Supporting English Language Arts Renewal at the Elementary Level

Appendix D: A Sample Teacher Self-reflection Guide to support the Renewal of English Language Arts

The following continuum is designed to help teachers reflect upon the learning and teaching of English language arts. The awareness, exploration, synthesis, and refinement categories of the continuum are intended to describe the implementation of a curriculum as a process that occurs over time. Movement across the categories is not a linear process but a recursive one. As teachers explore a particular aspect of a curriculum, they may achieve a new or deeper awareness. This awareness may cause teachers to move into other areas of exploration. It is anticipated that as teachers work with these self-reflection guides, more appropriate tools may be developed at the local level to support teaching and learning related to English language arts.

Space is provided for teachers to make notes as they work through the self-reflection guide and a section is found at the end of the guide to help teachers reflect upon and summarize their personal and professional achievements and plans.

To achieve effective teaching and learning in English language arts, I . . .

Key Components of the ELA Curriculum	Awareness Understand the curriculum and have knowledge to teach it	Exploration Use the curriculum and experiment in some areas of teaching	Synthesis Adapt teaching to help students achieve curriculum objectives	Refinement Fine-tune and improve use of the curriculum
Curriculum Philosophy and Principles	attend a professional development session and read the curriculum am aware of and understand the curriculum philosophy and principles am aware of the six language strands (speaking, listening, writing, reading, representing, viewing)	reflect the philosophy and principles of the curriculum in units and daily instruction strive for an integrated and balanced program that includes time for speaking, listening, writing, reading, representing, and viewing provide opportunities for parents and guardians to become familiar with the basic principles and practices of ELA	integrate speaking, writing, representing, listening, reading, and viewing content and processes in authentic ways increase opportunities for use of oral, print, and other media texts and activities	provide a language-rich environment - one that is filled with things to write with, listen to, talk about, view, and read create an environment in which students collaborate, co-operate, and feel safe taking risks plan for the balanced integration of the language processes
Notes to Self

Key Components of the ELA Curriculum	Awareness Understand the curriculum and have knowledge to teach it	Exploration Use the curriculum and experiment in some areas of teaching	Synthesis Adapt teaching to help students achieve curriculum objectives	Refinement Fine-tune and improve use of the curriculum
Aim, Goals, Objectives, and Language Concepts	am aware of the aim, goals, and objectives for speaking, listening, writing, reading, representing, and viewing as well as the language concepts for each grade level I teach	plan for and teach to the objectives outlined in the sample unit(s) review and note students' strengths and needs for subsequent lessons attend to and provide specific instruction in language concepts in relevant and meaningful contexts use a whole, to part, to whole approach when teaching the language cues and conventions	use student needs, learning objectives, and key language concepts to guide planning and assessment of learning attend to specific objectives and language concepts that need review and reinforcement for particular students integrate language study concepts and skills through individual, small group, and whole class instruction and relevant mini-lessons am knowledgeable about the language development of the students I teach and the implications of this for my instruction	continually strive to enhance and extend student experiences to help students achieve the objectives for the grade level(s) I teach and, ultimately, the aim and goals of ELA engage students in meaningful language use and application use integrated language study lessons effectively with individuals, small groups, and the whole class
Notes to Self

Key Components of the ELA Curriculum	Awareness Understand the curriculum and have knowledge to teach it	Exploration Use the curriculum and experiment in some areas of teaching	Synthesis Adapt teaching to help students achieve curriculum objectives	Refinement Fine-tune and improve use of the curriculum
Units of Study	understand the differences among a thematic, inquiry, and author/genre unit read and reflect upon the nature of the sample units in the curriculum	use the sample unit(s) provided plan a subsequent unit(s) to address the curriculum objectives	plan new units to address course objectives and reflect students' needs, experiences, and interests	plan new and challenging units, that meet the objectives and the needs of the students and that reflect the curriculum philosophy and principles
Instruction	understand the range of instructional methods recommended for achieving the speaking, listening, writing, reading, representing, and viewing objectives and helping students understand the key language concepts	try the suggested instructional methods within the sample unit(s) begin to incorporate new instructional methods into my teaching repertoire employ a before (activating), during (acquiring), and after (applying) paradigm when appropriate use a variety of instructional methods read to students daily from a variety of good quality poetry, fiction, and nonfiction books incorporate daily writing	observe students to determine instructional needs and methods employ mini-lessons based on students' needs help students apply the strategies they have learned to new situations ensure that students have knowledge, strategies, and opportunities to access, create, and communicate ideas and information continue to incorporate new instructional methods into my teaching repertoire	start where students are and scaffold their learning to help them achieve next steps select instructional methods that are most suited to learning objectives and to the students' needs, interests, and strengths continually enhance my repertoire and use of instructional methods that support student learning
Notes to Self

