Standard+I

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
 * 1. **** Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity **
 * a. ** promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
 * b. ** engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
 * c. ** promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
 * d. ** model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments


 * 1. List all that goes into planning for classroom instruction. **
 * First, I check my lesson plans from the previous day to determine whether I need to reteach any skills. Also, I use my lesson plans from previous school years for instructional tools and strategies guidance. Using these plans and the current curriculum I decide what instructionasl tools, materials, resources, and strategies will best suit the group of children I am teaching.
 * Next, I create a list of modifications and accomodations needed for IEP and 504 plan students. Instructional strategies include verbatim reading, creating charts, diagrams, and process charts, using the explcit teaching model, math talk for vocabulary, visual and verbal ques and note taking. In addition, I use the LCD projector and Smartboard during instructional time. Using technology allows me to show video clips, tutorials and step by step processes during instruction.
 * I state my objectives and outcome desired for each lesson.
 * Based on my goals and objectives for each lesson, I use the recent curriculum guide to align the Maryland State Standards and NETS-S Technology Standards.
 * I create a list of materials and resources needed for each lesson.
 * Classroom instruction planning includes detailed procedures for all instruction, activities and assessments that will take place throughout the course of a lesson.
 * My plans include a lesson closure. I must select a culminating activity appropriate for my group of students and individual students.
 * Lastly, I need to plan the form of assessment that students will complete. I consider this a part of my classroom instruction because I give verbatim reading of assessments to many of my students.

Many of my projects and activities are hands on and require students to create a product based on what they have learned in a lesson. Some activities include:
 * 2. List the types of projects and activities you use with your students. **
 * Students create a crossword puzzle using the vocabulary words from our unit of study.
 * Make a repeating pattern and growing pattern using cut out shapes, pictures or stamps.
 * Make a bar graph out of fruit loops, graphing the colors of the fruit loops that they were given.
 * Students shop for items with a set amount of play money and determine what items they can purchase and the amount of change they will should receive.
 * Students create a robot using all polygon shapes. Students may use any materials that they wish including construction paper, noodles, cereal etc. Just be creative and make sure that all the shapes that are used to make the robot are polygons.

Though my plans include higher order thinking, creativity and the use of digital tools I am always searching for creative ideas, projects and lessons. I want to expand on the use of digital tools and reasources that I currently use.
 * 2a. Do your planned projects and activities include any of the following: project-based learning, authentic activities, higher order thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, creativity and innovation, and use of digital tools and resources? List all that apply. **
 * Most of my activities require students to use higher order thinking because they are demonstrating their level of understanding and knowledge by creating an end product. They need to be able to create an end product and also be able to justify their work.
 * Creativity and innovation is expected in many of the hands on activities that my students complete. I expect to see thirty different representations of a polygon robot, repeating pattern or any other end product that they are create.
 * My planned activities include the use technology on a daily basis. My students often use the Smartboard, personal computers and/ or calculators.
 * Lastly, my lessons include real world connections. For instance, the shoppng activity mentioned above is a great real world connection for children. They love to shop but need to have some skills in counting money and making change to be able go to the store.
 * 3. List at least 3 ways that you can improve or would like to grow with regard to planning. **


 * I would like to incorporate more project based learning activities in my units of study.
 * Though technology is used daily, I would like to include a variety of digital tools. Currently I am using the same technology and resources daily. I want to incorporate tools for asssessment, instruction, workshop, and homework.
 * I would like to improve my lesson plans by incorporating higher order thinking and questioning using the Blooms Taxonomy Model. Even though my lessons include activities that require students to use higher order thinking my higher order thinking questioning needs great improvement.


 * 4.List resources that can help you grow in this strategy.**
 * I will utilize Blooms 21st vs. 20st Century Handout doc. and Blooms Taxonomy Model Questions and key words doc. to include higher order thinking and questioning in my planning for instruction.
 * Polldaddy or SurveyMonkey will allow me to create a Learning Style Inventory in the beggining of the school year.
 * Blogger.com and creating a class wikispace will be used for collaboaration and sharing among teachers, parents and students outside the classroom.
 * Internet source ReadKiddoRead will be used for illustrated books and lesson plans for elementary students.
 * GameClassroom, a game platform for kids, will be a helpful tool for planning math lessons and homework. This website created by professional educators offers learning tips, sample problems, online resources and homework help.
 * Internet source Tutpup will be used when planning workshops, review and practice of basic math skills.
 * MyWebspiration will be used when planning for differentiation of instruction. This tool will allow me to make graphic organizers easily and file them for future use.
 * Lesson Writer will make it possible for me create and find lessons that use literacy across the curriculum and include questioning skills that promote higher order thinking.
 * Thinkfinity fis a tool that holds a vast amount of resources for the many math skills that I teach. I will use Thinkfinity to search for creative math lesson ideas, video clips, worksheets and intercative web sites. The activities and lessons cater to many learning styles so this will be a great source when considering differentiaition.
 * In correlation with Thinkfinity my plan is to use Trackstar as a way to organize my resources by units and have one location for my students to find all that they need for each unit.
 * Lastly, planning for assessments will be much more easy too. I plan to use polldaddy, surveymonkey and DiscoveryEd. These three sources were simple to use and will compile results quickly and effectively. The data from these assessments will be used to drive instruction.

I will improve planning for instruction by integrating a variety of technology resources that will engage my students, promote critrical thinking skills, allow students to be creative and connect to real world issues. I will use Blooms Taxonomy Model Questioning and LessonWriter to include higher order thinking and questioning when planning for instruction. MyWebspiration, Thinkfinity, and TrackStar are all internet sources that I can use to plan for differentiation instruction. MyWebspiration will allow me to create graphic organizers which will support my IEP and ESOL students. Thinkfinity can be used to find a variety of lesson ideas and interactive tools for my gifted, IEP and ESOL students. TrackStar will make it possible for me to organize all my resources in one place so that it is available for students to access. Also, for future planning I can go to one track to check my resources for a particular skill. GameClassroom and Tutpup are internet sources that I can use when planning for workshop, review skills, and homework. Lastly, Polldaddy, SurveyMonkey, and DiscoveryEd are all sources that I can use to create assessments to drive instruction and create individualized assessments.
 * Summary Statement 1**