Title: Interactive Lesson Plans

Date: March, 2013

Artifact description:
My artifacts for this experience include two lesson plans I have developed for two separate classes. One
of the lessons allowed students to create a map of a town and relate it to a real life situation. In this
activity students worked as a group to see the negative and positive effects the destruction of an
environment can have on a town and area. In the other lesson, students use a variety of reading
strategies to learn terms and ideas associated with a rising issue in Wisconsin.

Alignment
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment
This experience best aligns with standard four of the Wisconsin Teacher Development and Licensure
Standards which states: The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to
encourage students development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance standards.
This experience aligns with standard four because these artifacts display a variety of instructional
strategies to instruct the students. In both lessons, I connected the material to everyday situations. The
first lesson, I use grouping for students to work as a team to reach their goal. While working as a team,
they still must think critically of their decisions and choices. In the other lesson, I use independent
reading for students to gain knowledge. Though this lesson does use interaction amongst students, it
uses more independent thinking. The variety of these lessons shows that I understand and can provide
adaptations for areas of exceptionality in learning including learning disabilities, visual, and perceptual
difficulties. I hold the students to a high standard of critical thinking and these lessons show that I am
persistent in helping all students achieve this. I am able to identify and design instruction appropriate to
students stages of development, learning styles, strengths, and needs.

UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, Disposition Statement Alignment
This experience best aligns with KSD3.b. which states a teacher uses discussion and questioning
techniques. Through these lessons one can see that I use many different discussion and questioning
techniques to instruct and assess the students. Through focus questions, I am able to formatively assess
students throughout an entire lesson. With large group work, it creates a grand discussion in the
classroom. In the organic farming lesson, students are able to use smaller groups at their tables to
discuss what they have learned. Through these small groups, students will ask each other questions
which allows me to assess them without even asking them questions. Students are able to gain new
knowledge through these different techniques.

Secondary Alignment:
KSD1.b. Demonstrating Knowledge of Students
KSD2.b. Establishing a Culture for Learning
KSD3.c. Engaging Students in Learning

Reflection
What I learned about teaching/learning:
I learned that it is very important for students to be engaged in the learning in a variety of ways. All
students learn differently and require unique instruction strategies to learn. Every student is capable of
thinking at a critical level they simply need the proper instruction to achieve their full capabilities. A
variety of instructional strategies are beneficial for instructors as well. With a variety of strategies,
educators can best communicate the content to the students along with keeping the students engaged.
Using these strategies makes the educator better as well.

What I learned about myself as a prospective educator:
I learned that by using these different strategies it makes me a more effective educator. Instead of
using one or two simple strategies, I now can use many different strategies to instruct the students. This
is the most beneficial for the students. I also learned that I enjoy using all of these strategies in lessons.
Not only does it make educating more exciting for me but it also keeps the students engaged and
interested in the lessons. Seeing every student benefit and reach the highest level of thinking through
the use of these strategies is very rewarding. Assessing students is much easier when using a variety of
strategies as well. The variety of strategies allows me to see exactly what the students retained and
what they did not.