AFX Student Teacher Midpoint Self-Evaluation

Midpoint Evaluation Form Preamble STUDENT TEACHER AFX MIDPOINT SELF-EVALUATION At the midpoint of the field experience, the Student Teacher, with guidance from the Mentor Teacher, is required to complete a formative Midpoint Self-Evaluation. The purpose of this document is to provide the Student Teacher with an opportunity to reflect on his/her growth as a teacher. Instructions The Midpoint Self Evaluation should: Ø Be thoughtful and detailed Ø Be complete by the Monday of Week 5 of the APT Ø Be discussed with the Mentor Teacher and the University Facilitator Ø Include Mentor Teacher s comments Ø Be signed by student Teacher, Mentor Teacher, and University Facilitator Student Teacher: Bailey King ID Number: 1267047 U of A Course: EDFX 425 University Facilitator: Barb Hanson Faculty of Education University of Alberta AFX Student Teacher Midpoint Self-Evaluation Dates of Field Experience: February 10, 2014 April 17, 2014 School Name & Address: Poplar Ridge Elementary School RR 1 Red Deer AB, T4N 5E1 School Telephone: 403-343-8821 School District: Chinooks Edge School Division Subject(s) and/or Grade level(s): Grade 4 Language arts, social studies, math, science, gym March 17, 2014 Date Signature of Student Teacher Mentor Teacher(s): Carolyn Burns Signature of Mentor Teacher Signature of University Facilitator Last updated 20/04/2014 1:30 pm

Signatures indicate that the University Facilitator and Mentor Teacher have received and read the evaluation report. The purpose of this Field Experience Midpoint Evaluation document is to provide evidence and communicate information regarding Student Teacher performance based on the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes (KSAs) for Interim Certification. Comments reflect strengths and areas for growth in each category. Description of the school and context of teaching: School size Special Programs Special Needs Students in class Urban/Rural Class size Number of teachers I am currently in the middle of my student teaching at Poplar Ridge Elementary School. The school has approximately 125 students ranging from kindergarten to grade six. The school is located approximately ten minutes outside of Red Deer, Alberta and is a rural school. The school is in the middle of a fairly wealthy area. The class that I am working with has twenty-three students and there are about 18 people on staff including administration support and educational assistants. All staff is very supportive and truly focused on providing quality education to their students. Preparation, Planning and Organization KSA A: Teachers understand that contextual variables affect teaching and learning. KSA C: Teachers use the Guide to Education and the programs of study to inform and direct planning, instruction and assessment. KSA D: Teachers understand the subject discipline they teach. KSA E: Teachers know how to identify students different learning styles and ways students learn and create multiple paths to learning for individuals and groups. KSA F: Teachers know how to translate curriculum and desired outcomes into meaningful and incrementally progressive learning opportunities through short, medium and long range planning. KSA M: Teachers identify and incorporate relevant learning resources into their teaching. Curriculum expectations Content knowledge Lesson Plans Organization Time management Diverse learning needs Planning has been a clear focus of my practicum. I have been making detailed lesson plans for each class that I teach that are handed in on Monday for the upcoming week. For every lesson that I prepare, I always consult the program of studies to ensure that I am focused on what I should be teaching. I have always enjoyed math and science; so in math, I taught measurement and have been clear on what the students need to learn. Having a focus on units and hands on learning was a must. In science, I am teaching plant growth and change and have had a lot of fun with this. I have always enjoyed plants and gardening, so learning more about this topic was a natural fit for me. I understand the importance of fully knowing your subject discipline. If you don t thoroughly understand what you are teaching, it will very quickly come across to the students. I know that each student learns differently, and it is important to me that no matter how you learn, you feel successful. Using a wide variety of multiple intelligences is a focus in my planning. I want to make sure that students experience different ways to learn. In each lesson, I try to make sure that I hit at

