ENTRY 1: Learner Development
The candidate understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate, relevant, and rigorous learning experiences.
The candidate should complete a reflective essay illustrating the development of the students under their supervision. Three artifacts are to be submitted and may include the Contextual Factors template, lesson plans, unit plans, video excerpts of teaching, and student feedback.
The candidate should complete a reflective essay illustrating the development of the students under their supervision. Three artifacts are to be submitted and may include the Contextual Factors template, lesson plans, unit plans, video excerpts of teaching, and student feedback.
Learners in our classrooms all grow and develop in different ways at different rates, and it is our job as educators to support them and ensure that they have everything they need through this time of growth. Catering to the individual is a challenge but one that is extremely necessary for students to achieve success.
As a teacher, I have studied the growth of students physical, cognitive, and musical, over their time in K-12 education. In my Introduction to Human Development course, we studied the physical changes that students experience such as the development of motor functions as well has how hormones and puberty affect students. In my Vocal Pedagogy class, and in my own time, I have researched the changing voice. In Educational Psychology, I gained a great deal of knowledge and insight about the cognitive and behavioral development of students. Lastly, I have studied the development of students as musicians.
In the elementary classroom, the concepts are more basic, but the lessons are written to fit around that specific age level. In the elementary setting, students learn best when taught whole-part-whole. In my student teaching, it became increasingly clear the role that teachers play in children's development on the social and emotional spectrums. Teaching children is not only teaching your content but also teaching them the appropriate way to interact with others and how to deal with a variety of situations.
Music courses at the secondary level are, more often than not, ensembles, it is more important than ever for teachers to develop learning experiences that are appropriate and rigorous for all students. It can be more difficult in an ensemble setting to differentiate instruction. This is why assessment is crucial at this level. For students to get what they need, in all aspects of education, the teacher must be able to assess their progress. In secondary, this means solo singing tests, providing opportunities for students to sing in smaller groups (i.e. sections, mixed groups, quartets, etc.), and giving students multiple modalities to learn their music (visually, aurally, kinesthetically) whenever possible.
I think it is important, regardless of age, for us to make an effort to reach each of our students on an individual level. They have different needs, different learning styles, and are each at different levels in their educational journey.
As a teacher, I have studied the growth of students physical, cognitive, and musical, over their time in K-12 education. In my Introduction to Human Development course, we studied the physical changes that students experience such as the development of motor functions as well has how hormones and puberty affect students. In my Vocal Pedagogy class, and in my own time, I have researched the changing voice. In Educational Psychology, I gained a great deal of knowledge and insight about the cognitive and behavioral development of students. Lastly, I have studied the development of students as musicians.
In the elementary classroom, the concepts are more basic, but the lessons are written to fit around that specific age level. In the elementary setting, students learn best when taught whole-part-whole. In my student teaching, it became increasingly clear the role that teachers play in children's development on the social and emotional spectrums. Teaching children is not only teaching your content but also teaching them the appropriate way to interact with others and how to deal with a variety of situations.
Music courses at the secondary level are, more often than not, ensembles, it is more important than ever for teachers to develop learning experiences that are appropriate and rigorous for all students. It can be more difficult in an ensemble setting to differentiate instruction. This is why assessment is crucial at this level. For students to get what they need, in all aspects of education, the teacher must be able to assess their progress. In secondary, this means solo singing tests, providing opportunities for students to sing in smaller groups (i.e. sections, mixed groups, quartets, etc.), and giving students multiple modalities to learn their music (visually, aurally, kinesthetically) whenever possible.
I think it is important, regardless of age, for us to make an effort to reach each of our students on an individual level. They have different needs, different learning styles, and are each at different levels in their educational journey.
ARTIFACT 1: Elementary Lesson Plan
A lesson plan using different instructional strategies to reach young students.
ARTIFACT 2: Elementary Teaching Unit
A unit using many instructional strategies to reach different types of learners throughout an entire unit.
ARTIFACT 3: Video of Teaching
A video of Morgan Higgins teaching a kindergarten class, using different instructional strategies to reach all students.