Part I: Introduction Damaris Rebecca Ferrante Early Childhood Education

Ball Ground Elementary School Second Grade

Collaborating Teacher: Holly Clarisse University Supervisor: Janice Dorris

Subjects Taught: Science Math Reading/L.A. Social Studies

» Doug Knott, Principal Currently, Ball Ground has 24 homerooms and 433 students There are 31 teachers, including 4 special education teachers, and 5 paraprofessionals Ball Ground is one of the leading elementary schools in Cherokee County in terms of standardized test scores

Diversity of Students in classroom: 21 students 7 boys 14 girls 2 ESOL students 2 Special Education students (1 speech only) 3 RTI students receiving Tier 2 interventions

Daily Schedule Weekly Schedule

Thoughts and Feelings, Fears, Strengths and Weaknesses as you began Candidate Teaching “Bring it on!” That’s how I felt when I started student teaching. I was so excited and, I thought, more than ready. As I walked into the room, a surge of different feelings overwhelmed me: excited scared ready for the challenge As I progressed through my education courses, the light at the end of the tunnel was student teaching. This was the beginning of my dream come true. I felt confident in the training I received.

Part II: Evidence of Candidate Proficiency My First Day

Domain I: Planning For Differentiated Instruction & Assessment I was fortunate enough to be placed with a collaborating teacher who is gifted endorsed and her pedagogy is what I considerer a “holistic” teaching method. She guided me in a very creative manner so that I was able to research and use several different strategies within a lesson plan. She always reviewed my lesson plans and happily suggested other strategies that might work. She never gave me a clear path, but rather guided me with open ended questions to improve my lessons. Mrs. Clarisse is a strong, imaginative teacher who likes to be creative and guided children into learning instead of just providing information. In starting my lesson plans, I faithfully referred to the Georgia Performance Standards and the course maps to assure that my lessons were held to the standards. For differentiation, I tried to implement activities which were geared towards the different learning styles. I always used activities that were kinetic and visual. At the beginning of the year, I gave students a learning style survey and found that most were kinestetic, visual, musical learners.

Planning For Differentiated Instruction & Assessment Students were pre-assessed and placed into flexible groups Daily assessments were conducted to check for understanding Groups were changed daily based on assessment results

Assessment Samples Writing Assessment Samples o Graphic organizer o Writing sample o Rubric Science Assessment Samples: o Flip chart with Activote questions Flip chart with Activote questions o Matter Project Matter Project

Artifacts Math lesson plan Science lesson plan LA lesson plan Social Studies lesson plan

Pre-Assessment Activities KWL Chart Autumn Flip Chart with Activote assessment Multiplication Pre-assessment

Student Interviews The verb songTrail of Tears Native AmericansWater Interview

Domain II: Providing Differentiated Instruction & Assessment Proficiency 2.0: The teacher candidate utilizes a variety of strategies to differentiate instruction and assessment. Reflective Analysis: How did you utilize a variety of strategies to differentiate instruction and assessment?

Artifacts Math Website Student Work Social Studies Power Point Web quest Management

Flip Charts: (saved as web page) Money R Controlled Vowels Autumn All About Matter More Artifacts Other Artifacts : Photos Noun Clown States of Matter Rubrics: Writing Science Social Studies Standards: Reading Math Science Social Studies

Even More Artifacts Great Websites:

REQUIRED ARTIFACT: Various Assessment Activities Completed class work, pre and post tests were administered to students weekly. Here are some samples… Narrative Writing Rubric Science Project Rubric Leaf Project

REQUIRED ARTIFACTS: My favorite lesson was the lesson I did about the Creek Natives. Lesson Plans: Creeks Mary Musgrove Power Point Bulletin Board Writing Projects Art Project

Domain III: Impacting Student Learning Proficiency 3.0: The teacher candidate uses systematic formal/informal assessment as an ongoing diagnostic activity to measure student growth and to guide, differentiate, and adjust instruction. Reflective Analysis: How did you use systematic formal/informal assessment as an ongoing diagnostic activity to measure student growth and to guide, differentiate, and adjust instruction?

Required Artifact: Instruction Adjustment Lesson Plan Reflection Assessment results and adjusted instruction

REQUIRED ARTIFACT: Completed Assessment Tools Science Assessment Math Assessment Samples: – Worksheet (teacher made) Worksheet – Pretest (from textbook) Pretest – Grades Grades Social Studies: – Grades Grades – Test: Oglethorpe Test: Oglethorpe

Artifacts Impact on Student Learning Reflections: Sept. 25 Oct. 9 Oct. 23 Nov. 21

Domain IV: Professional Responsibilities In Support Of Differentiated Instruction & Assessment Proficiency 4.0: The teacher candidate displays a professional commitment to the teaching philosophy of differentiated instruction to support students’ diverse learning needs and to maximize learning. Reflective Analysis: How did you display a professional commitment to the teaching philosophy of differentiated instruction to support student’ diverse learning needs and to maximize learning? How has your teaching philosophy changed during Candidate Teaching?

Evaluations College Supervisor September 10, 2010 October 19, 2010 November 16, 2010 Collaborating Teacher November 10, 2010 Principal November 3, 2010

Teaching Philosophy: Then and Now ThenNow SimpleMore complex Provide solid foundationProvide foundation, but build upward Construct own learningGuide learning No mention of parentsParents involved Set high expectationsSet expectations students can reach, then raise the bar Love what you do!Really love what you do!

Weekly Conference Forms Week One Week Four Week Eight Week Eleven

Professional Development Activities Training for “Respect and Responsibility” behavior management strategies RTI in staff trainings (2) – How to open an electronic point plan – How to select strategies – How to maintain a point plan Parent – teacher conferences

Required Artifact: Professional Organization Memberships Professional Association of Georgia Educators Member ID: Paid Thru Date: 08/16/2011 PAGE Membership

Communication and Letters to and from Parents Note to Parents: Study Guide Newsletter: SpanishNewsletters

Advice to Future Candidate Teachers Love what you do! Be prepared for anything and everything Stay organized Learn all you can Keep up to date on skills Don’t be afraid of technology Have a sense of humor Be yourself

Lists of school meetings attended (PTA, SST, Parent Conferences, etc.) Curriculum Night: August 24, 2010 Fall Festival October 9, 2010 PTA Meetings: August 2010, December 7, 2010 RTI Trainings: August 18, October 7, October 21, 2010 Parent Conferences: 11/1/10, 11/10/10 (2), 11/30/10 Grade Level Meetings: NotesNotes

Part III: Conclusion Candidate Teaching Experience

Required Artifacts: Continuing Plan to Develop as a Professional Educator In the future, I plan to: – Get my masters degree – Take the Special Education GACE – Continue the job search – Join the NEA (National Educators Association) and GAE (Georgia Association of Educators) – Continue to keep up with technology – Participate in online training opportunities such as Webinars

Future Challenges as a Teacher My future challenges will include: – Completing Report Cards and Progress reports – Preparing students for CRCT – Managing Inclusion – Working closely with other teachers

Differences between being a Candidate Teacher and a First-year Teacher As a teacher, I will: – Be solely responsible for student learning – Have no one to guide and correct me – Prepare lesson plans on my own – Not have advise from so many others – Need to show student growth – Need to keep growing professionally

My Funniest Teaching Moment