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Final Report
Meeting all the KSAs: Portfolio Planning
Concise statement of my teaching time:
For my final professional semester I was in the kindergarten classroom at Mike
Mountain Horse School. My experience in the kindergarten classroom has definitely taught me
a lot about teaching children in their first years of school. I focused on creating lessons that
would engage kinesthetic, auditory and visual learners. This was really important to me because
I know that each student learns differently and at different rates. I think it is also important to
keep in mind the significance of being flexible. There are multiple intelligences in one classroom
so it is important to utilize different methods for teaching multiple concepts. My lessons
included the use of technology such as the smart board, smart notebook, PowerPoint
presentations, and the CD player for the Jolly Phonics program. I always prepare my lessons in
advance using the Learn Alberta website and the Alberta Program of Study for Social Studies,
English Language Arts, Mathematics, Health and Physical Education. I have also included FNMI
content into the Kindergarten curriculum. Furthermore, I continued to use the Handwriting
Without Tears and Jolly Phonics programs as they have proven to be successful in the
Kindergarten classroom.
Throughout my final professional semester I was able to plan units and individual lesson
plans using the backward by design model, which focuses with the end in mind. I was able to
meet general and specific outcomes in each program of study in the Alberta curriculum. I used
the program of study for English language arts, mathematics, social studies, physical education,
and health for kindergarten. I planned each lesson and unit with the end in mind. I was able to
assess the students skills using formative and summative assessment methods. I have also
used various resources suitable for the students age level and learning abilities. I used
resources from the learn Alberta website and the University of Lethbridge curricular lab. During
my final professional semester I taught fifty percent of the time, which included core subjects in
kindergarten that were inter-curricular during circle time and centers.
KSA # 1: How contextual variables affect teaching and learning.
Throughout my final practicum I have been very flexible. I have had to adapt to the
grade I am teaching by using language the students understand. I have changed some of my
lesson plans depending on how the students responded to my instruction. For instance, if the
students were struggling with a concept I rephrased my instruction or tried to use a different
example that may be more effective. I am very aware of all of the students in my class and their
abilities. I have made reasoned judgments in numerous situations and have adapted my lessons
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using different strategies that have proven to be more effective. I have used self-reflection for
all of my lessons after I have taught them. If certain approaches were not working I made note
of them and made sure to change or adjust my teaching for consecutive lessons.
KSA #2: Responsibility and accountability of teachers to communicate and enforce
expectations held of them under the certification of teachers regulations.
Throughout my final professional semester I used the Learn Alberta Website and the
program of study for English language arts, social studies, physical education, mathematics, and
health to guide all of my lessons. I included many skills and outcomes, and if possible, tried to
make them inter-curricular as well. Most of my lesson plans for circle time and centers were
inter-curricular including outcomes for math, social studies, health and English language arts.
KSA #3: The purpose of the Guide to Education and programs of study for subject disciplines
you teach.
I met this KSA with my unit plan in social studies for teaching, I am unique and I
belong. Every lesson was outlined with skills and outcomes, assessment methods, resources,
and a detailed procedure. During our circle time and centers, students learned about being
unique and special. They also learned about numerous ways that they belong within a family,
friendship and community.
KSA #4: Subject Disciplines you teach.
During my third and final practicum, I planned units and taught English language arts,
social studies, mathematics, health, art, and music. I also focused my professional development
project on incorporating FNMI content into the kindergarten curriculum.
KSA #5: All students can learn, albeit at different rates in different ways.
In my kindergarten class, I had two students who were coded with speech delays. These
students required extra support and guidance. While the class practiced their printing, one of
my students required a pencil grip and a rubber seat placed on her chair. These extra tools
were used to support this little girl and enable her to focus on her printing and participate in all
activities. The other little boy received extra speech therapy. However, as much as possible,
they were always part of the group and there was always an emphasis on including them,
rather than separating and diversifying the group. Individual Program Plans were created for
these students and goals were determined based on their individual needs.
I also differentiated instruction to accommodate the religious beliefs of a child in my
classroom. Rather than have a student complete a project that they feel uncomfortable with I
changed the activity so that academically he could still learn the same concepts and have the
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same outcomes but change the images we used for visuals. For instance when the class made
turkeys, this student made a peacock. These minor changes were very important to make
because it still allowed my student to participate and trace his hand and label the feathers 1-10.
He was still able to practice his numbers using a different image that made him feel more
comfortable.
I focused on making my classroom a positive environment for all students. It is an
inclusive classroom and recognizes multiple paths for all learners. It is very important to
recognize visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners because every one learns in different ways.
As a teacher I want to guide students and provide them with learning opportunities that will
benefit them the most. Also I think it is very important to incorporate resources available to aid
students learning. For instance using modified scissors and pencil grips can change the way a
student prints their letters and cuts paper.
During this practicum I have also presented tiered lessons that incorporated
differentiated instruction. This is important to integrate in the classroom because it allows each
student to reach their full potential and meet the outcomes we are oriented towards.
At Mike Mountain Horse there is a great support team that assisted students in my
classroom with any extra help they needed. This is very important to me because it is so
important that each student receives all the help they can get whether it is academic, or social.
I am very grateful that there is an FNMI liaison and a group of counselors available to assist in
each students learning.
KSA #6: The purpose of short, medium, and long range planning.
As this practicum was modeled as a first year teaching career, I had the opportunity to
get to know each student on his or her first day of school. Our kindergarten class had staggered
entry, which allowed me to interact with each student and get to know each of them right from
the beginning. Staggered entry allowed my teacher mentor and myself to do an initial
assessment for each student so that we knew what his or her strengths and weaknesses were
entering kindergarten. I was able to use this information to develop long-range plans, unit
plans, and lesson plans.
KSA #7: Students needs for physical, social, and cultural and psychological security.
Classroom Leadership and Management.
After two Professional Development days where we discussed the 7 habits of highly
effective people I was able to focus on bringing the best me into the classroom. My
preparation, planning and organization allowed me to develop classroom routines that were
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effective for student learning. I focused on classroom management strategies that work in full
group, small group and individual situations.
Throughout the semester my teacher mentor and I established many classroom routines
and rules. These routines are necessary in order to engage students in an effective classroom
environment. My classroom management plan contained numerous strategies and focused on
maintaining a happy and healthy classroom.
KSA #8: Importance of respecting students human dignity.
Since September, all the students have been recognizing and displaying positive
attitudes in the classroom. We have been working on being kind to one another and enforcing
the golden rule. The students have also learned about the seven teaching and have shown their
knowledge of each teaching during every school day. My encouragement and positive feedback
about their work has definitely encouraged the students to continue and keep up the good
work. I believe it gives the students confidence when they receive positive feedback.
I participated in a presentation at the University of Lethbridge during my first
professional semester called teacher as performer. This presentation taught me the
importance of ensuring that all students are okay before walking away. I think that I have
enforced this ideal in my classroom as I respect every student and staff member in my
classroom.
KSA #9: There are many approaches to teaching and learning; instructional strategies.
Everyday the students separated into groups of five or six and to complete centers for
the week. The centers consisted of 4 adult led centers and free centers. At the adult led centers
the students worked on literacy-based activities that are guided by the assistant in the class,
the parent of the day and myself or teacher mentor. At free centers the students chose a play-
based center to attend and independently moved their name on the centerboard that
corresponded with the center of their choice. At each of the adult led centers students
practiced their spelling, grammar, and writing skills. They also worked on their listening skills,
math outcomes and their reading comprehension. There are three adult led centers each week
where the students use their creativity to make crafts that correspond with literature we have
read in the classroom. Students in the kindergarten class were placed into four different groups
based on their initial assessment in letter, number, color and shape recognition at the
beginning of the year. These groups were given color names and traveled around to the
different centers together each week. At the adult led centers, students would listen to the
activity and perform a specific task to reach a specific outcome. At the free centers the students
could choose a center that offered play based activities. Every week each student would do all
of the same activities and would receive extra help and/ or guidance if they needed it.
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KSA #10: The functions of traditional and electronic teaching / learning technologies.
One of the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of PS3 was to become more
familiar with the use of technology in the classroom. During my final practicum I have become
more familiar with all of the functions available on the smart board and smart notebook
program. I have challenged myself to use the smart board more often and have created new
ways of taking attendance using the smart board that makes it interactive for my students. I
have used technology in my classroom to engage the students and enhance their learning.
The kindergarten class received two ipads for use throughout the day. I recently went to
an information session at Probe Elementary where a collaborative community met and shared
great apps available for the kindergarten age level. These apps were applied to the
kindergarten ipads and will be used during center time in the upcoming months. The use of
technology in schools is very important to start at a young age because the kindergarteners are
like sponges. They soak everything up. The ipads are interactive and provide literacy games that
will sharpen the students skills in technology use and visual and/or verbal skills while using
certain programs.
KSA #11: The purposes of student assessment.
Throughout my practicum I was able to assess the students academic and social
behaviors in the classroom. I began the school year in September with the Kindergarten
children and promptly did an initial assessment for the students in the morning and afternoon
classes. In the initial assessment my teacher mentor and I assessed what the students knew
coming into Kindergarten. We questioned the students about their knowledge in letter,
number, color and shape recognition. We also assessed each childs pronunciation of beginning
and end sounds. We took note of their pencil grips; if they knew their dominant hand or
needed guidance in determining their dominant hand. Finally we asked the students to print
their names so that we could see their printing abilities at the beginning of the year.
