top of page

DOMAIN 1: PLANNING AND PREPARATION

1a. Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy

  • Content knowledge

  • Prerequisite relationships

  • Content pedagogy

I pride myself on enriching my content knowledge through a diverse array of pedagogical texts that have shaped my teaching. The following texts are paramount to my idea of a well-rounded dance education.

​

​

1b. Demonstrating Knowledge of Students

  • Child development

  • Learning process

  • Special needs

  • Student skills, knowledge, and proficiency

  • Interests and cultural heritage

Understanding the needs of my students is essential to successfully delivering instruction content. Additionally, I strongly base my pedagogical stance on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory, and believe that identifying the strengths of my students can help me best adapt my instructional methods. My knowledge of students is evidenced in my edTPA "Context for Learning" below, as well as a form that collected data so I could identify my students' Multiple Intelligences during my student teaching. 

Screen Shot 2020-05-01 at 1.21.52 PM.png

1c. Setting Instructional Outcomes

  • Value, sequence, and alignment

  • Clarity

  • Balance

  • Suitability for diverse learners

My instructional model is a combination of the National Core Arts Standards for Dance as well as the New Jersey Visual and Performing Arts Standards for Dance. Both of these work jointly to allow students varied opportunities to create, perform, respond, and connect their learning. 

1d. Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources

  • For classroom

  • To extend content knowledge

  • For students

As a member of the National Dance Education Organization, I have access to the Dance Education Literature and Research descriptive index (DELRdi), which contains an index of over 7,500 journal articles, theses/dissertations, conference proceedings, government reports, independent research and papers, standards and curriculum, newsletters, historical papers, blogs, syllabi, and online postings. I plan to use this resource to continue to grow as an educator and advocate for dance in schools. 

ndeo logo.png

1e. Designing coherent instruction

  • Learning activities

  • Instructional materials and resources

  • Instructional groups

  • Lesson and unit structure

A successful unit plan must scaffold upon student's prior knowledge while guiding them to discover and build new content knowledge and contextual understandings. Below is an example I have created of a unit plan for a kindergarten dance curriculum that draws in elements of dance and social justice based on a cross-curricular science connection.

1f. Designing student assessments

  • Congruence with outcomes

  • Criteria and standards

  • Formative assessments

  • Use for planning 

Measuring student growth through both formative and summative assessment is imperative to understanding the success of the delivery of instruction. Below I have included an example of an assessment created during my student teaching at the conclusion of a 10th grade "Kinesiology for Dancers" unit. 

bottom of page