Domain 1 - Planning and Preparation
1a - Demonstrating Knowledge of Content Pedagogy
Each week our Focus Wall changes to represent what we will be working on in class that week. These items include our story, reading skill, vocabulary, spelling words, sight words, and math practice and review. The essential question is used as a discussion topic throughout the week.
Each week our Focus Wall changes to represent what we will be working on in class that week. These items include our story, reading skill, vocabulary, spelling words, sight words, and math practice and review. The essential question is used as a discussion topic throughout the week.
1e - Designing Coherent Instruction
Any teacher knows that using sight words in the classroom is important in fluent reading abilities. While I have tested sight words in previous years, this school year I took things a step further and began implementing a weekly sight word list to review in class and at home. Sight words began at the beginning and have brought us all the way into third grade words. Not only are students tested on their ability to read them, but also spelling them. There's a correlation between reading and writing and if I can bridge that gap and make them stronger in both aspects, then why not? Those first hundred words make up about two-thirds of written matter. I am happy with the growth my students have made this year while practicing their sight words - in and our of school.
*Data chart indicates percent correct
Any teacher knows that using sight words in the classroom is important in fluent reading abilities. While I have tested sight words in previous years, this school year I took things a step further and began implementing a weekly sight word list to review in class and at home. Sight words began at the beginning and have brought us all the way into third grade words. Not only are students tested on their ability to read them, but also spelling them. There's a correlation between reading and writing and if I can bridge that gap and make them stronger in both aspects, then why not? Those first hundred words make up about two-thirds of written matter. I am happy with the growth my students have made this year while practicing their sight words - in and our of school.
*Data chart indicates percent correct
1f - Designing Student Assessments
In the fall of 2017 I personally purchased an entire years worth of Guided Math resources from Reagan Tunstall. I noticed that our core curriculum was, at times, very overwhelming to students and I wanted something to break things down to basics. With Reagan Tunstall's How To Launch Guided Math, I was able to begin implementing a guided math routine within our classroom. This resource allowed my students to understand math in a way that went beyond their reading abilities. This program hits the standards without being overwhelming. What is even better - my kids weren't overwhelmed and actually wanted to be a part of what we were doing in class. We used a pre-unit assessment, how-to guides, daily assignments, quiz's, and post assessments to tackle our units. Below are two examples of pre/post assessments from two students in our classroom.
FractionsPostTest.pdf |