Benchmark – Ela, Social Studies, And Arts Differentiated Instructional Planning

Educators are continually seeking various way to enhance students’ language development and communication skills. This can be accomplished through thoughtful reflection, revision, collaboration, and subsequent planning. Students with exceptionalities and students learning English as a second language are separately considered to ensure differentiation occurs for all students.

Part 1 Revised Unit Plan

Revise your five-day integrated literacy and social studies unit from Topic 4 to include two art standards for the appropriate grade level. Make any changes to your original unit to fully integrate the art components and incorporate useful feedback you received from your mentor teacher.  In the Differentiation section of the unit plan, identify support strategies forstudents with exceptionalities. Strategies should be based on the students in your field experience classroom who are receiving special education services. For clarification, explain the delays or disabilities on the plan. (Please do not use children’s real names to protect confidentiality.)

Part 2 Reflective Essay

In a 750-1,000 word reflection, describe your instructional choices, including 3-5 research-based sources that support your reasoning.  As part of your reflection address the following items:

  • Delineate the specific standards integrated throughout your plan and the rationale for their appropriateness.
  • Explicitly highlight the proposed strategies within your plan that enhance language development and communication skills.
  • Describe the learning resources and materials needed to support your lesson plans. Specifically address the use of technology in creating an engaging learning experience.
  • Explain the differentiation included to make this unit accessible and appropriate for individuals with exceptionalities.
  • Explain how you have addressed or incorporated the unique backgrounds of the individual students in your class, to prevent any social and cultural biases from interfering with student learning. (For example, how did you consider students who may be experiencing poverty, oppression, or injustice in regards to preparing the lessons?)

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

Program competencies and national standards assessed in the benchmark assignment:

COE 2.1: Apply in-depth content knowledge and learning resources, including technology, in the academic disciplines to create meaningful and engaging opportunities for students to learn, practice, and master content. [CEC 3.2; NAEYC 5a, 5b; InTASC 4(b), 4(c), 4(d), 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), 5(e); ISTE 1b, 1c]

COE 2.2: Apply appropriate curriculum, content standards, and early learning standards to plan, implement, and evaluate developmentally meaningful and challenging learning opportunities for each child. [NAEYC 5c; InTASC 4(a)]

COE 2.3: Apply central concepts, structures of the discipline, and tools of inquiry of the content areas, and organize this knowledge, integrate cross-disciplinary skills, and develop meaningful learning progressions for individuals with exceptionalities. [CEC 3.1; InTASC 4(c), 4(f)]

COE 2.4: Modify general and specialized curricula to make them accessible to individuals with exceptionalities. [CEC 3.3; InTASC 2(b), 2(h), 4(g)]

COE 2.5: Use strategies to enhance language development and communication skills of individuals with exceptionalities. [CEC 5.4; InTASC 2(e)]

COE 5.4: Interpret implications of applying a Christian worldview as an educator in a school setting. [MC3]

Writing Strategies

There are several research‐based strategies that can be used to teach students how to integrate the elements of the writing process (planning, organizing, writing and revising). Some of these strategies, such as, “POW + TREE” and “STOP and DARE,” incorporate mnemonic devices to help students remember the elements.

Review “Case Study: Kaynia” to inform this assignment.

Write a 500‐750 word essay on writing strategies that can be taught to students to develop their skills in applying the elements of the writing process.

Discuss the following in your essay:

  • Describe the “POW + TREE” and the “STOP and DARE” writing strategies, along with a third research‐based strategy of your choice that is appropriate for Kaynia’s grade.
  • Out of the three writing strategies you described, select one to use with Kaynia, rationalizing your choice and explaining how that strategy would allow her to meet her writing goal, as well as engage in personal reflection and apply standards to evaluate her own writing.

Support your findings with a minimum of three scholarly sources.

StEAM/STEAM CHART

Looking for help to create

STEM/STEAM Instructional Tools Chart Plan

As STEM-focused education has been initiated in schools across the United States, some educators are now promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics). The Arts, in this case, can refer not only to creative arts, but also English language arts, liberal arts/social studies, and physical arts/physical education. The focus is on developing the skills of creativity, critical thinking, organization, and real-world application across all content areas.

Part 1: Instructional Tools Chart

Instructional tools are very important when it comes to both engagement and to help with developmental growth. Using the “Instructional Tools Chart,” create a descriptive list of five instructional tools that you would consider using in your field experience classroom to enhance STEM/STEAM.

Instructional Tools Chart and Reflection

Part 1: Instructional Tools Chart

Instructional Tool Link and Citation Description of the tool and how it will be used to support STEM education.

Provide examples of how you would use the tool and differentiate for students with exceptionalities.

     
     
     
     
     

 

 

Part 2: Reflection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Description of each technology resource and how it works.

Utilizing resources and media to make meaningful connections to social studies content within lessons helps teachers to engage their students. Surveying and analyzing potential technology resources that integrate real-life application in the social studies classroom is vital for today’s fast-moving classroom. With a technology-based resource list, teachers are well equipped with tools to engage students and allow them to work both independently and collaboratively.

Review your state’s social studies academic standards specific to state history and geography.

Create a 10-15 slide digital presentation for an audience of your fellow educators  that showcases integrating media, resources, and technology into social studies curriculum specific to your state’s history and geography standards. Identify a minimum of five technology resources, one of which should integrate the arts into the content.

Your presentation should include:

  • Link to your state’s history and geography standards.
  • Description of each technology resource and how it works.
  • A specific learning activity for each technology resource that demonstrates scaffolded instruction of the standards identified.
  • Explanation of how the technology resource engages students and allows them to work independently and collaboratively.
  • Real-world application of the standards that is promoted by the technology resource.
  • Title page, presenter’s notes, and reference page.

Digital presentation should include graphics that are relevant to the content, visually appealing, and use space appropriately.

Support your findings with 2-3 scholarly resources.

Technology Descriptions

20.0

Presentation skillfully describes the technological resources and how each technology resource works.

Learning Activities

20.0

Learning activities are not related to the identified standards and insightfully demonstrate scaffolded instruction.

Engagement

20.0

Presentation proficiently describes how each technology resource engages students, allows them to work independently and collaboratively.

Real-World Application

20.0

Real-world application is innovative and creatively promoted by the technology.

Layout

5.0

The layout is visually pleasing and contributes to the overall message with appropriate use of headings, subheadings, and white space. Text is appropriate in length for the target audience and to the point. The background and colors enhance the readability of the text.

Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)

10.0

Submission is virtually free of mechanical errors. Word choice reflects well-developed use of practice and content-related language.

Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)

5.0

Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.

Total Percentage 100