Reflection The Artifact that I chose to represent the Teaching Standard Three: Planning for Differentiated Instruction is my investigative

lesson plan that I taught and then after assessment and improvement, I extended the learning. This artifact demonstrates the characteristics defined in Knowledge Indicator D and F and Performance Indicator B. I chose this initial investigative lesson, and then the extension lesson to represent this standard because it demonstrates the success that comes from collaboration and evaluation. This artifact is representative of Knowledge Indicator D and Performance Indicator B. When the initial lesson was complete, I reviewed the aspects that went well and what things could have been improved. I evaluated the outcome of the lesson and what the students gained from participating. I discussed and assessed whether or not the students successfully reached the short-term and long-term goals for the lesson. Before I created the lesson, I thought about my students and created my short-term and long-term goals. I wanted the class to investigate how colors are formed. My short-term goal for the lesson was to have the children understand that mixing colors will resort in a new color. My long-term goal was for the students to be able to apply learnings from a secondary source. The goals were successfully achieved and demonstrated by the student work. When I asked the students how they reached certain colors they were able to tell me which colors they used to create the new one. I reviewed the students conversations and work. There were aspects that I could have improved upon, but after reflection I concluded that the students understood the short terms goals I planned for them. They grasped the ideas behind mixing colors and new colors forming. For an effective follow up lesson it was important to continue the investigation, so the children could reach the long-term goal of understanding colors. I continued with an extension of this lesson to enhance what they learned and continue the investigation of colors by investigating the different shades of colors and how to create them. Teachers must recognize when and how to extend the lesson so that the students learning is enhanced rather than repeated, and so that all of the goals of the original lesson can be achieved. The artifact is also representative of Knowledge Indicator F. In order to be a competent teacher and create an effective investigative lesson, one must work with others to adapt and modify instruction to design learning experiences that meet needs of curriculum and children. I tried to create a lesson that would inspire the students to deepen their thinking and investigate a new topic. I worked with the masterful teachers surrounding me so that I could create a teacher-driven lesson, which enhanced the students thinking, and investigation. My mentor was the first to offer guidance. We brainstormed methods to further the students investigations and scratched ideas that didnt offer the learning we were hoping for. A good investigative lesson asks a question that the students have to investigate. They are using their senses and questioning what they know and want to figure out. Knowing that I wanted to investigate primary colors, my mentor and I explored the possibilities of this investigation. I worked with my own art teacher from the University of Illinois next. She offered guidance to make sure that I incorporated as many of the senses as possible. My lesson was almost complete, but she offered small suggestions to enhance the childrens learning. The suggestions given to me made my lesson more successful and I noticed this while teaching. I also worked with my cooperating teacher so that I could cater my lesson to the individual students and make it more student-focused. She gave me suggestions for how to manage the classroom while they were painting. This lesson demonstrates strides Ive made as a teacher because I am more informed and aware of how important it is to ask questions and use the answers to best fit the needs of my students and myself. I have learned how to collaborate and evaluate my work and then put it into effect afterwards. As I continue to develop as a novice teacher its important to be able to reflect on my work. Through this lesson sequence I was able to extend the students learning because of the useful suggestions given to me, and the observational data I gathered. By developing these lessons I was able to have my own investigation. I evaluated myself first so that I could eventually understand what I wanted to observe in the student work and responses. I created student anticipatory responses, and my own expected dialogue so that I could prepare myself for a teacher-driven, student- focused investigation. To be an effective teacher it is crucial to be aware of the students in the classroom and cater the lesson to them. By working with other classroom teachers, and school specialists, I was able to understand how to co- plan a lesson specifically designed to

create new learning experiences and investigation for the students.