Leading
Standards Addressed:
INTASC Standard 6 - Effective Communication Skills
INTASC Standard 7 - Instruction and Curriculum Planning
INTASC Standard 7 - Instruction and Curriculum Planning
Artifact 1 - Reality Check Unit
A couple weeks into the semester, our Cooperating Teacher (CT) came to us and said he had an idea for something to do with the homeroom class during their "study hall" time. He told us that most of his students have no concept of money or finances and he thinks they need some hands-on experience with finances. He left it up to us to create a semester-long unit on budgeting and money management that we would do once a week with the students. We have come together each week to design lessons that require students to pick a job, get paid, pay bills, and do other financial activities. This has been a great simulation activity to get students familiar with the financial aspect of life that they wouldn't usually learn in school.
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
reality_check_unit_plan.pdf | |
File Size: | 112 kb |
File Type: |
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
student_worksheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 43 kb |
File Type: |
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
information_sheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 81 kb |
File Type: |
Artifact 2 - Multi-Genre Project
As part of my Content Area Literacy class, we were required to design a multi-genre project for students to complete. This would serve as either an entire unit for students or as a supplementary tool for students to use during a unit. The focus of this project is on Similar Triangles, which are part of the High School Geometry Common Core Curriculum. This project involves many interactive activities that are engaging for students. The project culminates with a research paper that requires students to use what they have learned in the unit as well as research from other sources. This Multi-genre project can be found by clicking the "Multigenre Project" tab at the top of this webpage or by clicking the link below
Reflection
INTASC Standard 6 (Effective Communication Skills) involves the teacher using verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom. The Reality Check Unit (Artifact 1) was designed to get students familiar with the financial aspect of life as well as promote inquiry in the classroom. The students were to choose a career and a corresponding salary, which they would have to use to figure out bi-weekly income. The students would then use their knowledge to help guide the decisions that they would make throughout the rest of the simulated activity. The vagueness nature of the directions for these activities was meant to get students thinking and inquiring about how mathematics connects to real life. Through verbal, nonverbal, and media, students are able to express what they have learned throughout this unit. The Multi-genre project (Artifact 2) was designed to encourage students to learn using an inquiry-approach to learning. Students can use the various activities in the project to help them gain more knowledge and understanding of Similar Triangles. These two artifacts fit this standard because they are inquiry-based activities that foster collaboration and interaction in the classroom through verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques.
INTASC Standard 7 (Instruction and Curriculum Planning) requires the teacher to plan instruction based on knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals. The Reality Check Unit fits this standard because it is a comprehensive unit that was designed to cover many aspects of the curriculum. Although personal finance is not in the mathematics curriculum, there are a number of mathematical activities in this unit that are covered by the curriculum. The activities from one lesson draw on the previous one and help students get a complete understanding of how everything connects. The Multi-genre project helps students become "experts" on similar triangles by giving them a wide range of different activities dealing with similar triangles. All of the activities are aligned with Common Core standards and were designed to completely cover that aspect of the curriculum. This project fits into Standard 7 because it was planned with the curriculum goals, the subject matter, and the students in mind. It connects all parts of the curriculum and helps students gain a comprehensive understanding of Similar Triangles.
INTASC Standard 7 (Instruction and Curriculum Planning) requires the teacher to plan instruction based on knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals. The Reality Check Unit fits this standard because it is a comprehensive unit that was designed to cover many aspects of the curriculum. Although personal finance is not in the mathematics curriculum, there are a number of mathematical activities in this unit that are covered by the curriculum. The activities from one lesson draw on the previous one and help students get a complete understanding of how everything connects. The Multi-genre project helps students become "experts" on similar triangles by giving them a wide range of different activities dealing with similar triangles. All of the activities are aligned with Common Core standards and were designed to completely cover that aspect of the curriculum. This project fits into Standard 7 because it was planned with the curriculum goals, the subject matter, and the students in mind. It connects all parts of the curriculum and helps students gain a comprehensive understanding of Similar Triangles.