Patrick Ralph

460 Monroe St
Platteville, WI 53818
Phone: 956-357-3226
Email: ralphp@uwplatt.edu

Educator profile:
PDP term: 5 years
Month/Year PDP Submitted for Goal Approval (Initial Educators Only):
Month/Year Plan Submitted for PDP Verification: 2013-2014
Years of educational experience: 1
License File Number: 000000
License Expiration Date: 6/30/2019
School district: Mineral Point Unified School District
Current educational assignment: Second Grade Teacher
Years in current assignment: 1
Present Licensure Stage: Initial
Licensure stage sought: Professional Educator
Professional Licensure Categories: Teacher
Professional Development Plan
Step I: Self-reflection
Fulfilling my pre-student teaching clinical experience at Mineral Point Elementary School has
allowed growth in areas critical to my future teaching success. My self confidence, level of
professionalism, and knowledge of current teaching practices have benefited tremendously from
this pre-service experience.
Perhaps the most important teaching aspect now engrained in my head is frequently, constantly,
consistently, and with intensity. Im referring to everything: instruction, inquiry, and inspiration.
These endeavors are in dire need of being fulfilled by a teacher who understands education
(learning) as a lifestyle, not a job. Plenty of teachers are good simply because of classroom
management, but the true difference-makers endear teaching as a lifestyle. Ive been incredibly
fortunate to have been paired with a teacher of this background.
It is thanks to my cooperating teacher that I have had the opportunity to be involved with lesson
planning and instruction every day. This allowed for first-hand practice with instruction of the
materials 2nd grade students are required to learn. Mrs. Denise Gorgen takes time to know and
understand her students, exuding confidence in them (just as they reverberate faith towards her
practices). Ive tried my hardest to take away as many positives from her teaching style as I can,
like her confidence, and incorporate them into my ever-changing mold.
My faith in my own teaching abilities has increased. I understand that good teaching isnt some
milestone one reaches; its the constant search for inspiration, inquiry, and instruction within
the classroom. If I chase improvement in this fashion, I will continue to make strides in my life
and the lives of my future students.

Step II A. Description of School and Teaching,
Administrative, or Pupil Services Situation
Description of Position
I am currently teaching second grade at Mineral Point Elementary School in Mineral Point, WI.
Number of Years in Position
1 year
School Location/Setting
Mineral Point Unified School District encompasses all the City of Mineral Point, parts of the
Iowa County towns of Mineral Point, Linden, Mifflin and Waldwick, and parts of the Lafayette
County towns of Kendall, Fayette and Willow Springs. The district is one of forty-eight unified
school districts in Wisconsin having changed from a city system in 1962. A total of thirty-four
rural school districts consolidated over the years into what now comprises the Mineral Point
School District an area of about 150 miles. The district operates two schools including the
Mineral Point Elementary School. A new middle/high school facility was opened in 1996. The
school district employs many teachers, administrators, and full-time or part-time educational
assistants.
Demographics
There are currently 366 students enrolled at Mineral Point Elementary School. 95% are white,
4% are Hispanic, and less than 1% make up African American, Asian, and Native American.
12% of students enrolled in the school have a disability and perform at some level with the
regular classroom. 1% of the students have limited proficiency in English and 31% of students
are considered to be economically disadvantaged.
District Goals
The following are Mineral Point Unified School District goals in the 2014-2015 school year:
Educational partnerships involving community members, families, students, and staff
Student achievement, personal growth, and lifelong learning
A safe, supportive, and accepting environment in which to learn.

Step II B. Description of Goal to be Addressed
Goal:
I will research and apply strategies for integrating curriculum across the curriculum so that my
students will receive instructional lessons that are conected in nature and real-world experiences.

