Standard One- Subject Matter Knowledge

 In order for me to achieve standard number one, I must have an in-depth knowledge on the subject matter I plan to teach.  I must carefully plan out each lesson in a creative and engaging way for my students.  I must then review the lesson to see that I have covered all areas and be able to answer any questions for the students.  Furthermore, my lesson should be comprehensive enough to help my students develop skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, problem-solving, and reasoning. The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards are the driving force behind the developmentally appropriate lesson plans I create.  Using the NJCCCS as my guide, lessons are developed based upon the interest and needs of my students.

Please click the icon below to view a lesson plan I have created for 8th grade biology. 

Standard Two- Human Growth and Development

As a teacher I must know and understand what is appropriate for students at different grade levels. In order to support my student's growth and development I feel it is important to teach health lessons.  Students should learn about their bodies, how they work, and how to take care of them, in an appropriate fashion for their grade level.  Furthermore, to support student's physical growth I will use music in the classroom.  Educational songs such as "The Schoolhouse Twist" will be played between lessons to break up the day and encourage students to dance around the room.  Students will also attend physical education class to further promote their growth and development.

Standard Three- Diverse Learners

Since I have a degree in Sociology I am very interested in different cultures and groups.  In my classroom, I will encourage all students to share their unique cultures and traditions.  Most of all, I hope to teach students that no culture is better than another and that we can use our differences to encourage a diversity of learning in the classroom. One way to establish this is teach a unit called "Around the World."  Students will each be assigned a country to research.  At the end of the unit the class can have a party.  Students will make passports and travel to each country in the room. Everyone will dress up in clothes relating to their respective country; bring in food, and other artifacts.  This is a fun and interactive way to learn about different countries and cultures.  I also find it important for the students to get to know me as well as for me to learn about them. 

Please click the icon below to view a PowerPoint presentation I have created for a second grade class which introduces me on the first day of school.

Standard Four- Instructional Planning and Strategies

In order to effectively deliver instruction in the classroom I will use different ways and methods to promote critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills of all learners.  Some of these methods include: asking questions, lecture, cooperative learning, guest speakers, and hands-on activities, discovery centers, modeling behavior, media, and field trips, use of technology, guided observations, experiments, research, interdisciplinary units, and student presentations.

Please click the icon below to view a PowerPoint lesson I have created for a second grade class on tropical rainforests.

 Standard Five- Assessment

I feel that there are many more forms of assessment than just simply distributing a test at the end of the unit. Using different forms of assessment is beneficial for evaluating how students learn.  Furthermore, this information can be used to support the student's further growth and development. The different forms of assessment include:

Paper/ Pencil- essay, journal, test, short answer, etc.

Visual Product- poster, banner, model, diagram, website, etc.

Performance- oral report, debate, song, skit, interview, etc.

Assessments are used for placement, diagnosis, formative evaluations, and summative evaluations.  Furthermore, test results should be communicated to students and parents through use of progress reports, report cards, growth indicators and conferences.  Most importantly, in my classroom, assessment will be used to make students lifelong learners not memorizers. 

Please click the icon below to view a Basic Reading Inventory Assessment I performed on a 11 year old boy. 

Standard Six- Learning Enviornment

 My classroom will be designed to provide a supportive, safe and respectful learning environment.  Students will be assigned to group seating where each group has a diverse mixture of the class. This will help for students to use positive social interactions in learning. Furthermore, I would like my classroom to have subject specific areas such as a reading area with a rug, pillows, and a library of books and also, a computer area and science area.  Furthermore, the walls will be filled with student's work and inspirational posters and pictures.

Standard Seven- Special Needs

Since it is natural for every classroom to have a diverse set of learners, as an educator I will have to meet each child's specific needs rather than relating to the classroom as one whole group.  It will be important for me to create lessons and units that review basic skills and concepts for the lower level students but also challenge the higher level students.  Many lesson will incorporate cooperative learning groups which will mix each level of student learning in the classroom.  Lessons will include visual and auditory aids as well as hands-on activites to touch on every type of learner.

Standard Eight- Communication

Communication is an important part of bridging the parent/teacher gap.  As a teacher it is important to keep parents informed about what is going on in the classroom as well as being open to parental feedback.  Newsletters will be sent home bi-weekly informing parents about our daily classroom activities.  Furthermore, I will also communicate with parents through e-mail, telephone, and conferences at anytime a parent feels necessary. `

Please click the icon below to view an example of my classroom newsletter. 

Standard Nine- Collaboration and Partnerships

As a teacher I plan to establish a partnership between the classroom, community and parents.  One way to do this is have the class volunteer for activities in the community.  The class could work with the town's senior citizen center and plant flowers, create arts and crafts, or interview a senior citizen for a history project. The class could also establish food and clothing drives.  To collaborate with parents, students would invite their parents to lend a helping hand in the classroom or even be a guest speaker.  Furthermore, as a teacher I plan to hold conferences with parents in order to establish a partnership that is based on concern for their child's growth and development in the classroom.  

Please click the icon below to view a mail merge for parent/teacher conferences.

Standard Ten- Professional Development

In order to keep growing professionally, I will attend yearly workshops and seminars to learn about new methods and techniques to use in the classroom.  Besides working on my Master of Arts in Teaching I am becoming certified to teach Middle School Science and Special Education.  I also intend to further my own education and earn multiple Masters Degrees and a Doctorate Degree in Education. In the future, I would like to be a professor.

Please click the icon below to view my resume.