InTASC Standard #7: Planning for Instruction
InTASC #7 - Planning for Instruction
The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous learning by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the community context.
Related NSTA Standard
Content Pedagody - Effective teachers of science understand how students learn and develop scientific knowledge. Preservice teachers use scientific inquiry to develop this knowledge for all students.
Artifacts and Reflection
Artifact #1: Unit Overview and Lesson Plan - Evolution & Natural Selection
Description: This artifact is a unit overview and lesson plans on evolution and natural selection. The three days of comprehensive lessons plans on natural selection included learning standards, goals and objectives, developmental activities, adaptations for special needs students, and assessments. The first two lessons introduce the topic of natural selection. The third lesson culminates in a laboratory that involves use of a natural selection simulation.
How Does This Artifact Demonstrate Achievement of the Standard: Artifact # demonstrates achievement this standard through my use of content knowledge and pedagogy to design lessons that help students meet required learning standards. A variety of instructional strategies is incorporated in the lessons including direct instruction, interactive instruction, and experiential learning. Simulations are a form of experiential learning, “that promote the use of critical and evaluative thinking.” (Saskatoon Public Schools, 2009) The simulation provides students an opportunity to experiment with natural selection in ways that would not have been possible using a traditional laboratory approach.
How Have These Artifacts Impacted My Understanding of Teaching/Learning?: Creation of this artifact helped me realize that there are numerous elements that are required to create an effective lesson plan. This was the first time I had examined the Next Generation Science Standards in detail and evaluated how lessons plans could be designed to meet these standards. This assignment also required me to adapt learning activities to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities. Through my reading on accommodating learning disabled students, I discovered that there are ways I can structure my lessons that will help all my students including those with disabilities. For example, providing students an overview of the learning activities at the start of the lesson can help students focus on the tasks at hand.
Strengths: One of my strengths is my ability to appropriately sequence learning activities and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. I achieve this through a combination of my content knowledge, assessment of learning standards, and incorporation of students' existing knowledge.
Areas for Improvement: I would like to learn more differentiation of instruction and accommodating the needs of individuals and groups of learners. This is something I will continue to work on during my teaching internship as I work with my mentor teachers and the special education support staff.
References
Saskatoon Public Schools. (2009). What are simulations? Instructional strategies online. Retrieved from http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/index.html