Standard+2

Home. Standard 1. Standard 2. Standard 3. Standard 4. Standard 5. Standard 6. Standard 7. Standard 8. Standard 9. Standard 10

The teacher understands how children with broad ranges of ability learn and provides instruction that supports their intellectual, social, and personal development.
 * Standard 2: // Knowledge of Human Growth and Development. // **


 * Evidence**

I developed this hybrid, online unit to increase participation when reading a class novel along with engaging students with technology. I have not actually taught the unit as stated in my blueprint but have used the online quizzes with Number the Stars and Edmodo with different books. The online quizzes were used to achieve immediate feedback as students took the quiz at home, recorded the score with a parent signature, and brought it to school each day. I was immediately able to determine how well students understood the novel before starting the activities each day. I could review for some if necessary or move along at a faster pace for others. The use of an online discussion forum, like Edmodo, increases the chances for students to participate in a discussion about the novel. Often teachers do not let students talk and discuss a novel for an appropriate length of time because of limited time in the school day. Using an online discussion forum, students are able to continue discussions that took place in the classroom or start new discussions based upon new thoughts or ideas that arise while reading. This also leaves more time in the classroom for differentiation opportunities. The online unit is important to me because I’ve observed that students react positively to the appropriate and structured use of technology. I initially did not structure the online discussion well and students did not respond well. Students did not use the forum for what I had intended. It ended up being a place to chat about everything but the novel. Students get excited about using technology but making sure it is used appropriately and effectively is what I gained from teaching elements of this unit. When the technology elements were used effectively I saw students engaged in discussion I had not previously seen in the classroom. High achieving students were helping lower achieving students with comprehension issues. Students came to class with a better understanding of what was read by reviewing the material immediately with the online quiz. Overall, student comprehension and participation increased compared to past years of teaching the same novel without the technology elements.
 * Rationale**


 * KSD:**

The creation of this unit demonstrates my understanding that students are social in nature and online discussion shows how I use this to promote learning both in and out of the classroom. By students taking the quiz at home all students were afforded an opportunity to complete the quiz at their own pace.
 * 2.K.1 The teacher understands how learning occurs -- how students construct knowledge, acquire skills, and develop habits of mind – and how to use instructional strategies that promote student learning for a wide range of student abilities.**

The creation of this unit gave me the opportunity to respond to all students and groups in class discussion. Online discussion gave me the opportunity to make comments, monitor thinking, and promote new ideas to all students which wouldn’t have been possible in a typical classroom setting.
 * 2.S.3 The teacher assesses students’ thinking and experiences as a basis for instructional activities (i.e., encouraging discussion, listening and responding to group interaction, and eliciting samples of student thinking orally and in writing).**

The creation of this unit gave me the opportunity to use students’ natural tendency to socialize to further the understanding of a novel being read in class. Most students would rather talk about a book than complete written work and with online discussion I can further monitor these discussions and provide proper guidance to all students.
 * 2.D.2 The teacher is disposed to use students’ strengths as a basis for growth, and their errors as an opportunity for learning**