least 4 multiple intelligences. I have created separate worksheets for students who excel in what they are learning so that they can feel challenged. I also make sure that I adapt the material for students who struggle. Dividing students into groups for the novel study that I am doing is one way of helping different learning needs. I am very organized and use this to my advantage when planning lessons. I find that with teaching there is so much going on, that it is a must to be organized. Teaching Skills and Strategies KSA A: Teachers understand that contextual variables affect teaching and learning. KSA D: Teachers understand the subject discipline they teach. KSA E: Teachers know how to identify students different learning styles and ways students learn and create multiple paths to learning for individuals and groups. KSA F: Teachers know how to translate curriculum and desired outcomes into meaningful and incrementally progressive learning opportunities through short, medium and long range planning. KSA I: Teachers know and use a broad range of instructional strategies. KSA J: Teachers use both traditional and electronic technologies to meet students learning needs. KSA M: Teachers identify and incorporate relevant learning resources into their teaching. Learning strategies Instructional strategies Student interest Pacing Sequencing/timing Uses ICT Cultural sensitivity Lesson/unit plans Flexibility Differentiation of instruction When I am teaching, I want the students to be as engaged as possible, to be talking or moving so that they maintain their focus. The class that I am with is very wiggly, so I have to make sure that they do not sit for too long. With instruction, I wanted to use a lot of Kagan Structures with the students because it would allow students to talk and discuss. I would like to continue using these but improve on the way that I have structured them. I would like to ensure that I am following the correct format and use the structures with more than just discussion. I also understand how important it is to ensure that students see the implication of what they are learning to their own lives. Trying to discuss ways that area applies to their own life is important as well as hitting on student interests. I know that a large number of students in my class are from farming families or play hockey or love horses, so incorporating those topics into the lesson as much as possible is important. I am teaching Ticket to Curlew now, so I am going to try and include those discussions as much as possible. Pacing is something that is going well during the lesson. For instance, making sure that I give students enough wait time is good and giving them appropriate amounts of time. I feel that I am good at judging in the class is getting bored or disengaged from the lesson, but I would like to improve on wrapping up my material in a more timely fashion so that I don t have a project dragging out over three days. I have used mini IPad in my lessons that worked fairly well. The students were engaged and loved working with them and each student could work at their own pace. I made an integrated unit plan when I was in school and have used and adapted the unit plan for what is happening in the school. I have also created a science unit plan and a language arts unit plan. Most of these have had to be adapted because of what is happening in the school and the schedule. I would like to take better advantage of my unit plans that I have made and utilize the work I have already done. This also shows my flexibility as the schedule in schools is changing constantly, I know that you just have to go with what is currently happening.

Communication KSA H: Teachers know the importance of respecting students human dignity by establishing relationships with students that are characterized by mutual respect, trust and harmony. KSA J: Teachers know how to use and how to engage students in using traditional and electronic technologies to present and deliver content, communicate effectively with others. KSA L: Teachers know how to develop and implement strategies that create and enhance teacher, parent, and student partnerships. Oral and written language Listening skills Voice and language Communication with parents/guardians Teaching/learning technologies I have used a variety of communication, using PowerPoint s, pictures, YouTube videos, having students present. I love talking to students, I usually greet them at the door, chat with them about the weekend. Most of the time I use a friendly voice unless I need them to understand the seriousness of the situation. I chat with parents when they come into the schools but have not made a phone call home to parents or sent a letter home. I ask questions about my teaching and try to make an effort in finding out how I am doing. Assessment Strategies KSA K: Teachers gather information about their students learning needs and progress by using a variety of assessment strategies. KSA L: Teachers know the importance of engaging parents, purposefully and meaningfully, in all aspects of teaching and learning. Appropriate questioning Assessment variety Formative/ Summative Timely feedback Adapted assessment Record keeping Reporting I have tried to use different assessments, things like projects math treasure hunt, collages, jigsaw fact finding, quiz, observation of presentations, sticky note exit pass, thumbs up/ thumbs down. I ask a lot of questions, I just want to ensure that I am asking the correct questions, ones that will challenge and push them. I am big into formative assessment, I write comments on all worksheets and visit with students to talk about why they put down an answer. Timely feedback, I always make sure that I mark something right away but I am not always certain where I need students to put the sheet, so often I keep them. Adapted assessment usually is that I am looking for something specific from some students, whether it is for a deeper elaboration or for a knowledge foundation of units. I have recorded all of the grades that I have and keep notes that what students have done. Management and Classroom Climate KSA A: Teachers understand that contextual variables affect teaching and learning. KSA G: Teachers create and maintain environments that are conducive to student learning and understand student needs for physical, social, cultural and psychological security. KSA H: Teachers know the importance of respecting students human dignity by establishing relationships with students that are characterized by mutual respect, trust and harmony.

