Domain 1 - Task 4

There are six components to Domain 1 - Planing and Preparation and the component which I am most comfortable with is "E" ~Designing Coherent Instruction. I believe that I am capable of translating the learning outcomes to the students in a way which they can best understand. I know what type of learner each student is and the can plan accordingly to get the desired results. I like to quesiton my students and have them explain to me what they know about a problem or equation before they begin to solve the problem. The question helps the students really think about what they know and have learned and how this knowledge can get them to the next level. However, the hardest part of this component is the depth of knowledge for the content. I feel that the hardest part of being a special education teacher is the need to have knowledge in all content areas.

The one thing I really enjoy at Grant County is there are 7 special education teachers, which are equally separated in 2 for 9th, 10th, and 11th grades (there is only 1 - 12th grade teacher). Each pairing divides the content; for example- I teach only Geometry and Math Development in a resource setting and collaborate in Geometry classes. Math Development is used as a prep class for KCCT, with flashbacks, reteaching, and reviewing, making sure students are firm on specific concepts. I do collaborate in one Science class, which I am weak so I do alot of common planning with that teacher. My partner, Ms. Howard, teaches English III, collaborates in English III and collaborates in one U. S. History class. This same example can be viewed in the Freshman and Sophomore academies. Once students get to 12th grade Ms. Southworth teaches and collaborates English IV, currently we are unsure how next year will development (Next year all 12th graders will need 4 math credits to graduate).

Having the content classes broken down in academies and teacher separate give the opportunity to develop a more indepth knowledge of a specific content area.

It is "component E" that ties all the instruction together. According to Danielson, this component is where, "teachers' knowledge of the content, knowledge of students, clarity of instructional outsomes and knoweldge of resources come together" (p. 57).

Snow Ball Dance

On Sat., Feb. 13, my daughter, Caitlin, attended her first Snowball Dance, at Walton Verona Middle School. I wanted to share her picture, because she looked absolutely beautiful. Normally she is a tomboy with blue jeans and t-shirts, so she felt a little out of her element. ENJOY!!