INTASC+5B

**b. plan active learning experiences involving ALL students**


 * What is this artifact? **

Teaching in an open classroom was a new concept when I first began my student teaching in Howard County. I was concerned about the limitations that would come when there was not a classroom door to close. When planning a lesson that incorporated **positive social interactions** and **active engagement** I had to focus on **motivation and behavior** expectations. This artifact is a mathematics lesson taught to a class of above grade level math students. The focus of the lesson was place value. Students were **actively engaged** in a content-rich game I created called “Where’s my Place, What’s my Value?” Due to the nature of the game, rules and expectations were set to minimize voice volume and distracting behavior. This artifact inclued a lesson plan, pictures and student work.


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

The focus of INTASC principle 5b is centered in **motivation and behavior** while “creating active learning experiences involving ALL students”. I felt that this artifact was a prime example of my ability to motivate students and control their behavior. The place value game “Where’s my Place, What’s my Value?” **involved the whole class** and students were **actively involved in learning**. Each student was given a number sign or comma and instructed to create the number read to the class. Two students were labeled the “solution-ists”; after the students created the number they thought was correct the “solution-ists” checked to make sure the number created matched the number read. Positive social interactions were necessary for the success of this lesson. Expectations and rules were reviewed prior to the activity to ensure that students were **engaged, motivated and actively involved in learning**.


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

This artifact positively impacted my students because they were able to **interact with each other** and make meaning of place value. More than three quarters of the twenty-two student math class **successfully completed** the in class worksheet //[see Lesson Plan, analysis section]//. Each student was equally important to the success of the group. Incorporating and engaging each student is often hard in mathematics but by using a content-rich game that involved everyone students were **self-motivated**.


 * 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? **

Within the core cluster of instruction activities this artifact fits best into **plans for instruction and teaches.** When planning for this lesson I was able to develop expectations that would result in the success of all my students. I was also able to evaluate the authenticity of the learning that would be taking place prior to teaching the lesson. My goal was not to create a //fun// game, but to create an **engaging** and **active learning experience that involved ALL my students.** As I was teaching I noticed that students were engaged and highly motivated; once I saw this I was able to increase the difficulty and critical thinking questions posed to the class ultimately resulting in their mastery of place value.

Lesson Plan Pictures Student Work