The first week of school is in the books for me, and it sure has been eventful! I went to Bethware for the Meet the Teacher night, and I fell in love with all my students and cannot wait to get into the classroom. This week in EDUC 435 we talked about all the expectations for the class, and what we have planned for the rest of the semester. I learned that we now are required to do a EdTPA instead of the big unit at the end of the semester. Apparently, almost all of the states have adopted EdTPA to be part of their way of hiring teachers. I think that this is a great idea, because now the teachers that just slide by, will actually have to prove that they can teach. However, this seems like it will be very helpful to helping us plan and reflect in the future.
Speaking of EdTPA, I figured that this would be a good blog to research EdTPA, and figure out what it is at a deeper level. First off, here is the website that you will need to register for EdTPA, and you can go here and learn a little more about it. http://www.edtpa.com/. "edTPA is a performance-based, subject-specific assessment and support system used by teacher preparation programs throughout the US to emphasize, measure and support the skills and knowledge that all teachers need from day 1 in the classroom" (edTPA) Therefore, this will be almost like a portfolio that we will create during student teaching. This portfolio will include 5 learning plans for Literature and Math. We will plan the lesson, record us teaching and assessing the lesson, and the reflect on the lesson. I also found this format online of a lesson, but I am not sure how true to the actual thing that it is. I posted the link at the bottom of the page.
I think that the edTPA hits on standard 3 of teachers know their content, and standard 5 of teachers reflect on their practice. Standard 3, because edTPA is making sure that teachers know their stuff, and can teach. Standard 5, because in edTPA we will have to reflect on the lesson that we planned and taught.
http://www.uccs.edu/Documents/coe/curriculum/TELP/UCCS%20edTPA%20Lesson%20Plan%20Format.pdf
http://www.edtpa.com/
I think you summed up EdTPA perfectly!!! The standards that you tied in with your blog were also on point. EdTPA just measures the practices that teacher are supposed to be doing anyway. I think this year is going to have a lot of challenges, but I cannot wait to see the rewards that are to come too! Here's to senior year and the best one at that!!
ReplyDeleteAmber,
ReplyDeleteI love your positive attitude, especially about edTPA! It will be so challenging, but will also help us see what we know, and where we are strong, as well as where we can make changes and continue to grow. It is SO exciting that you were able to meet your students this week! I meet mine today, and I am on the edge of my seat about it!! I cannot wait to see how we grow and change this semester. The best is yet to come!
-Meredith
Amber,
ReplyDeleteGreat research on edTPA and thanks for summing it up for everyone. We will continue to discuss it as the semester goes on, but you are right, it's a really good thing! I do not know about the lesson plan you shared, I will also have to research that further. I don't think edTPA has a specific format, but we will figure it out.
How did it go in your clinical setting? Looking forward to hearing about that, too!
Amber,
ReplyDeleteI like how you researched about edTPA! I also researched about it and learned a little bit more. This is something that we will have to be familiar with while student teaching since it is so new and we will be using it throughout the year. I agree with the standards that you related edTPA to! Through my research about edTPA, I determined that all five teaching standards can be used to relate to edTPA. I look forward to learning more about edTPA with you. Great Blog!
Amber, thanks for the information in edTPA! That will be helpful to all of us as we will become much more familiar with it this semester and next semester! I look edTPA like this- we are taking what we should already be doing as effective teachers and just documenting it in a way that proves that we are actually doing what we are supposed to! So, we share some of the same beliefs on it! You will have to let us know how meet the teacher night went for you! That is always so exciting and I love hearing how different people experience it! I am looking forward to following your journey this semester!
ReplyDelete