INTASC+6B

** b. models effective written, oral and non-verbal communication to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom for ALL students **

**What is this artifact? **

The artifact exemplifies **effective written, oral and non-verbal communication** while introducing the genre of fantasy to my fourth grade class at Hollifield Station Elementary School. The goals for this lesson were to introduce the elements of fantasy, find examples in a given text, use elements of fantasy to twist a traditional fairytale with a partner, and then to independently write a fractured fairytale. The purpose of these lesson goals was **to foster active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interactions in the classroom**. This artifact includes a lesson plan and pictures**.**

**Why did you put this artifact in this INTASC principle? **

I feel that this whole class, two day, language arts lesson is a comprehensive example of INTASC Standard 6B because it included **multiple forms of communication** and **a variety of interactions**. My communication with the students during this lesson **fostered inquiry and critical thinking** based on questioning, class discussions and read-alouds. **Technology** was incorporated into this lesson as a support for brainstorming through use of a Kidspiration web. Students were able to **collaborate with a partner** as they “twisted” a traditional fairytale. The partner activity served as a model for the Fractured Fairytale writing assignment that was also introduced during day 1. By using a **variety of teaching techniques** in order to model **effective communication, foster inquiry, and support collaborative interactions** and **scaffolding** my students' understanding, I was able to **meet the needs of all my students**.


 * In what way(s) do you anticipate this artifact contributing to your positive impact on student learning in your class? **

I anticipate that this artifact will **positively impact my students’** understanding of fantasy elements. During this lesson I learned that my students benefit from the experience of working in pairs, as evidenced their successful completion of the Fractured Fairytale writing assignment. Having seen the results of cooperative learning with this group, I intend to use this method in the future. The read-alouds during this two day lesson gave students the chance to hear examples of both fantasy and twisted fairytales. The selection of a variety of texts, including __Jamanji__, __The True Story of the Three Little Pigs,__ and __The Frog Prince Continued…__, provided the class literary examples during this lesson and established a clear picture of assignment requirements and my expectations.

**Where does this artifact fit within the core cluster of instruction activities: judges prior learning, plans for instruction, teaches, assesses, analyzes, or reflects; and why? **

This artifact fits best into the **plans for instruction** and **teaches** portions of the **JPTAAR instructional activities**. **Planning** for this lesson was very important because I wanted to incorporate a plethora of activities into the lesson to make it meaningful for the class. **During teaching**, time and classroom management were vital elements in order to keep the lesson moving and fit in each activity. Without that structure, it would have been impossible for my students to finish their work. Overall, I am satisfied with my students' performance and accomplishments and attribute that to my instructional practices.