TEACHER QUALITY STANDARD II Teachers establish a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment for a diverse population of students
I am a huge advocate for classroom schedules and feel that students work well when they know what is expected of them and it is clearly spelled out. Each day that I taught, I created a daily schedule for the students of what they were going to do in order to know what was required for the day. I also believe that teaching goes beyond the classroom. For me, I knew that in order to build deeper relationships with my students, I needed to get involved with programs that represented the diverse student body we had at my high school. In that, I was able to facilitate and organize an art night for the Sisterhood club at Eaglecrest High School. Through facilitating this event, I made relationships and learned about the African American community at the school. I rate myself as proficient in this area because of the effort I made into getting to know the diverse population of students at the school as well as creating aids and templates for students with disabilities for each of my lessons.
ELEMENT A: Teachers foster a predictable learning environment characterized by acceptable student behavior and efficient use of time in which each student has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults and peers.
To ensure structure in my classroom and foster a predictable learning environment, I created daily class schedules. Each schedule list on the white board what the students were expected to complete each day.
ELEMENT B: Teachers demonstrate an awareness of, and commitment to, and a respect for multiple aspects of diversity, while working towards common goals as a community of learners.
Eaglecrest High School gave me the opportunity to demonstrate an awareness of and commitment to a diverse group of students. As I stated above, I participated in a "Sisterhood" night where I taught and mentored two presidents of the Sisterhood, representing the African American club, in teaching a mindful art activity to the African American community.
ELEMENT C: Teachers engage students as individuals, including those with diverse needs and interests, across a range of ability levels by adapting the teaching for the benefit of all students.
To reach the needs of all learners, I made templates for students with disabilities to trace over to complete the drawing and painting 2 assignment. Although the students were given templates to trace over, most of the assignment requirements and expectations remained the same.
ELEMENT D: Teachers work with families and/or significant adults in the lives of their students.
Displaying a child's artwork plays an important role in building the confidence of the learning artist as well as creating an opportunity for a relationship with parents. Every year Cherry Creek School District provides the opportunity to display student artwork at a local gallery and meet the parents of the students selected. Through my student teaching experience with Arrowhead Elementary School, I set up the students artwork at a local library for a district show.