Johnston Dana 1226129 f17 450

Advanced Field Experience Final Evaluation
Field Experience Information:

Student Teacher:
Last Name: Johnston First Name: Dana
ID Number: 1226129 Course Number: AFX 450
University Facilitator:
Last Name: Hrynew First Name: Marion
Mentor Teacher:
Last Name: Ettinger First Name: Dave
Placement Information:
Start Date (dd/mm/yyyy): 10/10/2017 End Date (dd/mm/yyyy): 14/12/2017
Subject(s) and/or Grade Level(s): 7,8 and 9 Science
School Information:
School Name: Westminster School School District: Edmonton Public Schools
School Address: 13712-103 Ave. Postal Code: T8E 2B2
School Phone #: (780) 452-4343 City: Edmonton
Distribution:
Students should retain a copy of the Final Evaluation form for their own records. Please note that
potential employers may ask for a copy of this Final Evaluation.
A copy of this form will be emailed by the University Facilitator to the office of Undergraduate Student
Services, where it will be retained for a period of time according to the faculty’s retention schedule; no
other copies will be retained by Mentor Teachers, University Facilitators or employees of the University
of Alberta without written permission of the Student Teacher.
It is recommended that the Student Teacher receive a grade of:
Final Grade (Credit or No Credit): Credit Date (dd/mm/yyyy): 14/12/2017
Fall 2017 Page 1 of 11

The purpose of this Field Experience Final Evaluation document is to provide evidence and
communicate information regarding Student Teacher performance based on the Knowledge, Skills and
Attributes (KSAs) for Interim Certification.
For each category, the Mentor Teacher should provide comments that reflect strengths and areas for
growth in each category. Evidence and specific examples should be provided.
You do not need to fill the space provided; recommended length is 200-300 words per category. Write
only enough to provide necessary evaluation and evidence. Please do not exceed the space provided, as
lines of text that extend beyond the text box will not appear on printed copies; there is space for extra
comments at the end.
Use the KSAs and suggested topics as they relate to the category to guide your comments, not all need
to be addressed.
Description of the school and context of teaching

Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): school size, urban/rural, special programs, class size, special needs students in class,
number of teachers, etc.
Westminster is a west Edmonton junior high school. We have a diverse population of 520 Learning
Disabled, regular, adaptation, BD and IB students. Ms. Johnston's assignment consisted of two grade 9
Science classes (1 IB and 1 regular) and one grade 8 Science class (IB) and two grade 7 Science classes
(1 IB and 1 with students who have a range of learning delays and some behavior issues). Our average
class size is 28 students, however, we do have one smaller Science 7 strategies class with approximately
23 students. The science department consists of 4 teachers located in a science wing. This allows for
easy collaboration and resource exchange. We also have a science classroom, which means our
classroom itself is quite large, with numerous sinks and space for laboratory activities.

Preparation, Planning and Organization
Related Knowledge, Skills and Attributes (Not all need to be addressed):
KSA A: Teachers understand that contextual variables affect teaching and learning.
KSA C: Teachers use the Guide to Education and the programs of study to inform and direct planning, instruction and assessment.
KSA D: Teachers understand the subject discipline they teach.
KSA E: Teachers know how to identify students’ different learning styles and ways students learn and create multiple paths to learning for
individuals and groups.
KSA F: Teachers know how to translate curriculum and desired outcomes into meaningful and incrementally progressive learning
opportunities through short, medium and long range planning.
KSA M: Teachers identify and incorporate relevant learning resources into their teaching.
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): curriculum expectations, content knowledge, lesson plans, organization, time management,
diverse learning needs, etc.
Dana is the most well planned and organized student teacher I have ever worked with. She began unit planning
prior to her arrival at the school. During her first week she completed several very detailed lesson plans for the
classes she was teaching and began putting together very thorough unit plans for the grades she was about to
teach. Her planning of a variety of learning activities really helped engage the students as they completed work
from PowerPoint’s, lectures, demonstrations and lab activities. Learning activities were well sequenced and
focused on clear learning objectives. Smooth transitions between activities maximized instructional time in all
her classes.
In Dana’s planning, she was careful to consistently select appropriate subject matter using the program of
studies and reference them on her lesson plans. Her lessons were engaging and her planning of new projects
and activities created interest and excitement in her students. Early in her practicum, she began to adapt her
lessons for diverse learner needs and made huge gains with our regular 7 and 9 classes that have students with
wide variety of learning issues. She ensured that they were all engaged - learning and improving. She became
very adept at planning for different abilities (including ELL) and was very conscious of how she explained new
concepts and her choice of wording in instructions and explanations.
Her sound knowledge of Science positively impacted her teaching and I really admired that she put in a ton of
work to master concepts that are difficult to teach. The Mechanical Systems unit in grade 8 is particularly
tricky, but our grade 8's ended up with almost a 90% average on testing in that unit. She stayed many nights
until 6 pm or later researching video clips, reading texts and preparing very efficient ways to teach balancing
chemical equations, lever classes, pulleys, mechanical advantage... Ms. J put in a lot of time to master and
teach students in a way that all students could understand.
For demonstrations and some lab activities Dana rearranged the desks and chairs to maximize her interaction
and to help illustrate concepts and best help students complete assigned tasks in a safe and productive manner.
This was illustrated in the acid / base labs, marshmallow forces labs, pulley and lever labs and so on.

