Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact

 

INTASC # 9

 

·  Brief Description of Evidence:

 

I reflected about how I had planned on making crayon rubbings at the art table.  Because the children were so interested in butterflies that day I decided to change the activity.  We made butterflies out of coffee filters and pipe cleaners instead of doing the crayon rubbing.

 

·  Analysis of What I Learned:

 

The children were very excited about making the butterflies.  They were because they were already interested in them.  The children learned more about butterflies that one day than if I tried to show the children to make designs on paper by rubbing crayons.

 

·  How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the INTASC Principle:

 

By constantly reflecting on the day and my teaching, I am actively searching new ways to improve my teaching abilities.

 

 

March 19, 2003

 

          At the art table center, I had planned to do crayon rubbings with different materials such as netting, string, and words written with tape on the table.  The children though read about a butterfly and were very interested about butterflies.  The children wanted to get another butterfly book so they could learn more about butterflies.  When I was setting up the center, I thought of a way to make a butterfly to reinforce the children’s interest in butterflies.  The children made butterflies out of cut coffee filters, markers, and pipe cleaners.  The children were so excited about making the butterflies and the children learned more about butterflies that one day than if I tried to show the children to make designs on paper by rubbing crayons.  I am very excited that I was able to switch my plans and find a better activity for the children since their interests were on certain subject that I did not have planned for.  By being able to change my plans, I am continuing reflecting and thinking about how I could be a better teacher and that I acknowledge the children’s interest and thoughts while planning their activities.

          I videotaped myself teaching the messy art activities.  I had the children play with shaving cream and spread it all over the table.  The children then each got a dinosaur to play with and walk through the shaving cream to make footprints.  The children had a blast with the shaving cream and they found out that shaving cream could be used by their fathers but also to play in.  The children were about to realize that shaving cream is white like snow and it sticky feeling.  Since I videotaped myself teaching this lesson, I am working towards being a better teacher by reflecting on my teaching methods but I am also using different types of media such as the shaving cream and the videotape.  I will use shaving cream again because the children were able to use fine and gross motor skills to work with the shaving cream, the children had prior knowledge, and they were encouraged to think and to communicate to others.