Ann Vespestad

Little
Accomplishme
nt

Partial
Accomplishm
ent

Substantial
Accomplishm
ent

Full
Accomplishm
ent

Unsatisfactory
1
No new
meaningful,
hands-on, and
engaging
lessons added
to portfolio

Marginal
2
About 1-2
meaningful,
hands-on, and
engaging
lessons added
to portfolio

Adequate
3
About 2-3
meaningful,
hands-on, and
engaging
lessons added
to portfolio

Observations
&
conversations
in my
practicum
setting

Minimal
observations
and
conversations
about engaging
lessons held in
the practicum
setting

In class notes
& prep notes
about
creating and
implementing
engaging
lessons

Took minimal
notes about
new engaging
lessons to
implement in
the classroom

Observed 1-2
engaging
lessons in
practicum
setting; held
1-2
conversation
s about
engaging
lessons with
CT
Has basic
notes about
engaging
lesson plans
and how to
implement
them

Out of class
research

Minimal to no
research done
outside of class

Observed 2-3
engaging
lessons in
practicum
setting; held
2-3
conversations
about
engaging
lessons with
CT
Took an
adequate
amount of
notes taken
about how to
create and
implement
engaging
lessons
2-3 articles,
blog posts, etc.
about creating
and
implementing
lesson plans
found;
adequate
notes taken

Excellent
4
4 or more
meaningful,
hands-on,
and
engaging
lessons
added to
portfolio
Observed 4 or
more
engaging
lessons in
practicum
setting; held
multiple (4+)
conversations
with CT

Creation or
collection of
meaningful,
hands-on,
and engaging
lessons

1-2 articles,
blog posts,
etc. about
creating and
implementing
lesson plans
found;
minimal
notes taken

Lengthy and
extensive
notes taken
about how to
create and
implement
engaging
lessons
4 or more
articles, blog
posts, etc.
about
creating and
implementin
g lesson
plans found;
extensive
notes taken

Ann Vespestad
Efficacy

Minimal change
in
understanding
how to create
and implement
engaging
lessons; little
motivation to
implement
engaging
lessons in future
class

Novice
understanding
how to create
engaging
lessons; some
motivation to
implement
engaging
lessons in
future class

Understanding
how to create
engaging
lessons; ready
to implement
engaging
lesson in
future class

Fully
knowledgea
ble on how
to create
engaging
lessons;
excited and
prepared to
implement
engaging
lessons in
future class

Points I would give myself: 17.5/20

Throughout this semester, I have been working towards meeting my Smart
Goal on how to create and implement active, engaging, and meaningful science
lessons in my future classroom. My main goal was to compile at least four science
lessons that are active, engaging, and meaningful that I could implement in the
future. I was very successful with this aspect of my lesson and gave myself the full 4
points. I was able to find a lot more than 4 lessons that I could implement in the
future. I was able to create a great science lesson with help from the third grade
science teacher at the school I completed practicum. The Science Circus project was
a great way to add to my Smart Goal as all those lessons are so wonderful and are
very active and engaging. During this semester, I was also able to learn about Ag in
the Class and all of the wonderful resources on its website. There is a whole list of
meaningful lesson plans that I will definitely be implementing in the future.
Compiling a series of science lessons to use in the future was not the only
part of my goal. I also wanted to use the prep notes I completed for assigned class
readings towards my goal. I learned a lot from the two text books we had to read for
class. There were many tips and tricks for how to create and implement quality
lessons plans. I also learned how to get students interested in science which
involves creating meaningful lessons that relate to students. Along with assigned
class readings, I also found some great online articles that had helpful information
to work towards my goal. The articles talked about how to engage students in
science material, the benefits of STEM, and how to make the subject of science
interesting. These articles were helpful to me in reaching my goal. I was able to
learn some new information as well as hear the same information from the assigned
readings and class lectures/discussions reinforced. I exceeded my goal in finding

Ann Vespestad
more than four articles, but I did not take extensive notes on them. I did not have
time to write up notes on these articles, but I was still able to learn from them and
they were helpful in reaching my goal.
The area of my goal in which I struggled the most with was observing science
and having conversations with my cooperating teacher about creating and
implementing powerful science lessons in the classroom. Sadly, science was not
very present in the classroom I was in. Part of that was because my teacher taught
social studies and the next door teacher taught science, but there still seemed to be
a lack of science. I had a couple of positive observations in science and a
conversation with my CT about it, but I wish I was able to observe more great
science lessons and have more discussions about it with my CT. My CT made it
known that she did not like science and disliked all of the prep and clean-up it
brings. This upset me. I love that science is a time for students to go explore for
themselves and engage in hands-on activities. Yes, this may require more work for
the teacher, but the rewards it brings are extraordinary. I know this based on the
readings and research I found. Although I didnt see many active and engaging
science lessons implemented in my practicum setting, I was able to learn what
happens to students with a lack of powerful science lessons. I wish that I was able
to observe a classroom where active and engaging science lessons were
implemented daily in order to ask the teacher many questions about how they
implement these lessons, but unfortunately I was not in that situation. I was still
able to reach my goal from class, readings, and outside research. I feel much more
confident and excited to teach science in my future class. Before this class and my
creation of my goal, I was terrified to teach science. I now have many lesson plans
ready to go and have resources on where to easily find science lesson plans (Ag in
the Class is a great resource I am excited to use). Ive learned a lot this semester
and am eager to put it into practice in student teaching and when I have a
classroom of my own.