Dear Beginning Alverno Education Student,

Congratulations! Your journey here at Alverno College will change

your life for the better. You have made a wise decision in choosing the
Alverno Education Program to help achieve your goal of becoming a
teacher. Although this process may feel overwhelming you are more
than capable of success. Alverno instructors, cooperating teachers in
your field, and your peers will help through your pre teaching journey.
There are a few important things to know before becoming a teacher,
for example, differentiation of student learning, classroom
management, engagement, and various forms of assessment. You will
become comfortable with all these things in time. Also, as a future
teacher you should know we never stop growing in our practice and we
learn through our mistakes. While here at Alverno you will become very
familiar with the Alverno Education Abilities and the Wisconsin
Teaching Standards and how they connect to your practice.
As an Alverno student you are familiar with the ability based
grading system. The Education abilities were designed to guide
education majors in their purpose for teaching. With the abilities we
can assess and reflect on our progress both inside and outside of the
classroom. The Alverno Education Abilities are Conceptualization,
Diagnosis, Coordination, Communication, and Integrative Interaction,
these will lead you to success.
When I started my journey at Alverno College I did not give the
Education Abilities much thought, but as I am progressing through my
fourth field I see the abilities as ways to improve myself and student
learning. An ability I have always valued is communication. As future
teachers it is important we are open with our communication with our
students, colleagues, parents, and communities. As you continue your
growth in this ability you will discover its value. Effective
communication is not only with our ideas and concerns but also with
our expectations during student learning. Communication is also
practiced verbally and non-verbally, looking and being enthused while
teaching and positive body language are all important in order to
facilitate student engagement. It is important to communicate with
your cooperating teachers and Alverno teachers in order to build
connections. Communicating is always needed, I continue to grow in
this area and you will too.
The Wisconsin Teaching Standards were another concept I was
not familiar with at the start. These standards will monitor your
development as a teacher, and serve as a framework for instruction.
Each standard is purposeful and is broken down into three categories;
knowledge, dispositions, and performance. The knowledge connects to

what we need to understand to be successful. The dispositions display

our overall attitude that is expected as teachers. The performance is
the final product expected. Similar to the Alverno Education Abilities
teachers can use these as guidelines and a method for reflecting on
our practice. One Wisconsin Teaching Standard I have developed in is
Wisconsin Teaching Standard two, which promotes that the teacher is
aware of how children develop and can support their need
intellectually, socially, and personally. Through my field placements I
have observed the best ways students learn in the classroom. My
growth has shown in my ability to plan and adjust for diverse needs
and in assessment of student learning.
The Alverno Education Abilities and the Wisconsin Teaching
Standards have a clear role in effective teaching. The y will serve as
your framework to better your teaching and reflect on growth. These
standards and abilities are like linking strands within each other. For
example, the Alverno Education Ability of communication links to
Wisconsin Teaching Standard two through their encouragement of
interaction in the classroom. Through making these connections you
will see how they apply in your own practice.
Using these abilities and standards will become natural with
time. Your guidance from Alverno will ensure your success. Remember
we are always growing as teachers. Enjoy your time at Alverno, it goes
by fast!
Best regards,
Alyssa Toetz