Subject Specific Pedagogy Task 1

Multiple Subject Credential Program

Division of Curriculum and Instruction

Charter College of Education

This Task Assesses Your Knowledge of:

• Discipline-specific teaching strategies (TPE 1)

• Engaging and supporting student learning (TPE 4, 6, 7)

– How do you make content accessible to all students?– In what ways is your instruction developmentally appropriate?– How does your instruction support English language learners?– How does your instruction support a special needs child?

• Interpreting and using assessments (TPE3)

• Planning instruction (TPE 9)

The Task Includes Four Case Studies

Each case study is organized into two parts:

1. You are given: CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION e.g. learning goals, objectives, unit overview, a

teacher’s dilemma, description of a class or a child …

2. You are asked: QUESTIONS that prompt you to - plan a lesson - critique an assessment plan - identify parts of a lesson that might be challenging for a child - suggest modifications to lessons for an English learner and a special needs learner

Case Study 1Subject-Specific and Developmentally

Appropriate Pedagogy

Contextual Information:

The lesson takes place in a second grade classroom

The subject matter is language arts

The case study requires you to plan a reading and language arts lesson on setting.

In a Nutshell

• This case study asks for standards-based mini lessons

• Can you plan a lesson that meets students’ needs and the (reading/language arts) content standards

HELPFUL HINTSMake sure you …

• plan a lesson that includes BOTH reading and writing

• look carefully at the state adopted academic standards for the lesson

• look at the Goals for the Learning Experience

• plan a lesson for second grade students (developmental needs are given)

Responding to Questions for Case Study 1

• The first part of the case study asks you to describe the instructional strategies (what the teacher does) and the student activities (what the students do during your lesson).

• Remember to include the instructional resources (books, children’s books, children’s journals, etc.) in this part of the response

Responding to Questions for Case Study 1 (cont’d)

• In the second part of this response, you are asked if your plans are appropriate for this specific class.– You must consider the description of the

students that is provided– Think about the developmental needs of the

students (hint: also look at the time of year, the needs to the students to learn content in different ways and to revisit content)

Case Study 2Assessment Practices

Contextual Information:The lesson takes place in a third grade classroomThe subject matter is mathematicsAn assessment plan, content standards and learning goals

are presented.A teacher’s dilemma about the assessment plan is

presentedThe case study requires you to review the plan and explain

how the teacher could use an alternative assessment (provided). How does this new plan improve the plan and address the teacher’s dilemma?

In a Nutshell

In the area of mathematics:Can you determine whether assessments are appropriate

for learning goals?• Can you recommend appropriate assessments of

– different types?– different time periods (e.g. formative, progress

monitoring, summative)?• Can you use assessment for feedback and to inform

instruction?

Helpful HintsMake sure you …

• understand the following terms: formative assessment, progress monitoring, and summative assessment

• notice that you are asked to use a supplementary resource to improve the teacher’s assessment plan. Be sure to read the additional information and respond as asked.

In a Nutshell

In the area of mathematics:Can you determine whether assessments are appropriate

for learning goals?• Can you recommend appropriate assessments of

– different types?– different time periods (e.g. formative, progress

monitoring, summative)?• Can you use assessment for feedback and to inform

instruction?

Responding to Questions for Case Study 2

• The first part of the case study asks you to identify a strength and a weakness of the assessment plan. Be sure to relate the strength and weakness to the learning goals

• READ carefully the additional assessment that is provided for answering question 2 in this case study

• Plan an additional assessment that is appropriate for third grade students AND relates to the learning goals.

Responding to Questions for Case Study 2 (Cont’d)

• Think about the goals of the additional assessment

• Decide if the assessment is a formative assessment, a progress monitoring assessment or a summative assessment

• Be sure you understand the term “feedback” when responding to this case

• Think about how the additional assessment would inform instruction? (how would it help the teacher know if the students understand the concept?)

Case Study 3Adaptation of Subject-Specific Pedagogy for

English LearnersContextual Information:

The lesson takes place in a fourth grade classroom.

The subject matter is science.

The student is a 10-year-old English learner (CELDT results indicate an overall score of Early Intermediate range)

In a Nutshell

• This case study asks you to identify the needs of this specific English learner.

• You must then recommend appropriate strategies for English acquisition and content acquisition.

• You must also recommend progress monitoring strategies appropriate for the English learner

Helpful HintsMake sure you …

• Examine the content standards and learning goals (provided)

• Review the plans for the first two days of the unit (provided)

• Analyze the information provided about Elena (description, CELDT scores, writing sample, transcript of his oral language)

Responding to Questions for Case Study 3

• You must identify one instructional strategy in the lesson plan that could be challenging for this student.

• Carefully review the lesson plan AND the description of the student so that your response shows the relationship between the student’s needs and the goals of the lesson.

Responding to Questions for Case Study 3 (Cont’d)

• Plan an adaptation for the lesson that would be appropriate for this student AND would help the student reach the learning goals of the lesson.

• Be sure you understand “progress monitoring” and how it relates to your adaptation.

• Plan what you would do next. (Be sure to relate your answer to the description of the student.)

Case Study 4Adaptation of Subject-Specific Pedagogy for

Students with Special Needs

Contextual Information:

The lesson takes place in a fourth grade classroom.

The subject matter is history/social studies (The Gold Rush)

Alex has a specific disability in reading/language arts, has asthma and self isolates.

In a Nutshell

• This case study requires you to identify potential instructional challenges for a student with specific disabilities.

• You will recommend appropriate instructional adaptations.

• You will recommend appropriate progress monitoring strategies for the student with special needs.

Helpful HintsMake sure you …

• Examine the content standards and learning goals (provided)

• Review the plans for days 2-4 of the unit (provided)

• Analyze the information provided about Alex (language/literacy development, health, interaction patterns, special services)

Responding to Questions for Case Study 4

• The first question in the case study asks you to identify an instructional strategy or student activity that could be challenging for this specific student. You must then write an adaptation.

• The second question asks you to identify an additional instructional strategy or student activity that considers another learning need of the student.

• Remember – you need to identify two strategies/activities and two learning needs to complete this question.

Responding to Questions for Case Study 4 (Cont’d)

• In each case, you must consider how your adaptations will assist Alex in making progress toward the learning goals of the lesson – be sure to mention to specific goals of the lesson you are addressing.

• Plan a clear, relevant progress monitoring assessment that you could use in this case.

Please Remember:

You must upload your complete responses to this task by the due date.

Print out the completion certificate and the statement of authenticity.

Sign the statement of authenticity.Return the statement of authenticity and the

completion certificate to your course instructor.

For further information, contact

Dr. Kimberly Persiani

KH A 3034; 323-343-4461