Midpoint Evaluation Form Class tone Rapport with students Student engagement Transitions Routines Conflict resolution Leadership I would say that my rapport with the students is good. This is something that I have really focused on starting in September. I easily connected with most of the girls in the class, so I have tried to focus on those where the connection did not come as naturally. I wanted the boys to feel comfortable around me and tell me what they were up to. I feel that this is going really well. I know a fair bit about each student and feel that relationships keep growing. I love to joke with the class and laugh with them, that s what makes this job fun. Student s engagement is a huge focus for me because I feel that it is clear when students are not engaged and want to keep working on this. Each activity needs to engage as many students as possible and keep them excited so I will keep track of this. Transitions are something I have not really focused on much but I need to. I have found that positive reinforcement certainly helps with this, also giving them a warning so says you have one more minute to finish this up. This also goes back, I think, to my closure and I need to not be scared that students will just be sitting there and have an actual closure. I love routines so those are important to me in a classroom and I have just tried to maintain the routines that were already in place in the classroom. Conflict resolution is difficult for me. Most situations I feel all right with, if there was hitting or someone was telling secrets but the situation with the three girls I struggle with because they are so focused on what has happened that I feel like I can t get through to them. I would certainly like to work on that. Understanding Students Needs KSA E: Teachers know how to identify students different learning styles and ways students learn and create multiple paths to learning for individuals and groups. KSA F: Teachers know how to translate curriculum and desired outcomes into meaningful and incrementally progressive learning opportunities. Teachers understand the need to vary their plans to accommodate individuals and groups of students. KSA I: Teachers know and use a broad range of instructional strategies and know which strategies are appropriate to help different students achieve different outcomes. Planning that includes all students and learning styles Alignment of strategies to student needs Use of varied resources to differentiate instruction Assists all learners Understands contextual variables that affect teaching and learning As I have previously stated, multiple intelligences are a huge focus for me and each lesson includes as many as possible. I do struggle with including the musical multiple intelligence with my lessons and I would like to try and improve on that over the next month. I have had many talks with students about what they enjoy most in school, what activities they like to do and what they feel most successful at because I feel that they know best and it helps to give me ideas like with gym warm ups, science activies, language writings. I certainly try to do what I need to for all learners. I keep a close eye on students that need extra help and if a student starts acting up or is upset, I look into the situation right away to see what I can do. Last updated 20/04/2014 1:30 pm

Professional Qualities and Attributes KSA B: Teachers understand the legislated, moral and ethical frameworks with in which they work. KSA H: Teachers know the importance of respecting students human dignity by establishing relationships with students that are characterized by mutual respect, trust and harmony. KSA L: Teachers know the importance of engaging parents, purposefully and meaningfully, in all aspects of teaching and learning. KSA N: Teachers know the importance of contributing, independently and collegially, to the quality of their school. KSA O: Teachers assess the quality of their own teaching and use this to develop and implement their own professional development. KSA P: Teachers guide their actions with a personal, overall vision of the purpose of teacher and they are able to communicate their vision, including how it has changed as a result of new knowledge, understanding and experience. Work ethics Initiative Attitude Commitment Interpersonal skills Energy Appearance Reflective Collegiality Team work I have a strong work ethic. I stay at the school until what I need to do there is done and usually off my help to Ms. Burns. I hate to be unprepared and I will work until it is done. Initiative is something that I have always struggled with because I never want to overstep my boundaries, but I feel like I have improved, at least in the grade four classroom. I ask what I can do to help, I step in when students are struggling, and I ask questions about what I need to improve on. I volunteered to help out with the passport to fun that is happening in the school. I think I have a good attitude; it would be difficult to have a bad one with all the students around. They are challenge but all so unique and so funny that it makes the day a blast. I love working with others, my entire education program was built around working with others so I enjoy when I am able to do that. I always try to have a great energy about me, I like to smile and laugh with the students and my appearance is always professional, I hope. Reflection and Self-Evaluation KSA O: Teachers assess the quality of their own teaching and use this to develop and implement their own professional development. KSA P: Teachers guide their actions with a personal, overall vision of the purpose of teacher and they are able to communicate their vision, including how it has changed as a result of new knowledge, understanding and experience Establishes specific strategies to meet professional goals Demonstrates oral/written reflective practices Engages in goal setting Communicates overall vision of teaching I am big into having goals. I have goals for the end of my practicum completing units successfully, making an impact on the classroom. I have goals for each week, each day and each lesson. For one week my goal was to improve on positive reinforcement and student listing cues. I believe that I improved on the positive reinforcement; I bought a prize box to help with that. I also had a goal to have more challenging material for some of the students in the class and I was able to make a couple worksheets and challenge questions for them and by the end of my practicum I would like to make a booklet for them. Everyday I write a personal reflection about how the day went, what went well and what I would change for next time. I also write on my lesson plans to ensure that if I use them again, I will remember what I need to do differently. In my professional growth plan that I wrote at the beginning of the year, I have completed all three of my goals. I have used Kagan structures, I have implemented a volleyball program into the school and I have learned more about literacy and done hands on work with literacy in the grade four and two tutoring program at Poplar Ridge. I have also done reading evaluations with students to help with their

improvement and tracking. I am excited to see where my teaching goes and I hope that each and everyday, I am consistently improving with all that I do. There is still so much that I wish to learn but the best way to do that is to get the experience. I keep working towards the goal in my head how I want to be as a teacher, the connection that I want to have with my students and the classroom environment I want. It will probably take a lot of experience and trial and error but I am always working towards this vision. Mentor Teacher Comments: