Learning Outcome #9: Demonstrate Appropriate Professional Dispositions to Help All Students Learn
SUNY Cortland says that "During courses in pedagogy, SUNY Cortland teacher candidates review and discuss state and national standards appropriate to the content and developmental level of their certificate, candidates examine curricular guides and design and implement lesson plans and units that integrate knowledge across discipline, relate to real life, and align with the standards." In order to help all students learn, teachers must do several things: align with the IEP guidelines of students, treat students fairly, and make the subject matter and skills relatable to the students' lives.
As a teacher with special needs students in the classroom, it is imperative to follow the modifications that students are entitled to receive. There are severe penalties mandated by the state for not following the IEP's, and it is unfair to the students who receive the additional support. IEP's are meant to level the field so that students with disabilities are just as likely to do well in school as the students without disabilities. A method that I have employed in a class with many IEP students is to make all of the worksheets and quizzes a "14" font instead of a "12," and I add lines so that students have a structure to follow when they are doing short answers.
One of the ways in which I treat my students fairly is by using a rubric for assignments and projects. Students get the rubric at least a week in advance of the due date, and we discuss it as a class. Students know exactly what I will be grading them on, and grading them is much more subjective than randomly distributing grades. If students question their grade, I can look at their rubric and thoroughly explain why they received their grade.
Students are much more engaged and interested when the material relates to the world around them and actually serves a purpose in being learned. My lessons are centered arount the realities of the world; my classes explore these realities through self-discovery, discussion, and collaboration. I want to allow students the opportunity to look through many different lenses and perspectives at situations that they may have preconceived notions. The texts come alive when students realize that the themes and other literary elements and techniques of William Shakespeare are still prevalent in our world today.
As a teacher with special needs students in the classroom, it is imperative to follow the modifications that students are entitled to receive. There are severe penalties mandated by the state for not following the IEP's, and it is unfair to the students who receive the additional support. IEP's are meant to level the field so that students with disabilities are just as likely to do well in school as the students without disabilities. A method that I have employed in a class with many IEP students is to make all of the worksheets and quizzes a "14" font instead of a "12," and I add lines so that students have a structure to follow when they are doing short answers.
One of the ways in which I treat my students fairly is by using a rubric for assignments and projects. Students get the rubric at least a week in advance of the due date, and we discuss it as a class. Students know exactly what I will be grading them on, and grading them is much more subjective than randomly distributing grades. If students question their grade, I can look at their rubric and thoroughly explain why they received their grade.
Students are much more engaged and interested when the material relates to the world around them and actually serves a purpose in being learned. My lessons are centered arount the realities of the world; my classes explore these realities through self-discovery, discussion, and collaboration. I want to allow students the opportunity to look through many different lenses and perspectives at situations that they may have preconceived notions. The texts come alive when students realize that the themes and other literary elements and techniques of William Shakespeare are still prevalent in our world today.
Proficiencies:
This I Believe writing task and rubric
Short Story writing task and rubric
Independent Reading Lesson Plan
This I Believe writing task and rubric
Short Story writing task and rubric
Independent Reading Lesson Plan
Professional Dispositions from NCATE:
NCATE Requirements (page 56)
NCATE Requirements (page 56)