Teaching Skills and Strategies
KSA D: Teachers understand the subject discipline they teach.
opportunities through short, medium and long range planning.
KSA I: Teachers know and use a broad range of instructional strategies.
KSA J: Teachers use both traditional and electronic technologies to meet students’ learning needs.
KSA M: Teachers identify and incorporate relevant learning resources into their teaching.
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): learning strategies, sequencing/timing, flexibility, instructional strategies, use of ICT,
differentiation of instruction, student interest, cultural sensitivity, pacing, lesson/unit plans, etc.
Ms. Johnston tried a variety of teaching strategies during her field experience. Students experienced
lectures, video clips, computer simulations, computer research and reviews including Kahoots, smart
board and skeleton notes, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, worksheets, demonstrations, labs,
projects, and review activities. Each activity was used effectively to engage students and keep them
focused. Her knowledge of Science is sound and her tenacity to find new, innovative and thorough ways
of teaching difficult concepts is to be congratulated. I also really appreciated her willingness to try new
activities, techniques and methods with her classes. I also very much respected the fact that she
sincerely cares about her students and gives careful thought to how and why kids learn in planning,
preparing and delivering lessons. She has also come to understand the variety of issues that kids deal
with in their lives that affect how they behave and how they learn. She spent time getting to know her
students in and out of class by offering extra review / test prep sessions at lunch and after school to help
kids. This also helped build a strong rapport with her students.
Ms. J has an excellent sense of humor, a real positivity and a great sense of calmness. She also has a
strong desire to have a safe, orderly, and productive classroom that helped students focus, feel safe and
generate a belief that everyone was capable in class. Dana also tried a variety of review activities with
all the Science classes. The students found the activities to be very effective and helpful prior to
summative assessments. Dana also went through every unit exam and quiz and carefully checked that
she had taught each concept sufficiently and created supplemental questions to help students practice for
exams. In many cases she edited and changed reviews and assessments to improve their effectiveness.
Her knowledge of Science and her ability to efficiently research and find great resources for her classes
have given her an edge over many student teachers I've worked with.
Dana also became very skilled at "reading" her classes comprehension of new material. She was also
very critical and reflective of all her lessons and activities and became very adept at planning
appropriate time for learning activities. She adjusted pacing when necessary and was always careful to
revisit concepts not fully mastered after quizzes and tests.

Management and Classroom Climate
KSA G: Teachers create and maintain environments that are conducive to student learning and understand student needs for physical,
social, cultural and psychological security.
KSA H: Teachers know the importance of respecting students’ human dignity by establishing relationships with students that are
characterized by mutual respect, trust and harmony.
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): class tone, routines, rapport with students, conflict resolution, student engagement,
leadership, transitions, etc.
Ms. Johnston has created a very warm and inviting classroom climate. She developed a culture of
mutual respect, teamwork, trust and tolerance that was maintained throughout her practicum. She
established a regular routine and ensured lessons contained smooth transitions between activities. Her
lessons were paced appropriately and were challenging, so the need for corrective discipline was
drastically minimized. When necessary, she rose to the challenge with more difficult classes and met
with students formally and informally to reach a common understanding. She also changed seating
plans to maximize student success. She never shied away from difficult situations and quickly and
efficiently addressed issues in a way that was fair and consistent. Of all my student teachers over the
years, Dana will stand out with her commitment to running well-behaved and focused classrooms.
When necessary, Dana experimented with corrective discipline techniques and quickly found methods
that work well for her. To ensure students were on task and working to potential, she used proximity
and eye contact, reminded the students of her expectations by providing warnings and assigned
detentions when necessary. Situations were dealt with quickly and effectively with little show of
emotion.
Her appreciation and love of Science combined with her professional demeanor and very likeable
personality reduced the need for corrective discipline. Her strong background in Science and her strong
work ethic really helped students recognize the value in the instruction they received.