Key Components of the ELA Curriculum	Awareness Understand the curriculum and have knowledge to teach it	Exploration Use the curriculum and experiment in some areas of teaching	Synthesis Adapt teaching to help students achieve curriculum objectives	Refinement Fine-tune and improve use of the curriculum
Assessment and Evaluation	understand the range of assessment techniques that are recommended in the curriculum become aware that content, process, and product are evaluated in English language arts	try the assessment techniques suggested in the curriculum begin to incorporate new assessment techniques into my repertoire plan appropriate assessment and evaluation techniques for each unit use varied assessment data to form an adequate view of students' progress discuss objectives for units of study and individual assignments and how they will be assessed and evaluated with students	use a variety of assessment and evaluation techniques related to stated objectives and instructional activities design assessment and evaluation techniques and strategies based on the objectives, instruction, and observation of students continue to incorporate new assessment and evaluation techniques into my repertoire discuss and develop assessment criteria and evaluation weighting with students	use and vary assessment and evaluation techniques that reflect the learning objectives, instructional methods, and student activities and strengths adapt assessment techniques or design alternate assessment activities that allow students to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways support students in determining assessment criteria and evaluating their own work/progress provide opportunities for student choice and input into the evaluation process continually enhance my repertoire and use of assessment and evaluation techniques
Notes to Self

Key Components of the ELA Curriculum	Awareness Understand the curriculum and have knowledge to teach it	Exploration Use the curriculum and experiment in some areas of teaching	Synthesis Adapt teaching to help students achieve curriculum objectives	Refinement Fine-tune and improve use of the curriculum
Resources	realize my responsibility in selecting and using resources that support students as they work toward achieving learning objectives from the curriculum know that a copy of the bibliography and updates of learning resource materials are sent to each school, available from the LRDC, and posted on the Saskatchewan Learning web site know how to use the bibliography	know the school division material selection policy gather existing resources and evaluate them to decide which ones can be used to support student achievement of curriculum objectives gather existing resources, and order new print and non-print resources featured in sample units and listed in the bibliography and updates of learning resource materials	evaluate, acquire, and use a variety of appropriate and engaging resources that reflect and build upon students' experiences and abilities help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to find and use a variety of resources become familiar with new resources that reflect a range of authors, protagonists, cultures, backgrounds, and communities	use (and encourage students to explore) a variety of resources, including human resources and web sites that support student achievement of objectives and address student abilities and interests select new resources in consultation with peers, teacher- librarians, and students and within the guidelines of the school division selection policy draw upon community resources for in-school and out-of-school learning related to English language arts
Notes to Self

Key Components of the ELA Curriculum	Awareness Understand the curriculum and have knowledge to teach it	Exploration Use the curriculum and experiment in some areas of teaching	Synthesis Adapt teaching to help students achieve curriculum objectives	Refinement Fine-tune and improve use of the curriculum
Reflective Practice and Professional Development	reflect on personal practice and teaching strategies review Classroom Curriculum Connections (2001) and focus on pertinent sections related to Curriculum Reflection, Curriculum Inquiry, and/or Curriculum Networking	reflect on teaching philosophy, practices, and assess own professional needs use a process, such as the Curriculum Reflection process in Classroom Curriculum Connections, to reflect on my beliefs, my students, the ELA curriculum, and my school/community context consult with colleagues and resource people	develop a professional growth plan that targets areas of personal need related to the teaching of ELA use a process, such as the Curriculum Reflection, Curriculum Inquiry, or Curriculum Networking process in Classroom Curriculum Connections, to achieve the goals of my professional growth plan	model the practices of a reflective practitioner develop a personal professional growth plan that supports the teaching of a comprehensive ELA program use a process, such as Curriculum Networking in Classroom Curriculum Connections, to work on areas of mutual interest with my colleagues provide mentoring support for my colleagues
Notes to Self

English Language Arts Reflection

After reflecting on my teaching using this reflection guide,

I have discovered ...

I acknowledge that I am doing well in (I can celebrate) ...

I will take action in the current school year to ...

My long term goals include ...