Artifact Title: Letter from Blue Room Teacher

Date: October 15, 2012

Artifact Description:

The following artifact is a letter from the lead teacher in the Blue Room at the University
of Wisconsin Platteville Childrens Center. In this letter the teacher talks about the duties
I am responsible for and how well I am doing.

Alignment:

Wisconsin Teaching Standard Alignment:

This experience best aligns with Standard 2: Development and Learning- The teacher
understands how children learn and develop, and can provide learning opportunities that
support their intellectual, social and personal development.

This best aligns with Standard 2 because I am aware of their expected
developmental progressions and ranges of individual variation within each domain. I also
understand how development in any one domain may affect performance in others. I am
able to enhance my learning experience by interacting with children who possess
different learning styles. Every day I am able to witness the students develop cognitively,
socially, emotionally, and physically.
I am more competent now in this standard because I appreciate the individual
variation within each area of development, and show the respect for the diverse talents of
all learners, and I am committed to help the children develop self confidence and
competence.

UW-Platteville Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement Alginment

This artifact best aligns with KS3.c: Engages Students in Learning-The candidate has the
ability to engage students in the learning process by linking appropriate content, based
upon suitable instructional materials and resources, to students knowledge and
experience, being certain that all students are cognitively engaged in the activities/
assignments and that the students actively contribute to the content design. Instruction is
highly coherent and appropriately paced for reflection and closure as appropriate.

The experience of my job aligns with KS3.c because I work with students whose
ages range from 2-10. I am able to help the students explore and develop new intellectual
ideas. I also look forward to the opportunity of being able to help students who need
reminders to stay on task and students that need help with developing creativity.

I am more competent throughout this experience because I am more aware of how
learning occurs and how students construct knowledge, acquire skills, and develop habits
of mind-and knows how to use instructional strategies that promote student learning for a
wide range of abilities.

Secondary KSDs:

KSD4.e- Grows and Develops Professionally
KSD4.f- Shows Professionalism
KSD1.f- Assessing Students Learning

Reflection

What I learned about teaching/ learning from this experience:

I have learned so many different teaching tips and styles to use when observing students
whose cognitive development hasnt progressed at the same rate as others. Also, it takes
certain teaching qualities to work with children at these ages. All in all, Ive learned even
more about how to engage students by incorporating fun activities with the lesson being
taught thanks to the teachers at the UWPCC.

What I learned about myself as a prospective educator as a result of this experience:

I have learned many different ways to engage all students who possess different learning
styles such as kinesthetic, visual, and audio. Ive found that it not only takes a lot of my
energy but also a lot of patience to work with the younger children at the Childrens
Center. It is important for me as, an educator, to know what and how students may try to
be communicating to me. I have found this experience very helpful by being able to see
the difference in development between two-three ear olds and four-five year olds.