As I was conducting my research on Kaneohe Elementary, one point that immediately

stood out to me was the mission statement. The mission statement is to “ inspire all to embrace

learning and discover passions, with ALOHA at the core”. I think it’s important to develop a

good understanding of the school’s values because the learning that takes place at the school is

centered around its mission statement. Reading through the mission statement, allows me to

develop a better understanding of the school culture and the values presented at the school. When

it comes to school and district factors, I chose to focus on the topic School Performance Data.

Analyzing the school’s Strive HI School Performance Report, I was able to see the academic

achievement scores for Language Arts, Math, and Science. These scores show the percentage of

students meeting proficiency on state assessments. The report shows data in a three year bracket

starting from 2021. For Language Arts, in 2021 the percentage score was 53% and then it

increased by 9% in 2022 and then it dropped to 58% in 2023. For math, in 2021 the percentage

score was 35%, then for 2022 the percentage increased to 56%, and then it decreased slightly to

52%. Lastly for science, in 2021 the school scored a 39%, in 2022 the score was 48%, and then

in 2023 the score increased to 59%. Looking at these scores tells me that each year can have an

increase or a decrease in state assessments scores. But our job as teachers is to provide all the

necessary skills, resources, support, and knowledge so that students can maintain proficient

scores on these assessments.

The assessment tool that is used at my school is Summative and Module Written

Assessments. The Language Arts curriculum that is used at my school is Wonders. The students

complete a summative written assessment to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of

the material. The assessment is a paper and pencil assessment. It focuses on literature,

informational text, foundations, phonemic awareness, and language ( category words). This
assessment is taken every 3 weeks or after every unit. The mathematics curriculum that is used is

Stepping Stones. For math, the students complete a written module assessment at the end of each

unit. Based on the assessment data, one area of need would be the formatting of the test. After

reviewing the assessment, and speaking with one of the Kindergarten teachers, I have learned

that the assessments are hard for students to follow along and understand the structure of the test.

The vocabulary of the assessment is also not age appropriate for Kindergarten. Based on this

information, my learning goal for this semester is to find a way to modify the assessment in a

way that is age appropriate and will meet the needs of the students. For example, the students

that are more visual learners I could modify the assessment by adding more pictures/visuals in

the context to support their learning. For the students that have unique learning challenges, I

could pull the students and have them work with me in a small group setting. This way I can

closely monitor them during the assessment. During my field placement, I have seen students

benefit from visuals or manipulatives in the classroom. It allows them to think deeply about the

material and develop a better understanding of the content.

When it comes to Classroom Demographics and Knowledge of Students Factors, I chose

to address Academic Proficiencies/Behavioral Differences. When I think about academic

proficiencies, I think about the students that are on track for Kindergarten and are meeting grade

level standards. When it comes to behavioral differences, these are the learning

differences/modifications that are in place to ensure the student(s) can still succeed in the

classroom. In my classroom, there is one student that has some behavioral challenges, and so I

have to find ways to modify activities/lessons to meet the behavioral needs of this student. These

modifications may include more hands-on activities, visuals, or other resources that keep this

child on track.
 When it comes to Instructional and Support Resources, there are a variety of resources to

support teachers and the learning of students. The school staff is very supportive of your needs

and concerns. There are a handful of online resources to support student learning in science,

language arts, math, and social studies. The school subscribes to online resources such as

Scholastic, Generation Genius, and Mystery Science. My students have been enjoying the

hands-on and interactive science lessons from Mystery Science. As I progress through the

semester, I will continue to find ways to make learning meaningful and engaging for students.