I used many different methods for formative and summative assessment for, of and as
learning. During center time I used anecdotal notes to keep a record for each student that
corresponded with the general and specific outcome for that center. These notes were very
helpful when I started my first report cards to the parents. I was able to record student
behavior, listening skills, and academic achievements. The anecdotal notes were also very
helpful to assess and record student skills in cutting, pasting and printing abilities.
The summative assessment this term was stated in the first term report cards. In
Kindergarten there is a morning and afternoon class at my school. My teacher mentor and I
shared the responsibility of preparing all the report cards. I prepared the report cards for the
morning class and my teacher mentor prepared the report cards for the afternoon class. After
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all of the report cards were complete we switched classes and ensured that all report cards
were edited and accurate.
KSA #12: The importance of engaging parents, purposefully and meaningfully, in all aspects of
teaching and learning.
One of my goals at the beginning of the year was to create and maintain relationships
with parents. I welcomed all of the parents into the classroom and introduced myself. Our
school hosted a meet the teacher night where I was able to communicate more with all of the
parents and my students.
Newsletters were sent home informing parents of special upcoming events and
information they needed to know. There is also a blog set up by my teacher mentor on the class
website. The blog is a great way to communicate with parents and I will definitely create my
own blog in the future.
I have included the link in my eportfolio to the learn Alberta website for parents to read
about the numerous ways they can become involved in their childs education. Engaging
parents and having their support is significant to every students learning and I intend to always
keep in contact with each childs parent and/or guardian.
KSA #13: Student learning is enhanced through the use of home and community resources.
To effectively incorporate the surrounding community into the classroom, we went on a
field trip to the local fire hall. We also went on a field trip to Nicholas Sheran Arena three times
where the students were able to invite their parents to come and skate together. Furthermore,
we had a guest speaker in our classroom from Safety City. All of these information sessions
were very informative for our students.
KSA #14: The importance of contributing, independently and collegially, to the quality of your
school.
To contribute and be a part of the school community, I have attended a parent council
meeting to become more involved and knowledgeable about what it happening in the school
community. I have also contributed to grade level snack days for the staff and participated in
parent teacher interviews.
KSA #15: The importance of career long learning.
Here I have chosen to include a list of the professional development days and sessions I
participated in. I learned so much from the PD days that we had. These all help me grow as a
teacher and become more knowledgeable in my focus and the communities around us.
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From June-Dec 2013 I have participated in numerous professional development
seminars. At Mike Mountain Horse I completed the program 7 habits of highly effective
people. These meetings helped me recognize the importance of life long learning and career
development. I was able to identify my priorities and focus on ensuring that I am the best that I
can be in order to help and teach others. I also completed a series of professional development
seminars that were offered by the Alberta Teachers Association and focused on classroom
management; techniques that work, teachers and parents; same goals different roles and
engaging students. These seminars were very helpful and effective for my teaching practice
because I learned a lot of great strategies that will be very helpful in the classroom. I will
continue to keep up with professional development each year and attend as many professional
development sessions that I can to strengthen my teaching practice.
KSA #16: Overall vision of the purpose of teaching.
This is my vision statement as a teacher in the classroom, school, and community. My
final professional semester allowed me to gain experience in four key areas; planning,
classroom management, instruction and assessment. During September and October I was able
to plan for adult led centers, free centers, staggered entry, full group activities, and library and
computer classes. I planned lessons that incorporated the theme of that specific month. The
theme for each month often indicated what some of the lessons would focus on. In November
and December my teacher mentor and I decided to switch teaching blocks so that I would have
the opportunity to teach all of the core subjects and blocks by the end of my semester. In
November and December I planned for circle time, full group activities, computers, jolly words,
and library.
During my final practicum at Mike Mountain Horse in the Kindergarten classroom I
learned a lot about classroom management. The most important aspect that I will take away
with me is ensuring that all students are quiet and listening before giving instruction. I know
that classroom management is necessary and significant to learning because students will have
a difficult time focusing and learning if they are distracted by the actions or behaviors of their
classmates.
I have also learned a lot about proper instruction and repetition. The students in the
Kindergarten class showed me that they learn really well with repetition. I have also practiced
making my instruction simple using language that the students understand. One way of giving
instruction that I found to be very effective was saying the instruction and then asking the
students the order in which they will achieve a certain outcome. Furthermore, my instruction
was also very effective when there were demonstrations given or visuals that provided the
students with further understandings or recognition of what I was verbally saying.
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Throughout the semester my professional growth plan included goals of improving on
using technology in my lessons. I want to become more familiar with the smart board and the
functions that are possible to use for teaching. I have also focused on incorporating FNMI
literature and content into the kindergarten classroom.