Learners and Learning
Goal 2: Candidates demonstrate their understanding of learners and learning.
Indicator 1: Apply principles of human growth and development throughout life including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development by designing developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
Project 1 is a thematic unit that I used with my students that employs a variety of strategies to help engage different styles of learners. I had my students complete a web quest, listen to audio stories, illustrate artwork, investigate, and use graphic organizers. The class I taught this unit to contained students with IEP's including three students with learning disabilities, one with hearing impairment, two with behavior disorders and now there are two students being tested for the "gifted “program. All students learned about tolerance and about how we are different. Every member of the class was able to complete the assignments and were assessed within the classroom.
Indicator 2: Develop strategies to support learners with special needs within the least restrictive environment.
Project 2 is a mini lesson that demonstrate how I developed a strategy to support learners with special needs through the use of sketch to stretch, compare and contrast, tableau, read aloud and vocabulary graphic organizers. In particular, I have found that Sketch to Stretch is an excellent way to measure comprehension in both my special needs and general education students. Sketch to Stretch have students draw quick sketches to demonstrate their understanding of concepts. For example, one of my LD students, Amber, has a reading Lexile of only 50L. By using Sketch to Stretch she is able to demonstrate a remarkable level of understanding and attention to detail that traditional assessment methods fail to capture.
Indicator 3: Address the needs of diverse learners in terms of culture, race, gender, color, and language.
Project 3 is a lesson that presents 5 different strategies that can be used for different type of learners. The 5 strategies covered Vocabulary Triangles, Magic Squares, Story Quilts, POV, and Open-Minded Portraits. This lesson highlighted alternate ways to assess, and determine student’s depth of knowledge, as well as how well they were able to understand the concepts. The students were proud of their final products and wanted to share them with their classmates. Also, students emotionally connected to these activities and truly enjoyed learning using the strategies.
Goal 2: Candidates demonstrate their understanding of learners and learning.
Indicator 1: Apply principles of human growth and development throughout life including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development by designing developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
Project 1 is a thematic unit that I used with my students that employs a variety of strategies to help engage different styles of learners. I had my students complete a web quest, listen to audio stories, illustrate artwork, investigate, and use graphic organizers. The class I taught this unit to contained students with IEP's including three students with learning disabilities, one with hearing impairment, two with behavior disorders and now there are two students being tested for the "gifted “program. All students learned about tolerance and about how we are different. Every member of the class was able to complete the assignments and were assessed within the classroom.
Indicator 2: Develop strategies to support learners with special needs within the least restrictive environment.
Project 2 is a mini lesson that demonstrate how I developed a strategy to support learners with special needs through the use of sketch to stretch, compare and contrast, tableau, read aloud and vocabulary graphic organizers. In particular, I have found that Sketch to Stretch is an excellent way to measure comprehension in both my special needs and general education students. Sketch to Stretch have students draw quick sketches to demonstrate their understanding of concepts. For example, one of my LD students, Amber, has a reading Lexile of only 50L. By using Sketch to Stretch she is able to demonstrate a remarkable level of understanding and attention to detail that traditional assessment methods fail to capture.
Indicator 3: Address the needs of diverse learners in terms of culture, race, gender, color, and language.
Project 3 is a lesson that presents 5 different strategies that can be used for different type of learners. The 5 strategies covered Vocabulary Triangles, Magic Squares, Story Quilts, POV, and Open-Minded Portraits. This lesson highlighted alternate ways to assess, and determine student’s depth of knowledge, as well as how well they were able to understand the concepts. The students were proud of their final products and wanted to share them with their classmates. Also, students emotionally connected to these activities and truly enjoyed learning using the strategies.