RUNNING HEAD: Domain D Literature Review

Domain D Literature Review

Brendon Boitano
National University
December 4, 2016

RUNNING HEAD: Domain D Literature Review

Abstract
In this paper I will discuss my rational for choosing my two artifacts for my PDQP for
Domain D. I believe that my BTSA information gathering, and my UbD lesson plan meet
the two TPEs in Domain D, and I will discuss why I selected these artifacts.

RUNNING HEAD: Domain D Literature Review

Domain D, planning instruction and designing learning experiences for students
contains two TPEs. These two TPEs are TPE 8 learning about students, and TPE 9
instructional planning. For TPE 8 I used a piece of my year one BTSA work that asked us
to create profile of students. For TPE 9 I used an Understanding by Design (UbD) unit
plan about the Cold War to show my instructional planning.
It is easy to dismiss the importance of "knowing your students" as either a
vacuous platitude or a statement of the obvious. However, the process of coming to know
students as learners is often difficult and challenging, particularly if the students are
struggling with schoolwork. (Powell, 2011) When I first did my BTSA assignment about
my class profile I started to understand what it really means to know my students.
Through the steps of starting the data collection process I got to lean how multiple
factors, including gender and health, can influence students behavior, and understand the
connections between students health and their ability to learn. (CTC, 2013) I also
decided to make sure I knew my students through interpersonal interactions, I learned
about my students abilities, ideas, interests and aspirations. (CTC, 2013) Based on
assessment data, classroom observation, reflection and consultation, I identified students
who need specialized instruction, including gifted students and students with physical
disabilities, learning disabilities, or health conditions requiring instructional adaptations.
(CTC, 2013) I am lucky in the fact that I work at a school site that doesnt just encourage
parents to become involved and support their efforts to increase student learning, we
require it. Through our charter our patents are said to be the primary educator. Parents are
also required to come in for monthly cohort meetings to meet with teachers and discuss
the students progress. I feel that this BTSA lesson really helped me in understand what it

RUNNING HEAD: Domain D Literature Review

means to know my students and covers the goals behind TPE 8. I will continue to do an
activity at the beginning of every school year.
TPE 9 deals with instructional planning. Its goal is that teacher plan instruction
that is comprehensive in relation to the subject matter to be taught and in accordance with
state-adopted academic content standards for students. Also teachers need to understand
the vertical alignment of curriculum within the state-adopted content standards and how
to plan instruction accordingly. Teachers furthermore need to establish clear long and
short-term goals for learning based on students current levels of achievement. (CTC,
2013) This is why I chose to use an UbD unit plan for to complete this artifact. UbD unit
and lesson plans provide a framework and a toolkit of research-based best practices that
have been proven effective in helping educators to promote understanding-based results
for learning, expand the range of assessment tools and processes they use to monitor
student achievement, and enhance their design of instructional activities to promote high
levels of student achievement. (Brown, 2014) I believe that the UbD design of this unit
connects directly to this TPE in that it shows that I plan appropriate assessments to
monitor and evaluate student learning. Also it shows varied teaching methods to help
students meet or exceed grade level expectations.
I will continue to update my PDQP with my best practices but as of now I believe
that these two artifacts relate directly to the topics discussed in Domain D.

RUNNING HEAD: Domain D Literature Review

References:

Brown, John L. Making the Most of Understanding by Design, 2014. Retrieved on
December 7, 2016 from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/103110/chapters/ImplementingUnderstanding-by-Design@-A-Summary-of-Lessons-Learned.aspx

Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Revisions Adopted, March 2013. California
Teaching Performance Expectations. Retrieved on November 27, 2016 from
http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/standards/adopted-TPEs-2013.pdf

Powell, William and Kusuma-Powell, Ochan, How to Teach Now, 2011. Retrieved on
December 7, 2016 from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/111011/chapters/Knowing-OurStudents-as-Learners.aspx