Kassie Vaughn

PPAT

Student Teaching

Task 1- Knowledge of Students and the Learning

Environment
Step 1: Knowledge of Students- 1.1.1: Community, District, and School Community Factors That Influence Instruction =>
a) Regarding the various community factors I identified in my chart, I believe the middle- to lowsocioeconomic statuses of families will have the most impact on the learning of children in my classroom. Therefore, in order to further student learning, one strategy I will work to incorporate in my classroom is the creation of a print-rich instructional environment through an assortment of learning activities, such as introducing a novel for class study by reading aloud a popular childrens book with a common theme or enhancing fictional study through nonfictional readings. Disadvantaged students most likely have experienced extensive exposure to television, popular music, and video games; however, many of these children have been deprived of print material. By integrating a variety of print material into my instruction, I hope to provide my children with a rich learning environment through activities including read-alouds, book studies, and independent reading. b) Concerning the different district factors I depicted in my chart, I believe the graduation rate of 83.6% will have the most impact on the learning of children in my classroom. As a result of this factor, one strategy I will strive to incorporate in my classroom is the idea of setting objectives and providing feedback through a variety of learning activities, such as allowing students to be actively involved in the goal-setting process for a unit and further providing positive, corrective, timely, and specific feedback in nature. In order to combat the percentage of students who do not graduate, I will seek to integrate the identified strategy and activity, as research proves that setting objectives can provide children with a direction for their learning and feedback generally produces positive results (if given in the correct form). c) Pertaining to the assortment of school factors I identified in my chart, I believe the ethnic breakdown of teachers and students will have the most impact on the learning of children in my classroom. As a result of this factor, one strategy I will work to incorporate in my classroom is cooperative learning through different activities, such as Think, Pair, Share and peer partner learning. Because of the vast amount of ethnicities that exist in the school, I will strive to teach the children in my classroom the importance of collaborating with others and understanding anothers perspective in order to further their learning, through small-group interactions and opportunities to work with their classmates in hands-on activities.

1.1.2: Classroom Demographics and Knowledge of Students =>

a) Regarding the various classroom-demographics factors I depicted in my chart, I believe the identified special needs of my children (including one having sleep apnea, two having asthma, and three being referred before the Student Support Team) will have the most impact on the learning of the students in my classroom. As a result of this factor, one instructional strategy I will strive to incorporate in my classroom is experiential learning through different activities, such as conducting experiments, simulations, games, and role-playing. Experiential learning is inductive, learner-centered, and activity-oriented. Because of the various special needs that have been identified in several of the students in my classroom, it is crucial for those children to be exposed and become accustomed to the assorted styles of learning. Simply completing a worksheet will not benefit a student who has difficulty learning or even sleep apnea; such children must be given the opportunity to become fully engaged in their learning through hands-on, or minds-on, activities. By integrating experiential learning into my instruction, I hope to encourage all of the children in my class to emphasize on the processes of learning instead of final products through a variety of activities, including experiments, games, simulations, and role-playing. b) Concerning the different knowledge of students factors I identified in my chart, I believe the low motivation level of the children in my classroom (regarding academic proficiencies and behavioral differences) will have the greatest impact on their learning. It is a strange situation; the students in my class are very intelligent, but unfortunately, they seldom strive to apply themselves when learning. Therefore, in order to further my

Kassie Vaughn

PPAT

Student Teaching

childrens learnings, one strategy I will work to incorporate in my classroom is the idea of reinforcing effort and providing recognition through an assortment of learning activities, such as having students keep a log of their weekly efforts and achievements, reflect on it periodically, and even mathematically analyze the data. Effort and recognition speak to the attitudes and beliefs of students, and it is essential for teachers to show the connection between effort and achievement. In order to increase the motivation of my children, I will seek to integrate the identified strategy and activity, as research shows that although not all students realize the importance of their effort, they can learn to change their beliefs to emphasize effort. Furthermore, I will search for ways to personalize recognition and give awards for individual accomplishments. If a student is struggling, I intend on utilizing the Pause, Prompt, and Praise strategy; pause to discuss the problem, prompt with specific suggestions in order to help him/her improve, and if the students performance improves as a result, offer praise.

