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Telling my Story with my PDQP

Robert Rubicco

TED 690 Capstone

National University

Dr. Michelle Pengilly

January 10, 2021

Telling my Story with my PDQP 2

Abstract

This paper is meant to evaluate my progress in achieving competencies in my chosen TPE

domain. The domain I chose for this assignment is TPE 1: engaging and supporting all students

in learning. This paper will identify how I managed both my strengths and needs associated with

this TPE. I will also discuss potential competencies that I can use for my Professional

Development Quest Portfolio (PDQP). Finally, I will provide a rationale for selecting and

completing areas of professional needs and goals achieved for TPE 1.

Telling my Story with my PDQP 3

It feels like ages ago now, but my journey to become a teacher began in early 2015. I

didn’t expect to be here six years later still working on my degree, but as we can all now attest,

life can throw you some curve balls along the way to your destination. My current occupation

would not allow me to take off time to do the student teaching so I had to put it off until I was

able to get the required leave. Now I am close to finally completed my Masters degree and single

subject credential here at National University. Throughout the last few years, I have learned a lot

about the teaching profession through both my classes and my student teaching experience. I

have come to believe that mastery of the Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs) is an

essential part of becoming a successful teacher. As I progress in this profession, I hope to attain

proficiency in all of the TPEs in order to best help my students achieve their learning goals.

Domain A deals with engaging and supporting all students in learning. There is a reason,

I believe, that this is the first TPE because I think this is the most important thing we can do as

teachers. All of the TPEs are important and have their place in the learning process. I think that

engaging the students and giving them the proper supports to learn the curriculum must come

before anything else. It is the foundation on which we build upon. As my student teaching

experience progressed, I found myself getting better at applying my knowledge to help the

students be successful. This was partially due to not knowing anything about the students when I

first started the class. It was also the first time I ever taught before and I had to deal with the

obstacles presented by distance learning. After the first few classes, I was able to consistently

provide the students with a variety of instructional strategies, such as Universal Design of

Learning (UDL), to reach the various learners in my class (Competency, Standard 4). I did this
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by constructing a Google slides presentation, along with other elements, to accompany my

lecture. I also tried to give my students various ways to display their comprehension of the

curriculum. I did this by providing them with modifications to assignments so they could

contribute in whatever method they were more comfortable with (Competency, Standard 7).

I believe that my strengths in TPE 1 includes providing the students with many supports

and ways to prove their understanding of the curriculum. I spent a lot of time thinking about how

I could best engage their interest in the subject matter. One of the areas I think I need to improve

upon is applying knowledge of my students to engage them in the lesson (Competency, Standard

1). This was due to knowing them for only a short period of time and the barriers that distance

learning provided. Many students did not participate as much as I would have liked. This was

made more difficult because my students weren’t required to have their cameras on during class.

I look forward to getting into a classroom and building supportive relationships with my

students.

There are a number of TPE competencies I can use for my PDQP. I provided examples,

such as the Google slides and the instructions and rubric, for TPE 1 that exhibited my attempt to

engage the students in learning. I have other examples, such as video clips, of me demonstrating

concepts through the use of props. There are many instances where I connected the subject

matter to students’ interests or shared experiences (Competency, Standard 3).

My goals, for this TPE, are to be able to engage and support all the various types of

learners in my class. I believe I can do this by learning more about my students and by paying

attention to both their assets and their learning needs. This PDQP will be a valuable asset that I

can use to monitor my progress as an educator. This document will allow me to see my progress,
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where I started, where I’m at now, and where I’m going to be if I continue to progress in my

mastery of the TPEs.