Wisconsin Standard for Teacher Development and Licensure #7
Title of Experience/Artifact: Curriculum Knowledge
Date Experience Completed: Summer 2006
Describe your educational experience/artifact:
I have gained most of my curriculum knowledge being a lead teacher for the YMCA of Dane County. As a lead teacher I was responsible for planning daily activities for groups of children. I planned my lessons around a set theme for each week. Usually the theme was based on the field trip for the week. I would include activities from such subject areas as math, science, history, Spanish, reading, and art. I would also include developmentally appropriate practices into my activities. Also, my activities and/or lessons would include developmental concepts such as fine and gross motor skills, language skills, arithmetic skills, body awareness, listening skills, ordering and sequencing, and much more. Many times I planned my lessons upon the request of what the children were interested in, and most of the time these were the lessons that were the most successful.
ALIGNMENT:
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment
This experience best aligns with the Wisconsin Teacher Licensure Standard #7: Teachers are able to plan different kinds of lessons. This experience aligns with this standard because I created different kinds of lessons based upon the students, curriculum, subjects, and the values of the community. I show competency in this standard because I was able to organize and plan lessons and activities based on the needs of the students. I also tried to fit my lesson objectives into the state model academic standards and the curriculum goals. In developing these lessons and activities, I had to learn about the subject areas in order to teach these lessons or activities to the children. The lessons and activities included goals for instruction and assessment. I also took the different abilities of the students into consideration and adjusted lessons to those abilities.
Also aligns with Wisconsin Standards for Teacher Development and Licensure:
WSTDL#1 Teachers know the subject they are teaching.
WSTDL#3 Teachers understand that children learn differently.
WSTDL #4 Teachers know how to teach.
UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, & Disposition Statement Alignment
This artifact aligns with KSD1.c. Selects Instructional Goals. These lessons and activities I created show that I am capable of creating goals and achieving those goals through different forms of assessment. When planning lessons and activities I have to make modifications for students with special needs to be successful. When teaching these students I know I have to use different teaching strategies to meet my students� learning styles.
Also aligns with Knowledge, Skill, & Disposition Standards
KS1.e. Designs Coherent Instruction
REFLECTION
What I learned about teaching from this experience is that lesson plans never go quite as expected. I also learned that when planning lessons, I have to plan for the different types of learning styles and include them into my lessons and/or activities. When planning my curriculum I must take in consideration the students� existing knowledge and experiences and build upon them while at the same time keeping in mind the needs of the student, the community, and my curriculum goals.
What I learned about myself as an educator due to this experience is that I must set goals for myself when it comes to my lesson planning. My future goals as a teacher in planning different kinds of lessons are:
1. Make sure I really know the children in my classroom.
2. Set developmentally appropriate goals.
3. Structure my programs to promote freedom of choice within safe limits.
4. Design fun, engaging, and exciting activities that meet a variety of developmental needs.
5. Create a welcoming environment for children with special needs.
6. Understand children�s development and plan for age-appropriate activities.
7. Provide discipline and help with conflict resolution.
8. Provide good nutrition at lunch or snack times.
9. Communicate with families.
10. Help my students learn to listen and communicate more effectively.
11. Attend workshops and conferences that pertain to my professional development.
12. Implement what skills I learned at these workshops or conferences in the classroom.
