To conclude a lesson plan, a unit, or even a topic you need to assess the student’ new knowledge and evaluate memory content. I believe that allowing 48 hrs between the end of content and evaluation allows me to fully evaluate if knowledge of content is in long term memory. I must integrate these appropriate time frames and assessment in my curriculum map. The ILPE method doesn’t always have formal assessments and evaluations (Gabler & Schroeder, 2003). I believe if I used standard testing alone to evaluate my students, I would be doing a disservice to me, the students, and the school. We don’t make important decisions in life on one measure, so why should we measure our student’s knowledge with one standard method? Curriculum mapping help me prioritize and gives me a quick overview of how many different assessment I have incorporated in a timeframe. I believe that our education system today demands we use multiple measures in the assessment and evaluation process. Title 1 of No Child Left Behind (as cited in Brookhart, 2009) states “assessments shall involve multiple up to date measures of student’s academic achievement, including measures that assess higher order thinking skills and understanding” (p.6). For example, I will give students written math problems on central tendencies for a grade. I will also give them a article to read, and have them write down 5 critical thinking questions in relation to central tendencies, and then ask them to write a paragraph on how central tendencies are used in daily living. I will combine all three assignments for one grade. This way I can use “several different measures of the same construct in a compensatory manner” (Brookhart, 2009, p.8). The information that we gather from assessment should directly impart future planning (Gabler & Schroder, 2003). I believe lesson plans should be authentic and directly affect our students’ past evaluations. Having all this information incorporated into my artifact of curriculum mapping ensures that class will be conducting appropriately.
In conclusion I believe self actualization is what we, as teaches, and students, should obtain. I believe finding out what is important to me to teach and what the student believes is important to learn will enrich the classroom setting. Our learning environment is only as good as its participants. This paper has challenged me to reflect on my views and teaching method in relation to my career. Reflection as a new teacher was a hard concept due to limited experiences, but as you can see, I pulled textbook knowledge, my own trial and errors in the classroom, and my memories of being a student to design lesson plans that integrate student’s learning styles and enhance their utmost potential. I believe if I continue to reflect throughout my teaching career, I can become the teacher that can make a difference in a student’s life.