Reflective Statement for IPTS 4 Brittany Granquist

Artifact: Lesson plan for reading group DRA level 4

PTS 4. Planning for Instruction: The competent teacher understands

instruction based upon knowledge of the discipline, students, the
community, and curriculum goals.

1. Write a paragraph explaining your knowledge and understanding of the

standard-put the

standard in your own words.

I think that this standard wants me to recognize the importance of planning for the unique

learning styles of each student while ensuring that plans are aligned with school, district, state

and national standards. In addition, this standard addresses the need for educators to understand

how to integrate technology effectively into instruction in order to address student needs and

manage information. In planning, the competent teacher will create and sequence short and long

term goals, use multiple learning activities to differentiate, connect learning to real life

experiences, and use resources and materials to ensure instruction is creating “an effective bridge

between student experiences and career and educational goals.”

2. Explain how the artifact you chose demonstrates your understanding and
application of the

standard.

The artifact I chose that demonstrates my understanding and application of the standard is a

lesson plan I used to instruct the DRA level 4 reading group. The group consists of two fourth

grade boys who both have IEPs and who are considerably low in their reading abilities. In

making this plan I have been able to apply various aspects of this standard. In order to focus on
the boys’ individual needs and goals, I collaborated with their reading intervention specialist and

in doing so, “use[d] IEP goals and objectives to plan instruction for students with disabilities.” I
also created “multiple learning activities” so that students had many different opportunities to

solidify knowledge and make connections to reading content. I also aligned the lesson plan with

Illinois State Standards.

3. A If the artifact has been used in your practice, reflect on how your
teaching will change in

the future to further meet the standard.

B. If the artifact has not been used in your practice, i.e., a class
assignment, reflect upon how

your teaching will be impacted by the assignment.

The artifact has been used in my practice over the span of one week, and is the third lesson plan I

have created for this reading group. I was instructed by my cooperating teacher to use the lesson

plan template and have come to enjoy using this template. In my future classrooms and when I

begin to take over more and more reading groups, I will use this template because it allows me to

consider higher order thinking questions before hand, map out the phonics and reading skills of

focus, assessment procedures, and vocabulary necessary for comprehension. In addition, I will

try in the future to be as detailed in these plans so that I am sure that I can get as much out of my

twenty minutes a day with this reading group.

4. Conclude with a paragraph discussing how you are more prepared to

Teach and Learn in a

Diverse Society as a result of satisfactorily meeting the standard.

The artifact I have chosen has prepared me to teach and learn in a diverse society. I was able to
apply principles of effective instruction for two fourth grade boys that read at a kindergarten

level, and who both have IEPs. The planning process involves collaboration with the boys’

reading intervention specialist, and requires careful thought of the implications of the boys’

background knowledge and responses. Not only am I teaching for the broad range of ability

levels represented in my classroom, I am learning the importance of collaboration in teaching to

a diverse society.