Standard #4: Content Knowledge
Artifact #1: Vocabulary Foldables
Essential Knowledge 4(l): Knows and uses the academic language of the discipline and knows how to make it accessible to learners.
Description: During my Teacher Work Sample unit, one of the activities we did was make a vocabulary foldable. Because the chapter was vocabulary heavy and the later sections build on the earlier ones. I needed to be sure that the language was not going to be a barrier to understanding. Students defined the words in their own words, using their translators when they needed to, as well as drew pictures that represented what the word was describing mathematically.
Rationale: Being in a classroom that is majority ELL, activities like this one were frequent. Having students spend time in class verifying their knowledge and practicing their vocabulary helps them break down the barrier that language can be. Being consistent with my own use of the mathematical terms plays a huge role in that.
Essential Knowledge 4(l): Knows and uses the academic language of the discipline and knows how to make it accessible to learners.
Description: During my Teacher Work Sample unit, one of the activities we did was make a vocabulary foldable. Because the chapter was vocabulary heavy and the later sections build on the earlier ones. I needed to be sure that the language was not going to be a barrier to understanding. Students defined the words in their own words, using their translators when they needed to, as well as drew pictures that represented what the word was describing mathematically.
Rationale: Being in a classroom that is majority ELL, activities like this one were frequent. Having students spend time in class verifying their knowledge and practicing their vocabulary helps them break down the barrier that language can be. Being consistent with my own use of the mathematical terms plays a huge role in that.
Artifact #2: Logarithm Books
Performance 4(b): Engages students in learning experiences in the discipline that encourages learners to understand, question, and analyze ideas from diverse perspectives so that they master the content.
Description: Students were creating a resource book on the material we covered in our unit on logarithms. They were designing books that would help other students be able to understand the material. They all went about this in different ways, some used only the textbook as their resource, but others reached out and used the internet to find proofs and examples that were different than what is in their books or what we discussed in class.
Rationale: This project encouraged students to reach out and find material on this topic that was outside of what we discussed in class and what is in their textbook. They needed to be able to understand the material deeply in order to present the material in a creative and individual way in their books, so this project also encouraged students understanding the material beyond a superficial level.
Performance 4(b): Engages students in learning experiences in the discipline that encourages learners to understand, question, and analyze ideas from diverse perspectives so that they master the content.
Description: Students were creating a resource book on the material we covered in our unit on logarithms. They were designing books that would help other students be able to understand the material. They all went about this in different ways, some used only the textbook as their resource, but others reached out and used the internet to find proofs and examples that were different than what is in their books or what we discussed in class.
Rationale: This project encouraged students to reach out and find material on this topic that was outside of what we discussed in class and what is in their textbook. They needed to be able to understand the material deeply in order to present the material in a creative and individual way in their books, so this project also encouraged students understanding the material beyond a superficial level.