HALF HoLLow HILLs CENTRAL SCHOOL DisTRICT DOMAIN REFLECTIONS: NAME DANIELLE TALLEUR ‘ScHOOL: HiGH SCHOOL EAST GRADE LeveL: 9 AND 11™ Dare: S/1/17 How has your practice evolved during the year with respect to each of the four domains of the framework for teaching? For each domain, write a brief but insightful reflection. Refer to the component rubrics for ideas, but you need not include each component. Domain 1 Planning and Preparation During my second year, had the opportunity to teach two different core classes, The normal progression of a student's high school career usually includes completion of biology followed by chemistry. Being trained in both disciplines has afforded me with many opportunities. In biology, | thoughtfully and purposely utilize key vocabulary and phrases 1 know students will find useful in chemistry the following year. In chemistry, | felt as though | was more equipped when it came to recognizing my student's prior knowledge because I am very familiar with the curriculum they learned last. year in biology. For example, students first learn about enzymes and catalysts in biology. In biology, enzymes and catalysts speed up chemical reactions in the body. In chemistry, students take that knowledge and build on it by explaining how catalysts speed up chemical reactions. Because I teach biology and chemistry, | know just how much, knowledge students should theoretically walk into chemistry with. Although teaching two core classes is at times challenging, it has really offered me an opportunity practice and refine the skill f relating concepts across disciplines. I also was offered to the opportunity to teach an array of different level classes. My biology class was an honors level class filled with all 9% graders, One of the challenges last year that I faced was how to appropriately challenge my honors level class. My biology class included a very diverse population of students. Some students had special needs ‘and accommodations, sometimes requiring more time on tasks and extra instructional support in order to meet the learning outcomes, whereas other students would quickly finish a task and be ready for the next one. In order to ‘overcome this challenge, students were carefully paired for partner work and lab activities according to their strengths ‘and weaknesses which I learned through getting to know them in class, in extra help, and through communication with their parents and resource room teachers, My chemistry class was a regents level class filled with mostly 11° graders, some were even students I had last year in my biology classes. Looping with students isa very valuable experience. | feel as though I shared a strong connection with those. | already knew understood their needs and developed a relationship with them and their parents and they already knew the classroom routines and procedures. | definitely viewed looping with students as a major benefit and | hope as my career progresses, it continues to happen. Regents level students often require more motivation for completion of task. Therefore, | frequently found myself collecting evidence of student work. Completion, collection, and evaluation of frequent formative assessment continues to inform my planning for future instruction. Domain 2 The Classroom Environment Maximizing the use of instructional time has been accomplished through the establishment of a classroom routine. Each day the do now, daily agenda, and objectives are displayed so students know what will be expected from them in class ‘each day. Students are more likely to be at ease in the classroom when they know the plan for the period, Procedures for entering the classroom, handing in assignments, and transitioning to lab activities were established and practiced since the first day of school, Asa result, students initiate and complete these transitions with ease, minimizing loss of instructional time. During partner work and laboratory activities, students know who they are to work with and where, therefore, no one feels left-out or lost. I continue to fee! as though I have been successful in creating a safe, caring, and cognitively inviting environment where students take ownership of their learning and feel comfortable enough to ask questions and draw connections to previous knowledge. During small group instruction, conversations among students are highly respectful and many take it upon themselves to aid in their peer’s understanding. During whole group instruction, interactions among myself and my students are highly respectable. For example, my biology class refers to us asa "bio fam," meaning we area biology family. This year it was alittle difficult for me to really personalize all of my classroom environments because I was in different rooms, but, next year I would like to make a greater effort for each one of my classrooms to showcase my student's hard work,Domain 3 Instruction Serving as a chemistry and biology teacher this year has definitely helped me in my educational practices. lam more aware of the curriculum and the topics covered in the biology curriculum and asa result, 'am more equipped at anticipating student's background knowledge in my chemistry class. | find myself asking students what they remember about the topic being discussed from biology often. Usually students remember key terms and phrases from last year and we are able to scaffold and connect their ideas. This short activity is also useful in determining possible misconceptions. Many students in my honors biology class have interests in becoming medical doctors, nurses, radiologists, veterinarians, and scientists. They also enjoy the TV show "Grey's Anatomy." In an effort to link the instructional purpose of the lesson to student interests, | often utilized case studies by the University of Buffalo's National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science. Medical students frequently analyze case studies and my biology students enjoyed reading about cases and making conclusions about possible treatments. Students often remarked that they felt as though the case study was an episode of Grey's anatomy and they were the doctor. My biology students are also very interested in the HSE planetarium, especially since our classroom i right next door. The HSE faculty recently had a PCP meeting hosted by Brian and Tom in the Planetarium. During