the learner and about the development of the learner. The teacher needs to understand that each learner is unique and has different learning styles. The teacher is responsible for finding the most effective way to engage each individual learner, and create a safe learning environment.
Standard 1: Learner Development
The teacher understands the developmental process of the learner, by understanding all parts of development, including physical, mental, linguistic, cognitive, emotional and social development.
- Rationale:This informational text lesson was developed with the idea to introduce the 3rd grade students on how to read informational texts. They had worked with them before, but this lesson was to help them gain a stable grasp of the text structures in informational text. This would include headings, captions, bold words for vocabulary, learning about the index, and the glossary. This lesson was an example of explicit instruction for the students, and to also help the English Language Learners. This was a developmentally appropriate lesson for the students, and used an animal from Utah based on a previous lesson.
Artifact-Informational Text Lesson:
informational_text_lesson_portfolio.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Standard 2: Learning Differences
The teacher knows their students and understands that they are all different, and learn differently from one another. The teacher creates a learning environment that embraces and accepts these learners. The teacher adapts lesson plans for all learners to gain an understanding of the concept and become successful. The teacher also supports the English Language Learners in the classroom in their learning development.
- Rationale: In this math lesson I created different learning levels for the same concept in the lesson. I wanted all students to have a chance to succeed and get the concept being taught to them. This particular lesson is leveled into 3 different levels to incorporate differentiation. This lesson is to support all students in the classroom.
Artifact-Differentiated Math Lesson:
differentiated_math_activity_3_levels.docx | |
File Size: | 296 kb |
File Type: | docx |
- Rationale: In this vocabulary lesson in the 6th grade classroom I taught in, the students would do 10 vocabulary words each week. They use the vocabulary words with the story that the class read each week. From a REACH training I learned that the students need to have multiple interactions with the vocabulary words in order for it be internalized. Even more interactions with the words are required for ELL students. When the words are introduced to the students as a class we repeat them out loud multiple ways ( the students can make up their own fun ways to say the word). They are given the word, the definition, a picture, and the word used in a sentence. For the assessment piece I created a worksheet that they need to complete each week. They need to spell the word correctly, draw their own picture, and use the word correctly in their own sentence.
Artifact-Vocabulary Worksheet:
vocabulary_worksheet.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Standard 3: Learning Environments
The teacher helps create a safe and engaging learning environment. The environment encourages learning from all students. The teacher helps create an environment that encourages collaboration between students. Gives the students opportunities to become self directed learners.
- Rationale: Together as a class we learned about the flag of our country. I helped facilitate why we have a flag, and what the symbols and colors mean. Then together we worked and voted on the symbols and colors of our flag. They decided that they wanted a giant four leaf clover to represent luck and friendship. Then they each created their own stars, their own unique way. Then we came together and voted on colors and what they meant. They voted on red for courage and to do their best, purple for love and support of classmates, green for respecting each other, and blue for being smart.
Artifact-Classroom Flag:
classroom_flag.jpg | |
File Size: | 1386 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
- Rationale: In the sixth grade classroom I wanted the students to learn how to be responsible, and care for their learning environment. I wanted them to invest in the classroom, plus learn how to manage their classroom money. I created a money ledger for the students to use to see how much they were earning, and how much they were spending. Different jobs earned them different amounts of money every two weeks. They had to apply for the classroom job that they wanted, they had a first, second, and third choice. They applied by writing a paragraph rationale of why they wanted the job, and what they could add to the job.
Artifact-Money Ledger:
money_ledger.xlsx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | xlsx |
Instructional Practice
The teacher has a deep understanding of the content, and will be able to draw upon this knowledge during instruction. The teacher will present the content in different ways, and help the students apply the knowledge into their everyday life.
Standard 4: Content Knowledge
The teacher understands the concepts of inquiry and is able to apply them in a classroom setting. The teacher is able to provide the instruction to the students in many different engaging ways. The teacher demonstrates knowledge of the Utah Core Curriculum.
- Rationale: This unit follows the core for 3rd grade social studies. These lessons have different engaging ways for all of the students to understand the concepts. There are different activities to help the students navigate through the concepts. These lessons can take a varied amount of times to help each student learn about socials studies.
Artifact-Social Studies Unit:
social_studies_unit.docx | |
File Size: | 29 kb |
File Type: | docx |
- Rationale: In the 6th grade classroom the students were learning the effects of major world events of the 20th century on the world today. This particular part was to help them understand World War I, and it's influences. This assessment that I created was given to them after they were introduced to the facts of the war. This leads to the students learning the effects from the war on our world today.
Artifact-World War I Assessment:
allies_of_world_war_i-2.docx | |
File Size: | 33 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Standard 5: Assessment
The teacher has and uses different forms of assessment. The teacher is constantly assessing the students, and adjusts assessment methods to help each student. The teacher helps the student understand what good work is, and how they can complete good work.