Step II C. Rationale for the Goal: Links to Professional
Situation and Wisconsin Educator Standards
Goal:
I will research and apply strategies for integrating curriculum across the curriculum so that my
students will receive instructional lessons that are conected in nature and real-world experiences.
Rationale for your Goal:
Mineral Point Unified School District have taken initiative in Science, Engineering,
Technological and Mathematics (STEM) education with Project Lead The Way. Project Lead
The Ways (PLTW) elementary program, where students from kindergarten through fifth grade
learn important, future-changing lessons, has been embraced by Mineral Point Elementary
School. It is through these initiatives in which I wish to integrate multiple subject areas into
dynamic and critical lesson connections.
By incorporating multiple subject areas into as many lessons as possible, students will no longer
feel their learning is isolated to a singular content direction. PLTW calls for more critical level
thinking instruction (regarding STEM subjects) within schools. With more and more time
allocated for specifica English Language Arts and Mathematics instruction, it is critical to
integrate science, social studies and other subjects into the core subject categories. I plan to
incorporate a variety of teaching strategies and lesson techniques to identify the most astute
method of making connections across my entire curriculum.
Licensure standard(s) addressed in your plan:
Teacher:(1) The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures
of the disciplines he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these
aspects of subject matter meaningful for pupils.
Teacher:(4) The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies,
including the use of technology to encourage children's development of critical thinking,
problem solving, and performance skills.
Teacher:(6) The teacher uses effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques
as well as instructional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration and
support interaction in the classroom.
Teacher:(7) The teacher organizes and plans systematic instruction based upon
knowledge of subject matter, pupils, the community and curriculum goals.
Teacher:(9) The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effect
of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning
community and others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.

Step II D. Plan for Assessing and Documenting the Goal
Goal:
I will research and apply strategies for integrating curriculum across the curriculum so that my
students will receive instructional lessons that are conected in nature and real-world experiences.
I will assess my professional growth through:
Keeping a professional journal documenting anecdotal records of positive and negative
experiences with my integrated lessons
Reflecting on the integrated lessons I write and perform to document how I am
progressing through teaching strategies
Continued notes and collaborative notes from colleagues and supervisors
I will assess my students' progress through:
Continual assessments on student knowledge, regarding multiple curriculum areas, used
to inform instruction
Short, parent and student questionnaire filled out during parent-teacher conferences
Notes from weekly conferences with students
Smarter Balanced assessment scores (all subject areas will be analyzed and
documented).


Step II E. Plan to Meet the Goal: Objectives, Activities,
Timeline, and Plan for Collaboration
Goal:
I will research and apply strategies for integrating curriculum across the curriculum so that my
students will receive instructional lessons that are conected in nature and real-world experiences.
Objective:
I will increase my knowledge and understanding of implementing multiple areas of curriculum
into a connected lesson.
Activities Timelines Collaboration Completed
Implementing Madeline Hunter's Backward
Design philosphy for my integrated plans.
2014-2019
Second Grade
Colleagues
05/01/14
Develop lessons where more than one subject
is covered and connected when taught to
students.
2014-2019
Second Grade
Teaching team
09/01/14
Attend Kappa Delta Pi's biennial Convocation
which holds hundreds of workshops on
teaching strategies for integrating curriculum
across multiple subject areas.
October
2015
Members of Kappa
Delta Pi's honor
society and fellow
colleagues
10/01/15
Meet with experienced professors in the
Mathematics, Education, and Engineering
departments at the nearby University of
Wisconsin-Platteville to discuss useful
strategies for integrated lessons across multiple
subject areas.
2014-2017
University of
Wisconsin-Platteville
professors
04/01/17
Meet, as needed, with grade level instructors to
develop strategies on curriculum integration.
Ongoing
Second Grade
Teaching team
02/01/19
Objective:
I will monitor how my students progress through integrated lessons compared to isolated
activities, and document my ability to facilitate this instruction.
Activities Timelines Collaboration Completed
View video workshops from Annenberg
Learner's video series, "Creating an Inquiry-
based classroom."
2014-
2015
Instructor,
Facilitator, and
Supervisors
02/01/15
Video recording my lessons to reflect on in-
class student interactions and assessments.
2015-
2017
Instructor 06/10/17
Attend Mineral Point Unified School District
annual pre-school workshops on developing
authentic assessments.
2014-
2019
Teacher Colleagues 08/31/18
Collaborate with colleagues to determine best
assessment practices and develop rubrics
2014-
2019
Teacher Colleagues 05/01/19
Reflecting on my evaluation as appropriated by
Wisconsin's Educator Effectiveness System
2014-
2019
Parents, Students,
Administrators
06/01/19
(from parents, supervisors, and student results).
Documentation of the Plan
Step III: Annual Review of the PDP
Goal:
I will research and apply strategies for integrating curriculum across the curriculum so that my
students will receive instructional lessons that are conected in nature and real-world experiences.
Step IV A: Evidence of Professional Growth and the Impact
of Professional Growth on Student Learning
Goal:
I will research and apply strategies for integrating curriculum across the curriculum so that my
students will receive instructional lessons that are conected in nature and real-world experiences.
Step IV B: Reflection and Summary
Goal:
I will research and apply strategies for integrating curriculum across the curriculum so that my
students will receive instructional lessons that are conected in nature and real-world experiences.