Bondurant-Farrar Community School District

Artifact Cover and Reflection

Artifact Title: Walk through observation notes
Teaching Standard:

Demonstrates competence in classroom management.

Standard Criteria:

Uses instructional time effectively to maximize student achievement.

I choose this artifact to show:
___X__ Growth in the standard
_____ Strength and competency in the standard

Description of the artifact and how it meets the standard and criteria:
This artifact is two walk through observations. One from Mr. Hewitt and one from Mr.
VanderLinden. Both observations show how I use instructional time effectively in my
classroom to maximize student achievement. Both principals wrote different things that
they saw taking place including, small group work, independent work, and large group
work. While I was working with a small group, other students were working on a
response to reading journal. All three of these instructional techniques maximize student
achievement because students are continuing to effectively work on an assignment
without direction instruction throughout. On the observation that Mr. VanderLinden did
he noted that during our grammar lesson students were working on their own paper,
while I wrote on the board. We did some examples together and then students got a
chance to practice the skill on their own. This is another example of using instructional
time effectively to maximize student achievement because students are learning how to
complete a task, and then practice independently. Practicing as a whole group before
practicing independently helps maximize student understanding and in turn,
achievement.
Reflection on the artifact:
I really like the way I have my reading block set up this year. I think it is very effective
with the group of students that I have and helps maximize the instructional time that we
have. Each student knows what they are supposed to be doing even when they are not
in small group with the teacher. I felt like both of these walkthroughs gave me very
positive feedback. The one thing that stood out was how students were using the
chromebooks to completely their response to reading journal. I have found that doing

journals this way is very motivating for students. Students really like to use the
chromebooks and are also practicing their typing skills while reflecting on the book that
they are reading. I can easily go back and make comments to each student on their
journals, and I try to do so weekly. I feel like all of the different ways I am using
instructional time in the classroom keeps students interested in what we are learning
which helps them to be more successful.