- Rationale: This lesson that I used in the 3rd grade classroom I student taught in, and used different questions to assess the students. It used only one book, but assessed in different ways to see if the students learned the 3 vocabulary words.
- Rationale: For the assessment plan attached it is for my ELL students. I created the plan during the student teaching year. It includes effective ways to assess ELL students to help them become successful.
Artifact-Text Talk Lesson:
text_talk_lesson.docx | |
File Size: | 18 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Artifact-Assessment Plan:
assessment_plan.docx | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: | docx |
- Rationale: In my 6th grade classroom the students were given 25 spelling words each week. They would work with the words all week, and use the worksheet I created to show what they had learned. This assessment required the students to first spell the word correctly, then give the spelling words definition in their own words, and finally use the word correctly in a sentence.
Artifact-Spelling Worksheet:
spelling_practice.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Standard 6: Instructional Planning
The teacher supports students and plans instruction based on the core curriculum. The teacher creates a safe learning environment for all learners, so that all students feel safe enough to learn. The teacher uses content in order to guide instruction. The teacher creates opportunities for students to become problem solvers.
- Rationale: I created a classroom management plan, this plan is the basis for all learning in my classroom. Without classroom management students won't have the opportunity to safely learn in my classroom. This is how we will have a safe learning environment. This is my plan for team building to promote growth and learning. It is the plan of how the classroom will run, and how I will have effective classroom management.
Artifact-Classroom Management Plan:
classroom_management_plan.docx | |
File Size: | 26 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Standard 7: Instructional Strategies
The teacher uses a variety of instructional strategies that helps all learners gain a deeper understanding and have connections to the content areas being taught. The teacher uses culturally, linguistically, and developmentally appropriate strategies for all of their students. The teacher is able to analyze student understanding and deepen those understandings. The teacher also analyzes misunderstandings and use a variety of strategies to engage the student in their learning.
- Rationale: I was able to implement this animal project in my 3rd grade classroom. This was a continuation of learning about the Utah animals in a different lesson. I was able to differentiate it for all learners, by having the questions and pictures. I was able to put my lowest students together and give them an animal we had worked on together in class. It was an animal they were interested in, and they were able to have a success in reading the informational text, because it was familiar to them. I was able to assess if they were able to read informational text, and use the text structures they learned.
Artifact-Animal Project:
animal_project_report.docx | |
File Size: | 101 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Professional Responsibility
The teachers primary responsibility is creating a safe and effective learning environment for their students. This is done through teachers reflecting on their teaching, completing professional development, and collaboration.
Standard 8: Reflection and Continuous Growth
The teacher is reflective and is continually evaluating and adapting their teaching practices to meet the needs of the learners. The teacher seeks out professional development in order to continually grow. The teacher reflects individually and collaboratively.
- Rationale: The journal artifact is what I kept while I was first starting out student teaching. This was to help me reflect on the time that I spent with English Language Learners. It was good to go back and see what I did that day I was there student teaching. It was also a good way to look at how I needed to change after reflection to help my students.
- Rationale: The video reflection was completed after I finished student teaching, and it reflected on a video from some of my first months student teaching, and then two videos when I was full-time student teaching. This was one of the best reflection tools, because I could see exactly what I did, and how the students responded to my instruction. This tool did help guide my instruction.
Artifact-ELL Field Experience Journal:
excerpts_from_ell_field_experience_journal.docx | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Artifact-Video Reflection:
video_reflection.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Standard 9: Leadership and Collaboration
The teacher is a leader and works on establishing collaboration with learners, parents, colleagues, and the community. The teacher encourages collaboration, it is one of the best ways to learn from one another. The teacher works together and plans to meet the needs of all learners.
- Rationale: In this example I collaborated with the students to promote a safe learning environment. We learned about the pledge of our country, and then worked together to create our own classroom flag. This lesson promoted collaboration from all students to come up with what they believed in, and what was important to them. They learned together about morals and how they could share them in order to have a learning environment that is safe.
Artifact-Classroom Pledge:
classroom_pledge.jpg | |
File Size: | 1518 kb |
File Type: | jpg |
Standard 10: Professional and Ethical Behavior
The teacher acts, promotes and encourages the highest morals and standards while teaching. The teacher is ethical, and follows all legal rules. The teacher has integrity and uses it in all interactions, and is confidential when dealing with student records.
- Rationale: I completed the Utah State Office of Education ethics exam. This was a good test of all the rules that a teacher needs to know. This test also tests how you will react in different situations. This test shows that you know how to act as a professional when it comes to laws.
Artifact-Ethics Exam:
ethics_exam_receipt.docx | |
File Size: | 13 kb |
File Type: | docx |