TEACHER QUALITY STANDARD II
Teachers establish a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment for a diverse population of students.
STANDARD II REFLECTION: My student teaching experience has provided me with encounters with students in both rural and suburban communities. At all of my placements, I have worked with students with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness and trauma, and students with marginalized identities. In addition to building relationships with students from all walks of life, I have become very practiced in implementing educational nuances into my classroom learning environment such as equitable grading practices, project-based learning, restorative justice systems for behavior management, open-classroom layouts, Inter Baccalaureate schools, and art educational philosophies such as choice-based education. I intend to translate all of these experiences into my teaching career when considering the diverse needs of my eventual students.
ELEMENT A: Teachers foster a predictable learning environment characterized by acceptable student behavior and efficient use of time in which each student has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults and peers.
Share Time at Beattie Elementary - While student-teaching at Beattie Elementary, I facilitated a daily reflective activity in which students shared their artwork at the end of every class period. In these share-time sessions, I always guided students' conversations with the same three questions: What do you see/notice about the artwork? What questions do you have for the artist? and What compliments do you have for the artist? Share-time was almost always a positive, critique-driven experience for the students because they receive feedback/compliments on their artwork, and they get to hear the thoughts and ideas of their teacher and peers.
ELEMENT B: Teachers demonstrate an awareness of, a commitment to, and a respect for multiple aspects of diversity while working toward common goals as a community of learners.
Community Mural Discussion/Slides - While student teaching at WMHS, students were ideating and exploring ideas for a community dumpster mural and a personal painting that was also based on community. To help the students broaden their thoughts and ideas, we looked at the work of local community muralist, Armando Silva. After watching videos of Silva's studio painting practice and his community-based work, I asked the students' inquiry questions such as, "What does this artwork tell you about this community?" and "How does the artist perceive community?" Students replied by explaining that they felt like they learned more about the Latiné community in Colorado. It was clear that students appreciated learning about another culture through this artist's work and considered how the idea of community could be interpreted as culture, opportunities, and hope.
ELEMENT C: Teachers engage students as individuals, including those with diverse needs and interests, across a range of ability levels by adapting their teaching for the benefit of all students.
Circle Mural with Integrated Art - While student-teaching at WMHS, I taught a class called Integrated Art. This class is comprised of students who receive services from the Independent and Learning Support department on a regular basis. It is called Integrated Art because there are also peer student helpers who take this class alongside the ILS students. In teaching this class, I have developed projects and curricula based on the needs of students who have disabilities, are able-bodied, and identify as neurodivergent and neurotypical. One of the projects that we have done to meet the needs of all students was the Circle Mural Project. In this project, students are challenged by collaboratively creating a mural by only using circles and round shapes. After completing the background, I asked the students to think of a word that embodied their experience in Integrated Art and they came up with the word equality.
ELEMENT D: Teachers work collaboratively with the families and/or significant adults for the benefit of students.
Magical Murals - While student-teaching at Cache La Poudre Elementary, I collaborated with the Parent Teacher Organization to install artwork all over the school for literacy night/book fair. Since the theme of the book fair was "Books Are Magical," I challenged over fifty 4th graders to collaboratively create four murals that embody their ideas surrounding magic and fantasy. After the students completed the murals, they were installed by the PTO.
