Jessica T. Johnson

1. Jessica T. Johnson Southern Wesleyan University Master of Education Electronic Portfolio

2. Contents • Background • Philosophy of Education • Professional Leadership • Concepts of Applied Educational Research • Introduction to Curriculum Development • Introductional Technology • Contemporary Issues Involving Diversity in the Classroom • Student Assessment • Portfolio Presentation and Assessment Seminar • Summary

3. Background I am a first grade teacherat WE Parker Elementary school in Edgefield, South Carolina. I have held that position for five years. I am also in the Master of Education program at Southern Wesleyan University. Purpose The purpose of this electronic portfolio is to track my progress throughout the master degree program. Audience The audience for this portfolio is Dr. Couch and any other faculty and staff at Southern Wesleyan who may be interested.

4. Philosophy of Education Reflection In my philosophy class, Dr. Hall made me think more deeply about educational issues and the people who governed them. Before my philosophy class, I would teach the standards and give assessments without considering the reasoning behind them. Now I pay more attention to the people who make the laws and the reasons they make them. I look at what other teachers across the country are doing to successfully prepare their students for the next grade level and for the workforce. I feel that my students are not my students for the year. They are my students for a lifetime. Click on the book below to learn about my philosophy of education.

5. Professional Leadership Reflection My Professional Leadership class helped me to realize that administration was not an area that interested me. After this class, I have a new respect for the administration at my school and in the district. I realize that most decisions have more than two sides to them. I understand that there are laws to be upheld as well as moral and ethical issues. In this class, I read Theodore R. Sizer’s book Horace’s School. The book pointed out the pros and cons of the classical theory of teaching versus the social and open theory of teaching. It show how difficult it is to change educational traditions in our society. Click on the book below to learn about Horace’s School.

6. Concepts of Applied Educational Research Reflection I did my research on the effects that the Accelerated Reader program have on first grade students’ reading comprehension. The part of the research that really caught my attention was the comparison between the students’ responses to the surveys and the results to the STAR test. The students who did not like the program and who felt that they were poor readers were the same students who did not meet the goal on the STAR test. I wonder if the students did poorly on the test because they did not like reading or if the students do not like reading because they do not like the reading program. I felt like those students were caught in a downward cycle. Many of their posttest score were lower than their pretest scores. In order to become successful readers, I think these students need immediate intervention. Click on the book below to view my research proposal.

7. Introduction to Curriculum Development Reflection In my curriculum class, I did research on the curriculum we use at our school. I was not surprised to find that most schools throughout the state and the nation use a similar curriculum. Since we are all required to teach the same standards in South Carolina, many schools have similar curriculums using the same textbooks, basils, and supporting materials. I am fortunate to teach at a school that gives the teachers flexibility in teaching. Our administration only requires that the teachers are teaching the standards. We are able to use our choice of resources and supporting materials. Click the book below to read a review of an article on integrating literacy and technology in the curriculum.

8. Introductional Technologies Reflection In my technology class, I had the opportunities to explore many different aspects of the computer. I found that I had become comfortable with just a few features on the computer. I would use the same programs all the time. After being involved in this class, I learned that there are other programs that were made for different projects. This class helped me to become very familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint. I now use it in my classroom to present new information to my students. I helps them to stay focused on the lessons. They also appear to be more interested in visuals and audio that accompanies the lessons. Click the book below to view a first grader’s electronic growth portfolio.

9. Contemporary Issues Involving Diversity in the Classroom Reflection In my regular self-contained first grade classroom, I have a diverse group of students. I have resource students, speech students and students with ADHD. As a teacher, I am required to make sure that all of my students are receiving a quality education and that all of their special needs are being met. In this class I learned ways to create a classroom environment that catered to the needs of all of my students. I think that the most important thing that I learned was that many of the changes I make in the classroom for my special needs students also benefit the other students. Click the book below to view the summary of an article on ADHD in American schools.

10. Student Assessment Reflection I believe that this class changed my teaching more than any of the other classes. It made me realize the true purpose of assessments. The assessment tools I use should reflect what I have taught my students. Since I’ve taken this class, I make sure that I am assessing my students on the skill that I want them to learn. I also make sure that my students are not just memorizing facts and recalling them. My assessment stools have many different types of questions on them. I make sure that I have questions that require higher order critical thinking skills. My special needs students may have separate assessment tools. The table of specifications helps me prepare tests that assess the standards that I taught. Click the book below to view an example of a table of specification.

11. Portfolio Presentation and Assessment Seminar Reflection In this class, I completed my research project. I realized that I wanted to do more with the information that I learned from the project. I plan to take the results and recommendations back to the first grade teachers. I believe that we could create a plan to help the students who are not successful at reading. I think that first grade is the time to turn those students on to reading. According to the results of the research, there is a small percentage of students who would benefit from form some individual assistance. The students need someone to assist them with finding books that interest them and that are on their levels. I think that this would be the beginning of improving the students attitudes about reading. Once they change their attitudes, reading becomes a pleasure and not a hindrance. Click the book below to view my research project.

12. Summary I believe that this master of education program has made me a better teacher. I utilize many of the skills that I learned in all my classes each day in my classroom. I feel that I am more prepared to teach because I was able to apply the skills I learned to an authentic setting. Learning different approaches to teaching in class and applying them in my classroom made it made it easier for me to remember the approaches. I was also able to see first hand which approaches were appropriate for me and my grade level. The design of this program gave me an opportunity to further my education. I believe that if it were not for this program, I would have waited years to pursue another degree. I feel that because of this program I am a better teacher and a better person.