School of Education Portfolio

University of Wisconsin Platteville

Artifact Reflection
Title of Experience/Artifact:

Pre-Student Teaching (Lancaster School District) Time Sheet/ Emails

Date Experience Completed:

Fall 2014

Describe your educational experience/artifact:

The artifacts that I am using for this standard are my emails between my cooperating teacher and
me along with my time sheet for pre-student teaching hours. My pre-student teaching experience
is at the Lancaster School District with Zach Chambers who teaches Elementary and Middle
School level students. The best way for us to communicate is by email, because we only see each
other once a week. Our emails discuss the meeting times and lesson plans that need to be taught
in his classroom.
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment

I believe this artifact aligns with standard ten. The standard 10 of the Wisconsin Teacher
Development and Licensure Standard states: The teacher fosters relationships with school
colleagues, parents and agencies in the larger community to support students learning and wellbeing. While completing my pre-student teaching hours I had many different experiences to
teach in a variety of environments. I stayed in close contact with my cooperating teacher and my
practicum professor to make sure everything was going as planned. When I started my hours at
the Lancaster School District I observed a few classes, but after getting to know the set-up I
started actively working with the students. Before I taught a lesson I communicated with Zach on
what I should teach and suggestions that he had for me, and I would also show him my lesson
plan before I taught it. I needed to communicate with Zach prior to teaching my lesson, because I
needed to make sure it was an appropriate level for the student. While pre-student teaching I
always make sure whatever I do is approved by Zach, because it is his actual class. By
completing my pre-student teaching hours I have made multiple good relationships with different
teachers and students.
UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skills, Dispositions Alignment

I believe this experience aligns with SD4.d, which states: The candidate is able to assume a
leadership role among colleagues and is supportive and cooperative with peers and volunteers,
and serves as a participant and leader in school events and school and district projects. I feel
that my pre-student teaching hours were a great contribution to the Lancaster School District.
Since they have a 6-day rotation schedule I got to meet most of the classes and made an impact
on those students. I make impacts by handling conflicting situations between students or playing
with them during the lesson. The students really enjoy when I come in and help teach especially
when I play the games with them. I started about by observing the classes, but eventually moved
on to teaching them lessons. The students looked like they enjoyed having a different teacher
come in once and a while and have a change from their original scheduled teacher.
Secondary Alignments:
KS3.a. Communicates clearly and accurately
KSD4.e. Grows and develops professionally

Explain what you learned about teaching/learning from this experience:

Throughout this experience, I learned how important it is create a relationship with your
cooperating teacher. Collaboration is a key part in maintaining a relationship between teachers
and students. When you come into a new district, you want to try to keep the same classroom
management plan as your cooperating teacher, so the students are familiar with their roles. When
I started my student teaching experience I observed how Zach ran his classroom at different age
levels, so when it was my chance to teach I could use the same set up. I felt that I needed to use
the same set up that he did, because it was not my classroom. Once I become a student teacher or
a teacher on my own then I can change the set up to how I feel it works best for me. I also
learned how significant it is to formulate quality relationships with the students, parents,
communities, and colleagues. While I was teaching, I got to experience how important it is to
have your colleagues support you as you are beginning your teaching career. As a future teacher
I need to show my colleagues how I can be competent in my work, so I can use them as a
reference for future teaching jobs. Zach told me on my last day that he saw me grow
professionally throughout the short time I spent with him. I always asked him questions to check
for understand or to clarify my thoughts on teaching. If you are working well with your
colleagues then your students will respect you more. The students I worked with during my
experience really enjoyed me coming back, because I got to know them personally and make
their day. My students really enjoyed seeing me, because I would make the games more
enjoyable than the regular day to day set-up.

Explain what you learned about yourself as a prospective educator as a result of this
experience/artifact:

As a result of this experience, I learned that I can create many different relationships when you
enter a new school district. I feel that I have fairly good communication skills and keeping on top
of my duties that need to be completed. Since it was not my classroom I always had my lesson
plans checked over by him first. But, I also realized that my anxiety level is still too high to teach
my lessons to the best of my ability. My students that I teach will look up to me as a role model,
so I have to stay relaxed and show them that I am comfortable teaching to them. My cooperating
teacher will also want to see that I am comfortable coming into their classroom and working with
their students. I will always remember that collaboration is a key component on being a
proficient teacher.