Phase 3

1. Each member of the teaching group must individually reread the entries throughout the Blog and then reflect on the overall experience. Describe (a) how your understandings for each the categories listed below changed based on your experiences this semester and (b) describe how this might impact your future teaching experiences.
   • Assessing Prior Knowledge
   • Planning Instruction
   • Designing Instruction
   • Planning Assessment
   • Instructional Decisions/Teaching
   • Assessment of Learning
2. a) how your understandings for each the categories listed below changed based on your experiences this semester and (b) describe how this might impact your future teaching experiences.

)I believe that based on my experience this semester I would do better do assess prior knowledge. Perhaps put a question on a prior test to assess knowledge. I think that this would affect my future teaching experience because I now know that one shouldn't treat the preexisting lesson plans as perfect. They can be adapted to be made better. Plus one thing might work for one class and not another, every class is different.

)As for planning Instruction if I had it to over again I would have tried to get an audience before teaching. It was tough to just go up in front of a class and do it as "a dry run". I believe that this experience will help me in the future because I know now that teaching is harder than it looks but it's just a matter of getting comfortable.

)As far as designing instruction I would have not used an 11 page handout again in the future for a 5th grade class. Not sure what I was thinking with that. But the lesson plan was for fifth grade so I went with it. I feel I did pretty well working "on the fly", but it could have been better. As for the future I would definitely try to develop more comfort with technology as it can be "our friend". I am adverse to technology and the truth is our world is advancing so there's really no choice but to adapt.

)Planning Assessment: In this class I learned that I had pretty much as much ability as I thought I had to put in grades. I'm comfortable with excel so it was pretty easy. Using rubrics definitely helps define a point value though. I think for the future I might try to use a different program with more bells and whistles. Excel is kind of boring. So I could improve in this way in the future.

Instructional Decisions/ Teaching: Through taking this class I learned that I should consider accomodations for improving educating special needs kids. Some of the reviews were brutally honest about this aspect of my presentation and I kind of knew that would happen after getting done with my lesson. I realized too late I didn't accomodate those with special needs very well. I believe in the future I will definitely address kids with special needs better. I felt bad that I didn't give more thought to it because it wouldn't have been much more effort.

Assessment of Learning: Through this class I learned that assessing learning is critical. What's the point of teaching if nobody is proven to have learned anything? Through my blog I learned that I actually did this pretty well. I guess I have a pretty firm grasp on the importance of this. In the future I will put more energy in assessing learning, I believe it is an important aspect of teaching.

Reflection Phase 2

1. Instructional Decisions/Teaching: Describe and justify modifications made
   • for individual needs
   • to maintain alignment to goals and objectives

The modifications I made for students with individual needs was to offer additional assistance while the student with special needs was working. More specifically if I had a student that had difficulty using the internet to research I would have assisted them in that process. Because the lesson involved some student research time, this gave me the opportunity to help anyone that would have had special needs.

To maintain allignment to goals and objectives I tried to stay as close as possible to my lesson plan as I could. At the last minute I realized I needed to ditch some of the handouts because they would have been too time consuming. As it was I was close to exceeding the required time limit so I felt this change was necessary.

1. Assessment of Learning: Describe the evidence you have that indicates
• your students' level of success in achieving the lessons goals
• the level of success you had in teaching the lesson

The evidence that I have that indicates my students level of success in achieving the lessons goals was to observe the students during the "summit". The level of participation would be indicative of the learning accomplished. Also, from the homework assignment I could assess what was learned in the assignment.

The level of success I feel I had in teaching the lesson was fairly high. I believe it could have been better, I feel I should have ditched using only the food aspect of globalization, but that's what the lesson plan said I should do, so that's what I did. But now I know I shouldn't have been so strict on the guidelines. All in all I believe it was pretty good.

Phase 3

Phase 3

Preparation

Content

Individualized Needs

Assessment

Reflection Phase 1

Assessing Prior Knowledge: If you were teaching this with the targeted grade level students

• how would prior experience have been assessed. Prior experience would have been assessed by asking students about what they know about Globalization and Food in the world.
• What would be the implications for instructional planning and assessment based on the activities you chose to do for assessing prior knowledge. Based on my assessments for assessing prior knowledge I would structure my lesson based on that. If the students understand the subject prior to being tought, more advanced topics can be discussed.

Plans Instruction: Discuss how your goals, objectives, and outcomes are clearly stated appropriate for students. Also while doing my lesson I stated to the students what I was expecting from them as far as grading.

1. • aligned to state standards  My lesson plan alligns to Arizona state standards for AZ- Arizona Early Learning Standards
     Standard: Social Studies Standard
     

     Strand: STRAND 3: CIVICS/GOVERNMENT
     

     Concept: Concept 1: Rights, Responsibilities and Roles of Citizenship The child demonstrates a sense of belonging to the community and contributes to its care.
     

     Indicator: a. Child demonstrates responsible behaviors.

     Indicator: b. Child shows an understanding of how to care for the environment.

     Indicator: c. Child recognizes the importance of his/her role as part of a group.
2. Designing Instruction: Discuss how your instructional design 
   • is contextually and logically organized My lesson plan is logically organized and contextually accurate. It is broken up into lecture, group activities, and a group vs. group activity.
   • uses varied instructional methods that meet individual student needs and target higher order thinking skills. Through varying group activities I believe this lesson plan meets individual student needs. For this subject higher order thinking skills are required because it is a complex issue.
   • integrates technology from a constructivist perspective My lesson plan integrates technology because groups will be required to research topics and then present them to the group. Without technology the lesson would not be as effective as it is.
3. Planning Assessment: How will your assessment tools demonstrate
   • the performance of linked goals and/or objectives My assessment tools will demonstrate through the use of the rubric that establish goals and/or objectives are met.
   • student engagement in higher order thinking Students will be required to participate in groups which will encourage kids to "come out of their shells". Higher order thinking will be the only way to succeed in my lesson from the students perspective.
   • meeting individual student needs Individual students need will be done by each student to present during the class. This will ensure that students understand the concepts they are being taught.

1. Assessing Prior Knowledge: If you were teaching this with the targeted grade level students
   • how would prior experience have been assessed. Prior experience would have been assessed by making sure children understood what they were tought and can demonstrate proficiency.
   • What would be the implications for instructional planning and assessment based on the activities you chose to do for assessing prior knowledge. The implications for instructional planning and assessment
2. Plans Instruction: Discuss how your goals, objectives, and outcomes are
   • clearly stated
   • appropriate for students
   • aligned to state standards
3. Designing Instruction: Discuss how your instructional design
   • is contextually and logically organized
   • uses varied instructional methods that meet individual student needs and target higher order thinking skills
   • integrates technology from a constructivist perspective
4. Planning Assessment: How will your assessment tools demonstrate
   • the performance of linked goals and/or objectives
   • student engagement in higher order thinking
   • meeting individual student needs

Phase II

Blog Post 1

I am currently writing my first post to a blog. I find myself overwhelmed by this class combined with the other classes I'm taking. I try to comfort myself in telling myself this is as crazy as it will get. I never understood how people go to school full time and work full time, now I am one of those people. I will stick with it though and never quit.

phase 1

This is my new blog