Ahmad M.

Webb InTasc Paper February 7, 2012

Learner development involves identifying that patterns of learning and development vary between students. For me I was able to practice this skill early on with my work at Carrollton Middle School as an assistant teacher. Certain students learn via different methods, and it its important as educators to determine how to positively impact the most students. I believe that, for a teacher to have mastery in this discipline, it takes collaboration with the students parents so that the two parties can work together with the common best interest of the student. I would say that my grade in this area is a C. Learning differences includes utilizing the differences of individual students that help learners reach higher standards. I dont think cultural differences would ever pose a problem to my teaching style because I have grown up around all types of people during my schooling. Synthesizing multiple perspectives does not pose a problem because Ive experienced those different perspectives. One of the dispositions states, The teacher believes that all learners can achieve at high levels and persists in helping each learner reach their full potential. It is a belief of mine (and hopefully all educators) that all students are possible of learning, and while some may do it at a slower pace than others, the needs of those students should not be neglected. I would say that my grade in this area is a B. Learning environments includes collaboration and social interaction to promote engagement in classroom. In my first observation, I was fortunate enough to have a teacher who showed me how to allow the students to acquire the information through lecture, but master it through discussion amongst each other. The explanations of a student are always more relatable than those of a teacher, and when

students can help each other grasp the material, it will always have a positive impact on the classroom. Often times he would allow students to guide the discussion and only interject when the students swerved off topic or were uncertain on an ideal. This is clearly an easier concept to implement in the humanities courses, but I believe across the entire curriculum, students will perform at a higher level when forced to take initiative over their own education. I would say that my grade in this area is a B. Content Knowledge requires teachers have an understanding of the concepts that they teach in a way thats meaningful to their students. The classes that Ive taken at UWG have prepared me to handle any questions a student may have, and my genuine thirst for knowledge helps fill the gaps any class may leave. This is the one principle that lies solely in the hands of the educator; students may not react to the various teaching tools implemented in the classroom, but the teachers knowledge base should always be vast enough to facilitate the needs of the students. However, an educator must be open to hearing the ideas of students and cannot fall into the trap of believing their content knowledge is gospel. I would say that my grade in this area is an A. Application of Content is where the teacher can make connections in the lecture that engage the learner and allows them to grasp the concepts. Again, I harken back to my time at Carrollton Middle School. I would relate things back to the interests of each individual student. Every student has a passion or interest, and the ability to tie in those interests in making connections can go a long way towards student learning. I would say that my grade in this area is a B. Assessment consists of different levels and types of assessment to get an accurate depiction of what a student truly knows. This is an area I am not yet comfortable with because I havent had to really assess any students, and creating tests and rubrics that correctly asses what has been taught to students is not something I can currently do. This would be one of my weakest areas, just because the assessments would have to reflect what has been taught in class; until I have command over my own

classroom, it would be difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of my assessments. I would say that my grade in this area is a D. Planning for instruction involves creating plans that set learning goals for students challenging different content areas and skills. This is important when you have students of different aptitudes in the same classroom. Creating a classroom environment in which the more advanced students arent bored, yet the students who move at a slower pace arent overwhelmed, can be challenging. A vital tool can be pre-testing to get an accurate assessment of where each student is in the early stages of the class to reduce the trial and error necessary to maximize the classs effectiveness. I would say that my grade in this area is a B. Instructional strategies allow students to get a thorough understanding of content areas. This is mainly having mastery over the information that is taught to the students. The courses that I have taken at UWG have equipped me with the tools necessary to teach students at the grade school level. This differs from content knowledge in that it is more about the ability to teach as opposed to command over a subject area, such as math, history, or science. For me, this is more of an incorporation of earlier principles and using them in harmony. I would say that my grade in this area is a B. Professional learning and experience involves continually updating ones professional skillset and adapting to meet the needs of learners. In my own personal discipline, as the scope of what is relevant history continues to change, as an educator I have to make sure that my content knowledge is always evolving. Also, as technology advances and becomes a larger part of the classroom, teachers must stay abreast of technology that is beneficial in the classroom. A passion for the subject and a desire to always provide the best possible experience are the driving forces, for me, in making sure that Im always ahead of the curve. I would say that my grade in this area is a B.

Leadership and collaboration is when teachers assume appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning. A willingness to listen to the ideas and constructive criticism of others and implement those ideals is critical in effective collaboration. One of the critical dispositions for this principle states, The teacher embraces the challenge of continuous improvement and change. I feel that this principle and the professional learning and experience in the paragraph above are closely related, in that it requires teachers to constantly improve in order to stay relevant and relatable. I would say that my grade in this area is a B.