Communication
KSA J: Teachers know how to use and how to engage students in using traditional and electronic technologies to present and deliver
content, communicate effectively with others.
KSA L: Teachers know how to develop and implement strategies that create and enhance teacher, parent, and student partnerships.
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): oral and written language, communication with parents/guardians, listening skills,
teaching/learning technologies, voice and language, etc.
Dana is an excellent communicator. She speaks clearly with great volume and projection. Her body
language is friendly and non-threatening and she looks calm even when faced with a difficult situation.
Her years working in a law office have instilled character, a strong work ethic, and a terrific ability to
communicate effectively. She is a good listener, a good speaker and a great role model for our youth.
Her written work is equally exceptional with good grammar, spelling and content.
Dana is a kind hearted soul and students recognized this early in her practicum. She cares about her
students and is willing to go the extra mile to change instruction so it will best benefit certain groups of
students. She is upbeat, optimistic and caring and it was difficult to find a class where she wasn't
sporting a big smile. Praise was offered regularly in a genuine and an "I'm proud of you" sort of way.
Students trusted Ms. J. because she created a warm, kind and respectful classroom and because she
conducted herself in a professional manner at all times. When students answered questions incorrectly,
she would always find the positives or the partial truths and have other students add in to build a
complete answer. Never were students made to feel small or unintelligent. Everyone always had
something to contribute.
Ms. Johnston never shied away from trying something new. Many types of strategies were employed.
Dana really blossomed in providing concise detail and careful instructions in lab activities and a variety
of assignments so all students could perform learning tasks whether they be traditional, electronic or
hands on.
Dana is exceptional at posting homework, test reviews, test review keys to school zone with as much as
2 weeks' notice. She also wrote key dates on the whiteboard for all classes. Additionally, she emailed
specific students' parents to ensure that all students and families were aware of due dates and
expectations, or of progress that maybe needed improvement. Communication with families of
struggling students was also exceptional and well - received. Her messages were always centered
around genuine concern for the student and were always solution focussed. Several parents expressed
their thankfulness for Dana's extra efforts.

Assessment Strategies
KSA K: Teachers gather information about their students’ learning needs and progress by using a variety of assessment strategies.
KSA L: Teachers know the importance of engaging parents, purposefully and meaningfully, in all aspects of teaching and learning.
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): appropriate questioning, adapted assessment, assessment variety, record keeping,
formative/summative, reporting, timely feedback etc.
Dana tried a variety of assessment strategies with her classes. She tried whole group, small group and
individual learning activities to really mix up instruction and maximize learning. In group work she
allowed students to make their own groups for some activities, but for other activities she made the
groups herself. Ms. J liked to assign a variety of assignments to engage all learners and provide the type
of variety that enhances student engagement.
Dana also tried a variety of cooperative and active review activities with her classes. The students found
the activities to be very effective and enjoyable prior to summative assessments. Students performed
very well on tests and assignments after her rigorous reviews. Review materials and tests generated by
Dana were so good they were used by the two other staff in the Science department at our school and
were shared with another Junior high as well. Dana was exceptional at creating assessments both
formative and summative that were curriculum and level appropriate. Her efficiency in generating a
wide range of resources was amazing to watch. She enjoys researching topics and ideas that will make
learning more meaningful.
She made a point of identifying students who were struggling and took time to discuss her thoughts and
action plans / ideas for improvement. She was very happy to put strategies in place (like a new seating
plan, or teaching review/ studying strategies, etc..) and watch students improve. One such student with a
new seat drastically improved his focus and participation in class and improved his grades from mid-60's
to mid 80's. Other students also saw improvements too whether it was academic, social or behavioral.

