Standard 5: Application of Content (part 1)

The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use

differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking,
creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic
local and global issues.
Performances:
5(a) The teacher develops and implements projects that guide
learners in analyzing the complexities of an issue or question using
perspectives from varied disciplines and cross-disciplinary skills

Artifact 1:

Reflection:
With Reading Wonders being a state mandated ELA program I have
found that there are many ways to apply the content for the students. I
understand as the teacher how important it is to apply the content and to
connect the concepts in different ways to engage the learners. Each week
there is a new essential question and new Focus skill introduced. Each
week we meet together on the floor and have a discussion. We do partner
sharing and teacher/student communication. The students each share their
perspectives on their background knowledge so that it lends to offering the
different perspective for the students. This way we can build upon what
each student shares. I then share the new concept from the teachers book
and get the students engaged by asking questions about the material. This

gets the students to think critically and to communicate with one another.
In one particular week, this last week, we have been working on What
inventions do you know about? We have been discussing how things were
different long ago and how inventions have changed the way we live today.
Students have been able to collaborate on different ideas and think about
how to problem solve long ago when we didnt have computers, electricity,
cars, and many other things.
Reading Wonders provides read aloud cards that offer a chance for
students to be open to discussion, think, and to communicate to one
another. This lesson related to students working on local and global issues
as well. I was able to lead students in a discussion in talking about all the
things that have changed and affected the way we live today.
Even simply the students vocabulary words and introduction is a way
that I understand how important it is as a teacher to always connect the
concept to their real world and use differing perspectives.

Application of Content (part 2)

5(c) The teacher facilitates learners use of current tools and
resources to maximize content learning in varied contexts.
5(e) The teacher develops learners communication skills in
disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts by creating meaningful
opportunities to employ a variety of forms of communication that
address varied audiences and purposes.
5(m) The teacher understands critical thinking processes and
knows how to help learners develop high level questioning skills to
promote their independent learning.

Artifact 2:

Reflection:
We went to the Kuakini Health Center on a field trip and the students
were able to learn about many things. They learned all about how to keep
their hearts healthy, how to stay germ free, how to handle an emergency,
how to keep themselves safe at all times, how injured divers get their
oxygen, and they learned how HAZMATS are used. As a teacher I see how
important it is to use your tools and resources when possible. Students
need a variety of ways to learn and apply their knowledge. This was a very
meaningful opportunity for students to understand how things around them
are applied in the real world. The students learned about a variety of
careers, how hospitals look and are used, and how to stay healthy. This was
an experience for them that created a meaningful purpose that also
allowed them to communicate. When we arrived back at school I used this
opportunity for a writing task. We first collaborated on the board all the
things we got out of the field trip. The students each wrote about

something completely different in how the field trip applied to them and
how it helped them to be better citizen and notice the things around them!
This opportunity made the students question things in their life and
the workers around them. The students had a great time talking with
doctors, engineers, and scientists that run important medical machines.
The students were able to get exposure to how to properly communicate
their questions to these professionals as well as develop an understanding
after critical thinking if what is going on around them.
After the field trip, the collaboration of ideas, and the writing
exposure the students had help to become more independent learners.
They sought after the information themselves at the health fair and they
were then motivated to write about their experience it to deepen their
understanding of what they recently experienced!