PTS 2.

The teacher understands how individuals grow, develop and learn and provides
learning opportunities that support the intellectual, social, and personal development
of all students.

1. Write a paragraph explaining your knowledge and understanding of the standard—put the

standard into your own words.

The standard wants me to understand that students grow and learn in many different domains,

intellectual, social, and personal. Students need exposure to different types of learning and

teaching styles in order to cater to these different developmental domains. Especially thinking

about younger students, I know that many of these areas of development are extremely fragile

and responsive. As an educator, it is imperative that I understand the importance of student

development and growth, and provide opportunities for real-world, authentic experiences.

2. Explain how the artifact you chose demonstrates your understanding and application of the

standard.

The artifact I chose, a video of my teaching, is demonstrating my knowledge of how a classroom

of varying academic levels can be exercised, questioned, and engaged in many different ways.

The video introduces a weather unit that I created during my student teaching takeover. I used

technology resources such as SMART Notebook and SMARTBoard to enhance instruction and

build upon student background knowledge. This video demonstrates my ability to “Stimulate

student reflection on prior knowledge and links new ideas to already familiar ideas and

experiences.”

3. A If the artifact has been used in your practice, reflect on how your teaching will change in

the future to further meet the standard.

B. If the artifact has not been used in your practice, i.e., a class assignment, reflect upon how
your teaching will be impacted by the assignment.

The artifact is an example of my teaching; therefore I believe that being able to personally reflect

on my own teaching and see how the students are responding, I am able to weigh in on changes

in my practice. I know that having a diverse classroom with many diverse needs requires

constant evaluation and reflection on my part. As students grow and develop intellectually,

socially, physically, I need to be creating opportunities for them to foster their learning. I believe

that through teaching in diverse ways and using as many resources as possible, I can better

understand how children grow and develop.

4. Conclude with a paragraph discussing how you are more prepared to Teach and Learn in a

Diverse Society as a result of satisfactorily meeting the standard.

There are going to be many outside circumstances that additionally contribute to children’s

growth and development, but as an individual who will be in my students’ lives more than 40

hours a week, for some even more than their parents. I need to be able to understand how these

growths and developments play a role in the teaching and learning of my students. In being able

to reflect on my teaching and how my students respond to both what I have to offer academically

and emotionally for my students.