the meeting, Brian and Tom discussed how teachers of different subject areas have used the planetarium in the past. As a result ofthe PCP, Ihave decided to utilize the Planetarium as a way to introduce our next unit, evolution think the ability to witness the formation of early Earth and theories about the fist life forms will engage al of my students. Inan ongoing effort to meet the needs of the different types of learners in my classes, I continue to carefully design hands-on laboratory activities. This year, I have made a conscious effort to alter some of my past activities to be more inquiry based in an effortto become more aligned with the newly adopted Next Generation Science Standards. | also continue to utilize many resources such as Sumanas Inc, tne Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Discovery Channel, Brainpop, and Castle learning to provide students with an array of visuals, animations, activities, and practice questions. Allo the links to these resources are available on my eboard so that students can access them from home. ‘This year I often assigned test corrections following an assessment in biology and chemistry. For each question answered incorrectly, students had to reflect and explain what they were thinking during the test that caused them to answer incorrectly. {also continue to utilize a vast array of do nows and exit tickets which also provide students with ‘an opportunity to reflect on their learning. Exit tickets are useful as formative assessment. I often noticed that | would alter my plan for the next day based on the quality of student responses. Next year I would like to return to the use of personal evaluations following the end of each marking quarter. I believe it would allow students to be honest with themselves about their understanding and progress and use it to make a plan for improvement if needed.Domain 4 Professional Responsibilities Maintaining accurate records is one of my strengths. l ensure that my eboard and infinite campus displays the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding assignments and grades so that everyone involved in a student's ‘education are on the same page. | continue to maintain accurate records of daily student attendance, attendance at extra help, and a log ofall parent contact through both email and phone. Throughout the school year, my chemistry and biology students have contributed to the maintenance of accurate records by logging their lab minutes in order to meet the requirements to take the Regents exam in June. As a result, those students who are in danger of failing to meet this. requirement are well aware of this issue, as are their parents. Communication with the parents of my students is frequent. This year | have utilized the remind app to remind students of upcoming assignments and assessments. Next year, | would like to set up separate classes for parents on the remind app and have them sign up during back to school night and parent/teacher conferences. | think this would bea fast and effective way of increasing parent/teacher communication. Right now, parent contact is mostly initiated through emails, but, have also utilized the infinite campus messenger. | send many emails to parents regarding inadequate performance on assessments, suggest possible plans for improvement, and ask parents to encourage thelr student to attend extra help. | also contact student's guidance counselors whenever | am concerned about one of my student's performance and/or behavior. Because parent contact is usually associated as being something negative, | also continue to make contact with families for positive reasons such as improved assessment scores by emailing and ‘mailing home postcards, encouraging them to keep up the good work. ‘Asa result of sharing many classrooms this year, Ihave found that the level of collaboration I have with other teachers has increased. I often communicate with my colleagues to make sure my pace is appropriate. | also sought advice from my colleagues about midterm review and Regents review. | often share assignments and activities | find to be engaging and worthwhile through email, For example, I recently shared a long-term assignment for my biology class on animal diversity, During the school year, I served as a co-advisor for Candlewood Science Olympiads for the second year. This year was the first year where | actually ran an event at our regional competition. Each year we continue to improve and | would ‘enjoy to continue with the team next year. On the weekends, I sign-up to proctor assessments such as the SAT and ACT. In January, I volunteered to grade the Chemistry and Living Environment Regents Exam. In March, | attended the HHH Volleyball tournament and supported the HSE team in their successful effort to gain back the title of champions. | have participated in 24 hours of professional development, exceeding the required minimum. Lastly, continue to support the HHHPTSA by enrolling as a member and attending events such as the Founders Day EventHighlights for the 2017 School Year {highlights related to professional practice) # _ Coached a successful season for the Candlewood Science Olympiad Club + Supported the HHH PTSA by attending the Founder's Day event T Supported the HSE volleyball team by attending the HHH Volleyball tournament at HSW T Supported the HHHTA by attending fundraisers and events = Completed 24 hours of Professional Development Programs in the 2016-2017 school year to date ‘+ _ Helped to grade the Regents exams in January after school ~ Helped to proctor the SAT/ACT exams on the weekends Frequently communicated with parents regarding their student's progress with postcards, emails, and phone calls ‘One Area to be Extended and/or Refined in Your Professional Practice __ I would like to expand on my professional practice by attending more educational conferences through STANYS and NSTA. __ | would like to expand on knowledge of the next generation science standards by attending conferences and any future HHH POPs. __ | would like to design and incorporate more lessons that utilize the next generation science standard, + = I would like to complete additional graduate classes to further expand on my content knowleds This form will be attached to Summative Report Doneth Kd — el7 Teacher's Signature Date &. 6/6/19 Administrator Date