Annotated Transcript
The following is an annotated version of the courses that were completed during my Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program at Michigan State University (MSU). For each course I have provided: the course title, course instructor(s), and a brief description of my experience in the course. Each course number is also a link which will lead to MSU's official description of the course.
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TE = Teacher Education --- CEP = Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education --- ED = Education
Fall 2014
Reflection and Inquiry Teaching Practice I-Literacy
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I took this course during the first semester of my student-teaching internship year, so I was able to reflect upon my own views of literacy instruction and to make those views a reality in my classroom as I gained more responsibilities during guided-lead-teaching. I learned how to incorporate literacy into all learning subjects, how to closely analyze literacy curriculum, and utilize the most effective pieces of a program. After analyzing the literacy instructional methods that were already being used, I created a full literacy unit with a small set of focused learning objectives and implemented the unit with my first grade class.
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Spring 2015
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I was taking this course during the second semester of my student-teaching internship year, so I was starting to gain more teaching responsibilities in the classroom. This course showed me how I can encourage young students to take an interest in public affairs so they can become active participants in civic life as adults. I was able to collaborate with two of my colleagues who were also interns in first grade classrooms to create an integrated social studies unit which focused on teaching students how we learn about the past, present, and future.
Reflection and Inquiry Teaching Practice II-Science
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This course was taken during the second semester of my student-teaching internship year, most of which took place during lead-teaching time when I took on most of the responsibilities of teaching in the first grade classroom. This course gave me the opportunity to analyze the science curriculum materials currently being used in my classroom and then create a unit plan for science which included specific learning goals and the assessment of those goals. I did this by videotaping myself teaching science lessons and then analyzing my teaching and the learning outcomes that took place.​
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Summer 2017
Psychology of Classroom Discipline
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During this course, I gained a better understanding of the factors that may impact student behaviors in schools and learned about many research-based strategies and tools that could be used to respond to behaviors effectively and help create a successful learning environment. I also learned about the many components of an effective classroom management plan and was able to use what I learned to create my very own management plan which I referred to in my teaching years that followed. The plan I created included, but was not limited to: the physical arrangement of the classroom, carefully planned classroom rules and procedures, and strategies for creating positive relationships between teacher and students as well as among peers.
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Accommodating Differences in Literacy Learners
TE 846 helped me gain detailed knowledge about best teaching practices for literacy and how literacy strategies can be used to differentiate instruction for all different learners. I was asked to reflect upon current literacy instruction in my classroom and building and then consider how that instruction could be improved. At the end of this course, I was given the opportunity to teach literacy lessons in a one-on-one setting for a first grade student in my class. During the completion of my final project with this student I: gathered background information about his learning and home environment, conducted reading pre-assessments, implemented lessons with targeted instruction, and analyzed the learning results.
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Spring 2018
Educational Inquiry
Instructors: Dr. Steven Weiland & Aaron Einfeld
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ED 800 was a course that helped me to gain a better understanding of different forms of educational inquiry and teaching beliefs. Each unit of this course gave me the opportunity to learn about an educational belief/concept, reflect upon those ideals, and think about how that concept is relevant to my own teaching. The educational ideals that I had the opportunity to learn more about include: traditional vs. progressive education, teacher inquiry through the use of observations and writing, participant observation of a group, the concept of internal education of an individual, and the importance of having core virtues in education.
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Summer 2018
Elementary Reading and Assessment Instruction
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During this course, I learned about best teaching practices for literacy as well as how to effectively assess student knowledge and learning. Through this course, I learned how to analyze real literacy lessons based on best practices and reflected on how they could be improved. I also learned how to dig deep into literacy assessment data to determine the academic knowledge and skills a particular student has and then create a plan with learning goals and follow up lessons to target the skills the student needs to continue working on.
Classroom and Behavior Management in the Inclusive Classroom
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I was given the opportunity to reflect upon the classroom and behavior management strategies I was already using and learn about new strategies for creating a successful learning environment for all students. I learned the importance of the following: utilizing PBIS-Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, understanding student needs and motivations, positive reinforcement, using effective conflict resolution strategies, and student self-esteem. Learning about each of these concepts helped me to reflect on how I could improve the management strategies used in my classroom to help all students meet success in a positive environment.
Summer 2019
Language Diversity and Literacy Instruction and Assessment
Instructor: Dr. Patricia Edwards
TE 845 was completed during the last semester of my MAED program. The course gave me the opportunity to reflect upon the current practices that are being used in my classroom/building/district to help ELLs (English Language Learners) be successful in school.
Throughout the course, I was able to collaborate with colleagues to better understand the best practices for teaching ELL students and gain an understanding of the instructional theories and strategies that I can share with my administrator and colleagues. Finally, I was given the opportunity to utilize my newfound instructional strategies with one individual ELL student and reflect upon that experience.
Instructors: Dr. Matthew Koehler & Aric Gaunt
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The final course of my MAED program was this capstone course which helped me wrap up and synthesize everything that I have learned and accomplished throughout the program. This course gave me the opportunity to create an online portfolio, which provides a platform to showcase the knowledge I have gained in my master’s courses and the skills that I have to offer to future employers in the educational field. It is incredible to be able to look back at all of the work I have accomplished in my master’s program and have it all organized in one place.