Understanding Students’ Needs
opportunities. Teachers understand the need to vary their plans to accommodate individuals and groups of students.
KSA I: Teachers know and use a broad range of instructional strategies and know which strategies are appropriate to help different
students achieve different outcomes.
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): Planning that includes all students and learning styles, alignment of strategies to student
needs, use of varied resources to differentiate instruction, assists all learners, understands contextual variables that affect teaching and
learning, etc.
Dana had a great awakening in this area. She came to the vivid realization that students have drastically
different ability levels not just between classes but within classes as well. I appreciated that she learned
to perform “early check-ins” with students experiencing difficulty more often to ensure they were on
task and getting work done correctly. She used this effectively for those that were at risk due to lack of
focus, comprehension or effort. Her ability to assess students who may be having difficulty and adapt
her lessons on the fly illustrates her concern for and understanding of students.
Ms. Johnston also modified assignments and testing for a few students that were experiencing
difficulties. All students appreciated the practice sheets they received prior to tests and exams. She also
offered extra help for students that wanted help or practice prior to tests and this really helped our most
struggling students. This speaks volumes about Dana - she is a teacher that cares and wants her students
to do their best.
Dana also carefully screened existing tests and ones she created for equitable distribution of learning
outcomes and concepts as well as difficulty level. She went over our department unit tests as well and
itemized the number of questions we had on various concepts and proposed altering the exams in one
way or another. She did this in a super professional manner such that no one took offence and everyone
appreciated the suggestions for improvement. All quizzes and tests were carefully keyed prior to
administration as well.
Dana was also careful to offer a range of assessments both formative and summative to allow students a
variety of ways to demonstrate their learning.

Professional Qualities and Attributes
KSA B: Teachers understand the legislated, moral and ethical frameworks with in which they work.
KSA L: Teachers know the importance of engaging parents, purposefully and meaningfully, in all aspects of teaching and learning.
KSA N: Teachers know the importance of contributing, independently and collegially, to the quality of their school.
KSA O: Teachers assess the quality of their own teaching and use this to develop and implement their own professional development.
KSA P: Teachers guide their actions with a personal, overall vision of the purpose of teacher and they are able to communicate their
vision, including how it has changed as a result of new knowledge, understanding and experience.
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): work ethics, interpersonal skills, collegiality, initiative, energy, team work, attitude,
appearance, commitment, reflection, etc.
Ms. Johnston always dresses and conducts herself in a very professional manner. She met with other
teachers in the department for team planning and shared resources as well as some new and innovative
lab, video, project and assignment ideas. I encouraged her to share some of her ideas with other schools
and she did so without hesitation. She commented that she really liked how all the Science teachers
really help each other at our school and I have no doubt that she will bring that cooperative spirit to
whatever school board is lucky enough to hire her.
She also spent a huge amount of time preparing engaging lessons and activities, marking assignments,
recording grades, emailing families, posting information and updates to school zone. My Science staff
team members commented on her character, professionalism, knowledge and likeable personality. She
pretty much took on every aspect of teaching and I fully trusted her in all areas.
Dana is a great person. She treats everyone the same way she would like to be treated. She models
respect and kindness consistently day in day out. She also demonstrates patience consistently and has a
strong belief in doing the right thing for herself and others. She attended all of our department and staff
meetings as well as professional development days and was an active participant in parent teacher
interviews. All staff also found her to be very friendly, polite and hard working.
Dana is an amazing planner. She made very detailed unit and lesson plans and modified them as
required to ensure students were experiencing success. She is also super-efficient with her time and can
accomplish a lot in a short time. Dana also creates the highest quality assessments, reviews and
assignments. In this area, she truly shines. Everything she generated was of super high quality and
made to fit curricular outcomes. She really helped out all staff in the department by sharing all of the
items she created.
She built very positive relationships with students and staff. Everyone found Dana to be very polite,
approachable and helpful. I know my students will miss her. She cares about doing a great job and
about doing her best for her students.
Dana has also offered to stay and help the students in grade 7 and 8 complete their pre-Christmas
projects ( Bridges and mouse trap powered cars specifically. This is very much appreciated as Dana
should have finished up on December 14th but wants to stay and help until December 22nd. Ms.
Johnston has also been a huge help in producing announcements, running auditions as well as helping
set up and run our School's Talent show. Her expertise and help in this area is also very much
appreciated.

