Catherine Shea

Professor Suk
EDUC 230-01 Education Field Experience
Spring 2018
Rationale Statement

ii. Essential Knowledge (2) The teacher understands and identifies differences in approaches to
learning and performance and knows how to design instruction that uses each learner’s strengths
to promote growth.

Artifact: Observation Report #2

Date of Completion: April 2018

Course Completed in: EDUC-230-02 Education Field Experience

Rationale Statement:
In this observation report, I have demonstrated how the teacher designs and administers
his lesson plans to his students. I detail how while he utilizes the same reading materials, he
adapts his lesson plans to the students understanding with updated references and allusions. I
demonstrate this in the report by saying, “While his actual lesson plans have not changed, the
way he presents and relates to his students has. As time changes, so do his references, allusions,
and the technology being used... He has adapted his lesson plans to fit this, but he has not
necessarily altered the content, just the way it is presented and the way he sets up the class. He
has adjusted for time, and he said the secret to his success with this is to stay in tune with the
student’s needs”. This is to ensure that although times change, and that student’s strengths and
understandings change, that he is identifying the necessary need to adapt instruction so that all
students are capable of grasping the material. This directly relates to standard two because it
shows how the teacher, through his adaptation of references and differentiated use of material
can “understand and identify differences in approaches to learning and performance and knows
how to design instruction that uses each learner’s strengths to promote growth” (New Jersey
Department of Education, 2014, p.3)

Through completing the first observation, I can see how vital it is to use different
approaches to learning in the classroom. Through different uses of technology, and through
updating lessons to fit modern times, I can still use true and tested lesson plans but personalize
them to fit with the current class I am instruction. I learned through this observation how
important planning and classroom preparation is. I was lucky enough to be placed with a veteran
teacher who has had decades of experience planning and curating lessons, so the information I
gained during this observation was invaluable to my education.

I could use this observation report going forward in my career to relect on the important
of planning and to remind myself that planning never truly stops. I will have to continue to
update, tweak, revise, and replan my lessons. This observation report will be a great reminder to
me of the time and commitment that goes in to planning.

Reference

New Jersey Department of Education. (2014). ​New Jersey professional standards for teachers
alignment with InTASC​. Retrieved from
http://www.state.nj.us/education/profdev/profstand/ProfStandardsforTeachersAlignmentwithInT
ASC.pdf