Standard 2: Learner Differences
The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that allow each learner to reach his or her full potential.
Artifact 1: Contextual Factors Analysis (CFA)
The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that allow each learner to reach his or her full potential.
Artifact 1: Contextual Factors Analysis (CFA)
Description: The Contextual Factors Analysis describes the community, district, school, and classroom factors of Noble High School in North Berwick, Maine. This paper required me to research information about all of these aspects and describe how they may affect the teaching and learning process. This assignment helps student teachers understand their students' backgrounds and what their home lives may be like.
Rationale: The CFA shows evidence that I met this standard in a few ways. The community factors section of the CFA showed me that my students do not come from very racially or linguistically diverse backgrounds. However, there is diversity in the families’ socioeconomic backgrounds and this can have a major effect on student’s individual learning differences. Another huge part of the assignment was administering and interpreting a multiple intelligence survey. This clearly shows individual learning differences. It is my job to then take this data and apply it to my design for instruction and make accommodations for specific students.
Artifact 2: Layered Curriculum
Rationale: The CFA shows evidence that I met this standard in a few ways. The community factors section of the CFA showed me that my students do not come from very racially or linguistically diverse backgrounds. However, there is diversity in the families’ socioeconomic backgrounds and this can have a major effect on student’s individual learning differences. Another huge part of the assignment was administering and interpreting a multiple intelligence survey. This clearly shows individual learning differences. It is my job to then take this data and apply it to my design for instruction and make accommodations for specific students.
Artifact 2: Layered Curriculum
Description: The summative assessment for this unit is achieved by the design and implementation of a “Layered Curriculum”. The layout of what the layered curriculum looks like can be seen above. The LC comes in three installments, each layer having a different due date. Each layer has a series of assessments that evaluate students on what they have learned. With each layer, the complexity of assessment increases. Layer A is very basic, consisting of multiple small assessments. Layer B consists of only one assessment, but with higher expectations. Layer C shows a student's deep understanding of the content.
Rationale: This artifact fits well with this standard because understanding learner differences plays a big role in designing a layered curriculum. It is important that the layered curriculum provides students with a wide variety of ways to show their learning. Students are left making the ultimate choices for their assessments which gives them freedom and a sense of ease. In the end, who understands each individual’s learning differences better than themselves?
Rationale: This artifact fits well with this standard because understanding learner differences plays a big role in designing a layered curriculum. It is important that the layered curriculum provides students with a wide variety of ways to show their learning. Students are left making the ultimate choices for their assessments which gives them freedom and a sense of ease. In the end, who understands each individual’s learning differences better than themselves?