Standard #5: Application of Content
The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Artifacts:
Reflective Statement:
This standard emphasizes the importance of connecting students' learning to the world around them. Teachers need to teach children that their learning occurs outside of the classroom as well. In addition, the content they are learning in the classroom has real-world applications.
The artifacts that I included above are from my fall 2014 student teaching placement at Dyersville Elementary School. These artifacts show my effort to connect students to real-world events. On Fridays in my second grade classroom at Dyersville, we had what my cooperating teacher liked to call "Friday Funday." During this time, my class would often meet with the other second grade class to read books and then complete different activities. The books that myself and the other second grade student teacher would choose often revolved around our reading groups' book theme that week, or an event occurring in the world. For example, one of the artifacts that I posted above was our Veteran's Day activities. My school was hosting a Veteran's Day program that week, so I thought it would be important to give the students background knowledge about Veteran's Day before attending the program. First, I created a Veteran's Day anchor chart to explain the most important information. After going over the poster with the students, I read the book "The Wall." This book helped make the concept of Veteran's Day more meaningful to the students. Then, we were assigned a poster from the school with a veteran on it, and students were to list the traits of a veteran. Many students made connections to their own family members that are veterans, and listed the traits that they see in them. These posters were then displayed in the gym for the Veteran's Day program. In addition, I posted artifacts from my Thanksgiving week activities. First, I read the books "Samuel Eaton's Day" and "Sarah Morton's Day." Both of these books described what it would have been like to be a pilgrim boy and girl. Then, students were to write facts that they learned about pilgrims, and complete a Venn diagram comparing pilgrim children and children today. These activities helped give my students a context about Thanksgiving.
Thus far as a teacher, I have learned the importance of making content meaningful for students. Additionally, I have learned that making content connect to the real-world makes the content much more meaningful.
The artifacts that I included above are from my fall 2014 student teaching placement at Dyersville Elementary School. These artifacts show my effort to connect students to real-world events. On Fridays in my second grade classroom at Dyersville, we had what my cooperating teacher liked to call "Friday Funday." During this time, my class would often meet with the other second grade class to read books and then complete different activities. The books that myself and the other second grade student teacher would choose often revolved around our reading groups' book theme that week, or an event occurring in the world. For example, one of the artifacts that I posted above was our Veteran's Day activities. My school was hosting a Veteran's Day program that week, so I thought it would be important to give the students background knowledge about Veteran's Day before attending the program. First, I created a Veteran's Day anchor chart to explain the most important information. After going over the poster with the students, I read the book "The Wall." This book helped make the concept of Veteran's Day more meaningful to the students. Then, we were assigned a poster from the school with a veteran on it, and students were to list the traits of a veteran. Many students made connections to their own family members that are veterans, and listed the traits that they see in them. These posters were then displayed in the gym for the Veteran's Day program. In addition, I posted artifacts from my Thanksgiving week activities. First, I read the books "Samuel Eaton's Day" and "Sarah Morton's Day." Both of these books described what it would have been like to be a pilgrim boy and girl. Then, students were to write facts that they learned about pilgrims, and complete a Venn diagram comparing pilgrim children and children today. These activities helped give my students a context about Thanksgiving.
Thus far as a teacher, I have learned the importance of making content meaningful for students. Additionally, I have learned that making content connect to the real-world makes the content much more meaningful.