STANDARD 3

Artifact Title: Alternative Learning Date: Spring 2014 Artifact Description: My artifact is a students profile with a highlighted IEP description and a test I provided to my Power Systems class. This profile briefly describes the students disabilities. The students name has been blacked out in all of the documents to keep confidentiality in place for everyone involved. I made accommodations to help the student perform at their highest level. The student was in my Automotive Capstone class at Washington Park High School. Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment: This experience best aligns with Standard 3, which states The teacher understands how pupils differ in their approaches to learning and the barriers that impede learning and can adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities. This best aligns with standard 3 because I was able to make a diverse learning environment for a student with a learning disability. Every student learns differently, that is why each teacher has to use a variety of learning styles. When I teach, I ask the whole class a question and have a group discussion. Then move on to asking individual students questions. This way it gets the students engaged in the class and helps keep the class on task by asking individual questions. Also, by having to answer questions it shows the students have an understanding of what the lesson is about. Another way of teaching I like to incorporate into my lessons is demonstration. Then I provide hands-on opportunities for the students who are hands-on learners. I do this by giving the students various assignments. By doing all three of the learning styles I am getting every student to be engaged. For diverse learners, like the student with the learning disability, I have them take the same test as every student in the class but I provide any accommodations that may be needed; such as extra time. By doing this I adapted to diverse learners and still gave the students every opportunity to learn. UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement Alignments: This experience best aligns with KSD3.b, The candidates questioning techniques and instructional strategies are of uniformly high quality with special attention given to available time for student response, varied levels of questions, and adequate students involvement in the discussion/instructional process.

During my experience I was able to ask the students many questions to further his or her knowledge of the content. When I ask a question, I wait several seconds for everyone to understand what is being asked of them. Waiting several seconds after questions allows time for more than one student to raise their hand and come up with the answer. This way I do not call on the same students all the time and allow other students to become actively engaged in class discussions. Also, when the students go into the lab portion of the lesson it allows me a more individualized one on one approach with my students who may need more help. This way I can ask more thoughtful questions and give guidance to the students who need it the most. By asking more questions and paying special attention to the students that need more help I can vary my level of questioning. Secondary KSD Alignment: KSD2.a- Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport KSD2.b- Establishing a Culture for Learning KSD2.d- Managing Student Behavior What I Learned About Teaching/Learning: I learned that teaching takes a lot of flexibility when dealing with students with special needs. Every student deserves the right to an education and the teacher needs to be able to accommodate those students according to their needs. I learned as well that every student is different but in the end all the students can learn what I expect of them as long as I can accommodate their learning style. What I Learned About Myself as a Prospective Educator: I learned how to fully read and understand a students IEP to meet the needs of the student. There is a lot of time put into those plans to help teach the student and it only makes sense to read them. I learned that teaching takes a lot of time in order to think of ways to accommodate each student but that I need to take that extra time to make a difference in each students life. I cant just take the easy way out and only teach one way because my job is to reach each and every student. If I take the easy way out, I am not accomplishing what I am supposed to. I need to make sure to reach every single student every single day.