My Impact on Student Learning
A GOOD TEACHER CAN INSPIRE HOPE, IGNITE THE IMAGINATION AND INSTILL A LOVE FOR LEARNING.
- BRAD HENRY
My courses are not tested courses, so I have chosen to show my impact on student learning and growth in other measurable ways.
In the 2018/2019 school year I have taught art and physical education. Here I have found a few ways in each content area to measure data to show growth of my students.
4th and 5th Grade Art
In my 4th and 5th grade art classes we have been learning our basics, or foundations. This will help us build a base of art skills that we will be able to continuously grow on. In the past I have taught high school art classes and one of the largest issues I experienced was that somehow my high school students some how made it to me and most did not have some sort of basis of understanding on the basic art elements, principles, skills, techniques, or fairly common knowledge. So when I got the opportunity to teach elementary art I thought I would make sure I help lay the foundation in my students, that way they would be prepared and ready for their future art classes. Here you will see the growth from one drawing from an eye to the next. The first drawing was done with no teaching, it was simply a drawing pre-assessment to get an idea of where they were. I then taught them how to draw from observation, shade, the mathematical anomalies of the human face, tricks and tips and then we put it all together and created these INCREDIBLE drawings.
4th and 5th Grade P.E.
In my 4th and 5th grade physical education classes we are doing similar things as my art classes when it comes to laying the foundation for future physical activity. We practice and focus on good sportsmanship, skills and techniques, proper form, aerobic capacity, muscle growth, and the function and importance of physical fitness in daily life. I do this to help lay that foundation of good habits and prepare my students for future athletic teams they may join one day. I teach my students the importance of sportsmanship not only in athletics but in life. We focus on growth mindset and they know they are not simply "good" or "bad" at something, rather they are developing their abilities and how much work they put in with effect their success and output. Here you will see growth in their physical ability by their increased number of reps in exercises and a faster mile times. My students have put in a LOT of hard work and it shows. MY 4th and 5th grades began the year suffering through half a mile and unable to perform sit ups and push ups in some cases. After a few weeks, turning into months of conditioning, weight training, and discipline my students are able to perform at an entirely different level than they were originally. I have also noticed an area of growth that is hard to measure but has not gone unnoticed. My students used to complain and say they couldn't do something now. They now line up for the task ahead ready to take the challenge head on like little warriors! Their confidence has increased TREMENDOUSLY! And that right there makes my teacher heart happy beyond words.
11th Grade P.E.
My 11th grade physical education class has been one of the best classes I have ever had in my teaching career. This class is every teacher's dream. My students are ready and willing for anything I throw at them. I think partly it is due to the great scholars in that class and has absolutely nothing to do with me. They are naturally inquisitive, growth mindset oriented, and generally good team members. I saw this early on and knew if I took advantage of these incredible minds and willing hearts I could help them achieve greatness in the year I had them. And that is what we together as a class have done. This class, being older, already had some foundations of fitness. Some students had already found certain parts of fitness they enjoyed and have already been trying to improve themselves in many ways. That made me so excited! I had students who were WANTING to get better! We still needed to start at the bottom, we went over proper form, we had to walk a lot of our mile, we did only body weight workouts, and our conditioning days were filled with water breaks and complaining. I had some students who excelled in certain areas and I had them help other students who struggled or needed encouragement. They were able to learn and grow with the help of their peers. We slowly as a class began to be able to do more physically, we added in weights (HEAVY weights), we added in my technical movements and high intensity skills, we started not just surviving workouts rather planning our a strategic attack for a workout. I saw my students stop and strategize how to make their workouts work best for them and how to be as efficient as possible. At first they were hesitant and a tad nervous to try my workouts. But over time they have developed a willingness more than I ever expected. These kids never say no, they never assume they can't do something, they don't question my methods, they don't ask themselves anymore if something is possible, rather they just figure out how to make it happen. Here you will see measurable growth of reps increasing and mile time decreasing. They have absolutely, unequivocally, put the work in and have earned every bit of success. Again, what is not seen here is the growth of my students' self confidence, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.