Standard #: 5.

Artifact #: 5.1

Artifact Name/Title/Description: Math Lesson Plan

In this artifact, learning was reflected on how to develop a math lesson plan for
students with exceptionalities in a meaningful way. The students were provided a
reflection at the end of the activities so that the special educator was able to monitor each
individuals progress to understand each students feelings towards new materials. As a
special educator in training, I have learned many strategies for reaching out to each
student to provide a sense of empathy. This artifact has also taught me how to touch base
on all of the important aspects of lesson plans, including learning goals/objectives,
methodology, materials, and assessment/evaluation. Standard 5.0 addresses that
beginning special educators develop and implement a variety of education for individuals
with exceptionalities across a wide range of settings and different learning experiences. In
this artifact, the students were provided a wide range of settings and different learning
experiences because the lesson plan included activities for the students to go out to stores
and restaurants. Taking students out in the community helps the students to relate to the
material because they are applying it to real life situations. The assessment standard also
includes the use of technologies to support instructional assessment, planning, and
delivery for individuals with exceptionalities. The math lesson plan included the selection
of appropriate materials that were not too complex for the students, but rather supported
each individuals needs; this included power point slides to present the information to the
class on a smart board as a way of creating a visual. This artifact also touched on the idea
of teaching the skills for critical thinking and problem solving to individuals with
exceptionalities because it designed a plan for the students to solve money problems and
to work with pairs to explore all of the possible solutions.
Designing lesson plans may be tedious and time consuming, but I am
continuously learning strategies for designing lesson plans to fit the needs of all of my
students. The special educator should always take into account each of the students
different interests and levels of performances to ensure that they never exclude their
students. I am also continuing to learn more about the significance of hands-on activities
for students with exceptionalities. In special education, students typically absorb more of
the material when they are actively engaged in the lesson, rather than sitting at their desks
and listening to a lecture. For example, the math lesson plan includes taking students out
into the community to learn how to manage their money at the grocery store and
restaurant. In new experiences, I will be prepared to teach the lessons that I have planned
to my students in an explicit way so that everyone will understand. By having all of the
information aligned in an organized way, this will make the instruction easier for the
teacher to deliver. I have gained insights on how to gradually move the lesson from
activating prior knowledge, to gaining student attention, to demonstrating concept, to
bringing closure to the lesson, and to articulating evaluation. These are all essential
aspects that always need to be included. In this lesson plan, the students were first
provided a worksheet to fill out on the information that they already knew in pairs and
then the class discussed the answers. Then, the teacher modeled the material for the
students, instructed guided practice by taking the students out into the community,
instructed independent practice by giving the students worksheets to fill out again, but
independently, and brought closure to the lesson by writing reflective questions on the
board for the students to complete. By looking back at this artifact as a resource, I can
also apply the skills for using proper language when creating learning goals/objectives.
For example, it is more specific to use words such as demonstrate or distinguish
rather than learn or understand.
.