Reflection and Self-Evaluation
KSA O: Teachers assess the quality of their own teaching and use this to develop and implement their own professional development.
KSA P: Teachers guide their actions with a personal, overall vision of the purpose of teacher and they are able to communicate their
vision, including how it has changed as a result of new knowledge, understanding and experience
Suggested Topics (Not all need to be addressed): establishes specific strategies to meet professional goals, demonstrates oral/written
reflective practices, engages in goal setting, communicates overall vision of teaching, etc.
Ms. Johnston is a very reflective teacher. She made notes on her lesson plans affecting future delivery.
She noted many things including pacing, questioning, timing, new instructions to be added, seating plan
changes and the list goes on. Dana came early every morning and stayed late most nights to type up her
reflections, mark tests or assignments and modify upcoming lessons to best help students.
Dana reflected frequently by both in depth journaling and discussions about several aspects of teaching
including: individual lessons, discipline, class rules, consequences, group work, running labs, lesson
pacing, differentiated instruction and performing demonstrations. Dana is a great communicator and I
enjoyed our discussions on a variety of teaching topics. Dana quickly modified and improved repeated
lessons when necessary and responded positively to suggestions that would improve her instruction.
She appreciated having multiple classes of the same subject so she could modify and improve her
lessons. I enjoyed watching her learn how to modify lessons for improvement. As time went on she
made improvements on her own and she became so good at this that lessons near the end of her
practicum didn't require improvement.

Additional Mentor Teacher Comments:
Dana is an exceptional young teacher. She plans and generates teaching resources like no other student
teacher I've had. She deals with discipline issues quickly and efficiently and communicates well with
students, staff and parents. She cares about doing a great job and genuinely enjoys young people. She
pushes students to believe in themselves and do their best.
She has shown tremendous growth in confidence and her ability to perform all aspects of teaching. She
is a real team player and always shares resources and ideas to benefit both students and staff. Our
Science department really enjoyed Dana and loved the way she shared all her new discoveries and
creations of learning tasks, videos and supplemental material.
I encouraged Dana to put her name in for the E.E. and G.S. Lord Memorial Prize award for outstanding
student teaching and I'll be writing a letter of support for Dana to help in the process. I encouraged this
because Ms. J exceeds these requirements on every level. I've had at least 20 student teachers over the
years, many of whom, have continued in the profession and Dana in comparison is in the exceptional
category
It is for all the aforementioned reasons that I feel Ms. Johnston should be hired by a board, school and
department lucky enough to have her. If we had an opening at our school I would not hesitate in any way
to strongly lobby for her to join our staff. I wish her the best of luck as she enters the teaching
profession.
Student Teacher Comments:
I am sincerely grateful to have had the opportunity to complete my Advanced Field Experience at
Westminster Junior High School. I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent here, connecting with such
an amazing group of students, and working along side such a well-seasoned, exceptional group of
teachers, and staff. I am most appreciative of the unwavering support and guidance provided by my
mentor teacher, Mr. Dave Ettinger. As a result of Mr. Ettinger’s expertise and guidance, I feel that I
have a much deeper understanding of the knowledge, skills, and attributes that characterize an
exceptional teacher. Mr. Ettinger’s influence and instruction taught me so much over my time at
Westminster Junior High School. I feel that my development as a teacher has taken a huge step forward,
changing the things I learned at university into useable skills.
This experience has allowed me to flourish as an individual, educating me on significance of patience,

resiliency, and organization in everyday life. Over the past nine weeks, the constructive feedback
provided by Mr. Ettinger, and my University Facilitator, Mr. Hrynew, in combination with personal
reflections, has allowed me to grow as an educator, and hone my personal teaching philosophy and
skills.
I am eager to continue growing, and learning in my pursuit to become the best teacher I can be, and
look forward to my next teaching opportunity.

Johnston Dana 1226129 f17 450

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Advanced Field Experience Final Evaluation

Field Experience Information:

It is recommended that the Student Teacher receive a grade of:

Final Grade (Credit or No Credit): Credit Date (dd/mm/yyyy): 14/12/2017

Fall 2017 Page 1 of 11

Description of the school and context of teaching

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Student Teacher Comments:

This experience has allowed me to flourish as an individual, educating me on significance of patience,

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