Welcome to my Showcase! This is a collection of work that represents my learning and growth throughout my time in Michigan State University's Master of Arts in Education Program. My primary focus in this program was to grow as a literacy teacher and further my journey as an educator. Here you will find samples of my work that highlight important aspects of teaching and assessing literacy and differentiating instruction.
Showcase
Literacy Work
Differentiated Instruction
Journal Reflection
Studying concepts of educational inquiry, I became aware of a very important way of inquiry: self-reflection. Studying Vivian Paley through a variety of essays, Talk is Not Enough, and books, The Girl with the the Brown Crayon, I learned of the significance in self-reflection for professional development and the benefits for both teacher and student in the classroom.
Literacy Learner Analysis
Working with a student I was able to take a closer look at their literacy abilities and areas of struggle. I chose a variety of assessments and used the data to drive my instruction and help him grow as literacy learner. In my final Case Study, you will read why I chose which assessments, what strategies and lessons I used to work with the student, and the growth of the student after individual instruction.
Intervention
This Power Point was created to explore principles and techniques for classroom and behavioral management in the inclusive classroom. It describes the importance and rational of School Wide Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support while also providing key ideas, strategies, and evaluation techniques.
Balancing Technology
This autobiographical essay gives insight to how applications of inquiry can transform educational practices. While learning how to live and work with new information and communications technologies, I reflect on how I will use technology in my classroom and the impacts the digital age has on the future of education.
African American Literature
While critically examining literacy classics and award books for children, I also explored how a variety of cultures are portrayed, often times incorrectly, in children’s literature. Focusing my studies on readings and teachings of the African American community, I created a website that displayed knowledge of African American Language, The Civil Rights Movement, and various children’s literature where I created a variety of lesson plans focusing on these remarkable stories.
Analyzing Student Data
Analyzing student data, I was able to learn how to use data successfully to modify instruction. While studying Assessments for Reading Instruction by McKenna and Stahl and exploring best teaching practices in Best Practices in Literacy Instruction by Gambrell & Morrow, my knowledge of effective reading assessments advanced as well as my ability to shape individualized instruction.
Literature and Film
In this paper, I compared the children’s classic Where the Wild Things Are to the film version. I was able to grasp the idea of fidelity to the original and the interconnection between text and film. As a story created of only nine sentences and many images, this essay focuses on my understanding of the power of imagery.
Prevention
This Power Point looks into the importance of prevention as a School Wide Behavioral Intervention and Support strategy. I look into how effective time management, lesson presentation, classroom management, seat work management, and home communication can be to preventing disruptive behaviors from occurring in the classroom.
*Images on this page courtesy of WIX.