Step 2: Resources and Procedures- 1.2.1: Available Resources to Enhance Student Learning =>
a) After completing the Instructional and Support Resources Chart, the two main sources I would select to utilize in my classroom in order to support student learning is the Commercial Bank in Donalds and the Smart Board Clickers. In the second grade, children are expected to learn about various standards of money, such as solving word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, and using $ and ? symbols correctly (2.MD.C.8). Based on the Math curriculum we use (Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley enVision Math), counting money and solving money word problems are labeled as Topics 13 and 14, which we should encounter closer to the end of the year. As a result, regarding the first resource I depicted (the Commercial Bank in Donalds) I would invite the Branch Manager of the bank, Bebe Vaughn, to come talk to the class about the different aspects of money and why money is important to our society today. By inviting someone from the community, like Mrs. Vaughn, to come in and speak to the class, student learning would be supported as the childrens knowledge of money would be reinforced by hearing from a guest speaker who deals with money every day. Concerning the second resource I identified (Smart Board Clickers), technology is a vital part of students everyday lives and when utilized in the classroom, learning automatically becomes more interesting and engaging for children because that is what they are used to. In order to incorporate technology into my instruction, I would use the Smart Board Clickers for various formal and informal assessments by having my students actively participate in their learning. Through this type of technology, learning would be supported as the individual response system (clickers) would keep track of each childs performance and progress on a specific topic, while engaging them in interactive instruction. b) Based on the information I depicted in the Knowledge of Students section of my Contextual Factors Chart, the majority of the children in my class are kinesthetic learners and obtain knowledge best when given hands-on activities. Therefore, the Science and Technology for Children (STC) kits that are available as instructional materials in my classroom would be extremely beneficial resources for enhancing student learning, as all of the involvement with the kits is hands-on and appropriate for the vast number of kinesthetic learners I have in my class.

1.2.2: Student Interest Inventory =>

a) On the back side of the Interest Inventory I sent home with students, there were different boxes asking the children about twelve of their favorite things, including favorite book, animal, food, subject, sport, activity to do outside, etc. One simple way in which I have allowed this information to influence an instructional decision I make in my classroom is the activity I use at the beginning of each week to introduce spelling words. Based on their completed surveys and observing them at recess, I know the children in my class love playing sports and simply being active. Therefore, I took special note of what each student wrote down for their favorite sport and further try to incorporate different movement activities (reflecting their chosen sports) into my introductory spelling lesson for the week. For example, the first week I integrated a basketball activity, where the students

Kassie Vaughn

PPAT

Student Teaching

would say a new spelling word and bounce an imaginary basketball as they said each letter of the word. Whey they had spelled the word, they would say the word again while pretending to shoot a basket. Activities such as these draw children into a lesson if it involves something they like to do or find interesting, and they become further engaged and active in their learning of new things. b) Referring to one of my little boys completed interest inventory, he depicted his favorite subject as science and further described himself as creative, curious, and determined. In order to promote this students engagement and learning, I would use this information to design experiments where my children must use their curious and creative minds to explore and solve posed problems.

1.2.3: Communicating with Students and Families =>

a) In order to introduce myself to the students and their families, I decided to construct an Introductory letter as my method of communication. Throughout my letter, I depicted a little about myself and my dreams, and further explained my role as a Student Teacher in their childs classroom. However, as a way to address the demographic differences in the class, I depicted my Philosophy of Education in two sentences by saying: As an aspiring educator, I am confident of my purpose to encourage children to acquire the necessary skills they need to succeed in life. To achieve that goal, I will devote myself to developing a meaningful relationship with each student and instilling in them that they are all capable of achieving high standards. b) Communication is one of the best approaches to fostering the relationships that develop between a parent and the educators that work with their child. When a parent is welcomed to become actively involved with their childs education, it benefits everyone involved in one way or another. As an intern, having to write an introduction letter to parents/guardians, depicts the importance of informing the family about who is involved in their childs life at school and who will be working with their child. Most importantly, it provided me more experience in communicating with parents/guardians. I believe it is crucially important for parents and teachers to communicate, as it provides an opportunity for children to reach their maximum potential both in and outside the classroom.

1.2.4: Rules and Procedures =>

a) One example of a classroom procedure is classroom jobs. Helpers are assigned at the beginning of each week. The procedure impacts the learning environment as it seeks to create a close-knit learning community among the children, in which each student is fully aware of their responsibility in helping the everyday classroom activities run smoothly. For instance, student helpers are assigned for a day of helping the teacher and being the line leader. They may run errands, hand out and collect papers as necessary, lead the line, make classroom announcements (Morning Meeting), feed classroom pets, water plants, and other jobs to develop responsibility in helping others. b) One example of a technology rule is to be RESPONSIBLE when using any kind of technology during instruction. The rule facilitates instruction as it teaches the students how to properly act when utilizing different technological devices, in order for the lessons to be fully beneficial and effective while they are engaging in such interactive learning. c) One example of a behavior management procedure in the classroom is the acronym, SPORT, where S stands for Safety (behave in a safe way), P for Property (take care of property), O for Order (act in an orderly manner), R for Respect (respect others), and T for Task (do your work). The procedure enhances student learning by helping students understand reasons for and learn the skills of self-control within a safe, orderly and pleasant climate, while developing positive attitudes and behaviors toward self and others.

Kassie Vaughn

PPAT

Student Teaching