Artifact 1: TE 846 Literacy Case Study: Phonemic Awareness

Goals: 1 & 2
Standards: 2, 3 & 4
In this artifact, I completed a literacy case study based upon two specific students
within my kindergarten classroom. Both of these students were performing at slightly
below-average levels within the literacy curriculum and compared to their peers. I
noticed that these students lacked confidence and struggled to focus and maintain their
attention spans during lessons and activities within the classroom. Therefore, I decided to
make them the focus of my literacy case study in order to create custom literacy
assessments and lessons based on their individual needs. I used my understanding of the
kindergarten curriculum and standards, along with my students background knowledge
and skill levels in order to decide to target my literacy lesson to phonemic awareness.
Within this project, I utilized professional and research-based sources in order to
comprehend the major components of literacy instruction and to determine the best
methods to use in order to effectively teach vital literacy skills to my young students. I
made classroom observations, designed and performed pre- and post assessments, and
collected data on these two learners in order to create lesson plans targeted towards their
literacy skill levels and needs. From there, I reflected on my instruction, my students
responses, and the effectiveness of the lesson and corresponding activities overall. I
determined what changes I would make to my teaching methods, the assessments, and the
lesson components and activities in the future in order to increase the effectiveness of the
lesson overall.
I chose to include this literacy case study as an artifact within my portfolio
because it demonstrates my ability to be thoughtful and purposeful within my teaching
practices and instruction with my students. This project required me to utilize my
knowledge of the literacy curriculum and standards, as well as my individual students
background knowledge, learning styles, and ability levels in order to create a meaningful
and detailed lesson that was targeted towards their needs. I utilized research-based
sources and methods in order to guide my instruction and best teach my students. Finally,
I believe that this artifact demonstrates my ability to reflect upon my teaching practices
and seek out ways to improve within the future.