Domain 3: Instruction

Hello everyone- I choose to take a closer look at Domain 3: Instruction. The heart of domain three is engaging students in learning. I choose this domain because I am always looking for new or better ways in which to engage my students in learning. This domain is comprised of components A-E. Component A: Communicating with students, Component B: Using questioning and discussion Techniques, and Component E: Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness are the three components of this Domain that I feel most confident with. I think that all of these components tie into my instruction but I feel that he other two components, C: Engaging Students in Learning and D: Using Assessments in Instruction are the two components that I am always working to improve and what I would like to zero in on for the purposes of this assignment and to better my teachings.

I think that I have a good handle on engaging students and assessments but these are two areas that I am always looking for improvements in. I think that being a special education teacher that I really focus on communication with my students. I think that good communication is the framework for opening the lines for a positive learning environment. So, we spend a good deal of time at the beginning of the year establishing this. I have found through the open lines of communication and the ability to know my students on a more individual learning level (through IEP and specific goals) that it is very natural for questioning and discussion to take place in my classroom. A lot of what I do is repetition of skills and re-teaching key concepts. So, in turn a lot of discussion takes place in my classroom around ideas and skills and how we can better understand them.

This takes me to the two area that I want to zero in on, Engaging Students and using assessments. Like I said before I feel pretty confident in these areas but I am always looking to improve these two areas to better the quality of instruction that I am providing to my students. I am always looking for new ways to reach out to them so that they will and can understand the concepts that are being taught. I like how in the component it talks of engaging students and through active engagement that students can learn complex content. I think that this is so crucial because every student learns differently and I am trying endlessly to come up different ways and techniques that are going to best fit to my students learning styles. Activities and assignments are ways that are actively engaging our students and I think that it is so important to constantly provide them with activities that are challenging them to think deeper and engage them in that complex learning that I talked about earlier. It also focuses on grouping of students, instructional materials, and pacing. I think that if you have a concrete activity those three things will fall into place easily and you can have a very successful lesson for your students. So through this, I know I am wanting to zero in on these components to better develop activities and assessments to meet the ever changing needs of my students. I guess my question to others would be; Do you feel that these components (engaging students and using assessments) are two of areas that you are always looking to improve and build upon?

Finally, the last component is demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness. I feel that I do a pretty good job with flexibility. Being a special eduction teacher that is part of my everyday routine. Flexibility is key in special education and I find this to be OK- I don't mind the flexibility and find breaking up the routine refreshing and something that helps with the monotony that we can fall into. I think that if you have guidelines and lessons to follow ahead of time, that it is OK to be flexible and let learning happen. Some of the most engaging learning environments, I feel happen by chance!!