Reflection and decision making

The student-teacher will display the capacity and disposition to make sound educational decisions by consistently using reflective strategies. (College of Teachers Standards 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11)

Artefact One: Tally lesson plan

This artefact is a lesson plan that I wrote for my grade two class as well as for course work in the education program. I have chosen this as evidence because it shows my ability to take my first general idea of a lesson and later rework it to fit the learners in my class. It demonstrates my thinking about how I could change my instructional plan for students in my class and my ability to recognize what went well that I could carry forward; reflecting on the lesson plan and the learning environment for the students. The revised lesson plan shows my thinking about how I can accommodate a variety of learners and it helped me to learn about accommodation and adaptation for the best learning experience or all the learners.

Artefact two: Social studies reflection

II completed this reflection for a Social Studies class taken at VIU in year four of the education program. The reflection I wrote is based upon an assigned reading and it demonstrates my ability to reflect on how we can, as well as should not teach social values. The writing reflects my ability to debate the issues in both a professional as well as a personal manner. I believe it also demonstrates my understanding of how teachers need to balance their roles in the student’s lives as teachers. Reflecting on these issues is important to think about so I can decide how I will deal with the issues when in the profession as a teacher.

Communicating with families

The student-teacher will display the capacity and disposition to maintain meaningful, respectful, ethical, professional, and systematic communication with families about the instructional program and student achievement. (College of Teachers Standards 1, 2, 8, 9, 12)

Artefact one: Letter home to family

When teaching at Springwood Middle School during my fifth year at VIU, I wrote a letter of introduction home to all of the students I was teaching. In this letter I indicated the topics and outcomes of my instruction with the students; such as learning about metaphors during Language Arts. I related a little about myself as a person and my prior experiences teaching. I also invited the family to come and meet/speak with me or my sponsor teachers, if they had any questions concerns or just wanted to say hello. I also indicated the dates that I would be teaching at the school.

Writing this letter demonstrates my commitment to maintaining open lines of communication with the student’s family; keeping the door open. In addition I believe this letter demonstrates my understanding of working in an environment that is not only myself and the students; but also my sponsor teachers, the school and the wider community. Involving the community in the classes is very important, especially as a beginning teacher; that involvement will show my support of the wider community as well as give me the support that I will need to ensure success of the students.

Artefact two: Consent form

During year five of the education program, I conducted an inquiry with the grade seven students and eight students I was teaching. A portion of the inquiry centered on asking the students questions in a survey format. To accomplish this, I sent out a consent form home prior to asking the students any questions. Providing the family with the opportunity to accept or decline the student’s participation in this is an important communication home . This option informs families of the happenings at school as well as creating an opportunity for possible discussion between the children and the family, as well as with myself. When I am a certified teacher I will be in constant communication with family members therefore I believe it is important to practice these skills early on and continue to refine those skills.

Contributing to the life of the learners, the school community, and the district

The student-teacher will display the capacity and disposition to develop and maintain professional deportment and excellent interpersonal skills, characteristic of a cooperative, reflective, caring, respectful, self-directed, and enthusiastic educator. (College of Teachers Standards 1, 2, 9, 10, 12, 13)

Artefact one: Picture from Hornby

My fifth year class of students went to Hornby Island for their year-end camping trip. While I was no longer teaching with them, I believed it was an extremely valuable trip to take. It was a wonderful experience for all of us to have. This field trip with the students shows my commitment to the students and my ability to go beyond; for them and for myself. The experiences we shared there were ones that could not have been experienced in a classroom environment and it allowed both the students and the staff to see one another in a different capacity.  Experiencing this helped me to fully realize how important it is to share many different aspects of education and parts of your life with students to provide a well-rounded education.

Artefact two: Poem by Student

This artefact represents that I had an impact on this student as a caring educator. As part of their poetry assignment, they were to publish their poems into a book and illustrate them in whatever manner they chose. This student chose to write one of their poems about me and publish it. I believe when a student takes the time to highlight a teacher in their work when they most likely have others that they can reference, it speaks volumes about that teacher.

On-going professional growth and development

The student-teacher will display the capacity and disposition to initiate, implement and self-assess ongoing personal and professional development and to participate as a contributing, collegial member of the educational community and teaching profession. (College of Teachers Standards 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 13)

Artefact one: BCTF Day Reflection

Attending this workshop as part of the BCTF day on the VIU campus and the accompanying reflection shows my dedication to the profession and my drive to constantly learn more. I believe that attending workshops such as these provides educators with more skills that we can take into the field as well as demonstrates to others that we are dedicated professionals. Attending workshops such as these allows for people to come together and share ideas and learn from, as well as teach, others. This workshop taught me many valuable skills that I can take into my teaching such as strategies to discuss sensitive topics in class. I believe it is important to have strategies as a teacher to ensure the safety and well being of our students.

Artefact two: Education Reunion

As another function of my professional growth, I worked with team of student teachers, faculty members and elementary students to decorate the campus for an artist (Ted Harrison) who was scheduled to speak at a function. The banners we put together were made with student art work from an elementary school and a write-up on the artist by the students. This function was attended by VIU students to help bring the community together and to celebrate the artist. We all worked together to ensure that the artist felt welcome and was able to see the hard work students did in creating artwork that replicated his style. This activity helped me to understand and gain more strategies on working with a group of people. When working as a teacher, it is important to create and maintain a collegial environment therefore this experience allowed me an opportunity to practice this skill.

Understanding educational issues

The student-teacher will have the understanding necessary to make decisions informed by basic policy analysis, personal and population health issues, legal rights and responsibilities relevant to the work of teachers. (College of Teachers Standards 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13)

Artefact one: Sociology of Education Power Point

When obtaining my minor for my Bachelor of Arts degree, I took a course entitled “Sociology of Education”. This class was very interesting to take part in as it provided me with a unique vantage point into what others believe happens in and around schools/schooling. Part of the course requirement was to present a topic involving education. I chose to do a report that I have included here which documents my ability to see education from the different perspectives; as an education student looking out and a sociology student looking in. I believe this artefact represents my understanding of educational issues because I did take both sides of the coin and compared them to one another; giving me (and my fellow classmates) another perspective and a better place to make more sound educational decisions. Being able to see both sides of education will help me to make better choices when deciding what to teach, how to implement new ideas into my classes and when communicating with the public.

Artefact two: GSA Power Point

This power point presentation represents a group project done based upon research into organizations that are available to youth during their adolescent years. The organization that my group researched was Gay Straight Alliances. I think this artefact represents understanding educational issues and the responsibilities of teachers because school is to be a place where all students should feel safe regardless of what differences they may have from one another, therefore we should do our best to make sure that all feel welcome within the school.