InTASC Standard #3 - Artifact Justification

Standard #3: Learning Environments - The teacher works with others to create
environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage
positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self motivation.
Artifact Description
This is a 1-page handout intended for students to read and bring home to their
parents on the first day of class. This was created for EDTP 645 - a class on
Assessment technique.
How does this artifact demonstrate achievement of the standard?
This artifact - a "First Day of Class" handout, informs students of my rules and
expectations, my approach to teaching, the basics of my grading procedures, and
gives them a little bit of information about me. It immediately sets the tone for the
learning environment in my classroom.
How has creation of this artifact affected my understanding of the standard? How
will it contribute to effective teaching and learning in the future?
By creating this artifact, I thought deeply about the sort of learning environment I
want to maintain in my classroom, the procedures and rules that are most
important to me, and lets the students know exactly what I expect of them. In the
future, I will continue to think carefully about the learning environment and how I
can collaborate with administration, colleagues, students their parents to create a
mutually beneficial environment.
What are my perceived strengths related to the standard?
Related to this standard, my strengths are:

A clear vision of how I want my classroom to operate

The desire to collaborate in order to achieve a beneficial learning
environment for everyone
Willingness to adapt and change the environment based on the needs of my
students

What can I improve upon to better embody the selected standard?

To better embody this standard, I will:

Continue to gain teaching experience and work with my Mentor Teacher and
University Supervisor to improve skills
Adapt and change my vision and the learning environment in order to best
serve the learners in my classroom