Educators understand and apply knowledge of student growth and development.
Standard 3 means that educators learn to tailor their lessons and assignments in an applicable way for the grade and age as well as make them culturally appropriate. That means adapting lessons to your students because not all of them will be at grade level in their learning. As an educator, you need to teach lessons that are grade/age appropriate for the students but you also need to further their learning so that they can move on to the next grade comfortably. Part of teaching lessons that are appropriate for your students is being able to assess them both individually and as a group to know where they are at. It is important to teach what the students are interested in as well because then they will be invested in their learning.
The artefact I have for this standard is a picture of the capes I made for my students for their 100s day during my practicum. It was applicable to their age and grade level because a lot of elementary classes celebrate being in school for 100 days, but it is especially noted in kindergarten. It is their first full year being students so 100 days of school is a big deal for them. It was of interest to the class because they were so excited for 100s day. One of the first things they did each day was go to the calendar and count down how many more days there were till 100. I told them they were going to be 100s day superhero’s and the students were very happy to have their own cape to wear at the end of the lesson. Each student got a cape and 10 sheets of 10 stickers. They got to put their 100 stickers wherever they wanted on the cape.
This artefact reflects the standard because it was very much age and grade appropriate. It was a fun way to celebrate their 100s day and they had been looking forward to it. Because they were so excited about 100s day it was easy to get them interested in the lesson. I was able to assess each student on their skills in counting to 10 and to 100 through the use of the sticker sheets. I also assessed them as a group in our discussion before the lesson. Overall, it was a fun lesson for the class that I enjoyed teaching and it reinforced some number concepts as well.