INTASC+Standard+01

__INTASC Standard 01__

The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.

__Specific Category of Standard 01__

INTASC.1.C. The teacher can relate his/her disciplinary knowledge to other subject areas

__Understanding Sentence__

The teacher has a well-rounded knowledge of and can find multiple resources for what he or she teaches and design meaningful activities for students.

__Artifacts__
 * Interdisciplinary Curriculum Unit: Water (Fourth Grade)

__Reflect__

This document is an interdisciplinary curriculum unit in which I had to connect one topic (water) throughout 6 content areas (Language arts, math, science, social studies, health, and art). For this assignment, I had to create an activity for each of the 6 disciplinary areas. I also had to create a concept and skill lesson plan. In addition, I had to create an interactive bulletin board and relate it to my topic. Because of its many elements, I have used it to stand alone to represent INTASC standard 1. This artifact is evidence towards my abilities to reach out across a range of disciplines to explore one topic. It also speaks for my abilities to plan and connect what my students know to what they will do. Each of the activities exemplifies what I know about how each of the 6 content areas is structured and how I think students can learn within these content areas.

__Project__

What this artifact says about me as a learner is that I am constantly working hard to create meaningful projects and develop my skills as I complete my assignments. This interdisciplinary curriculum unit was the longest and biggest project that I had ever undertaken (as of the Fall 2008 semester). Although this was a challenge, I was excited about it! I had done simple lesson plans and completed those in Microsoft Word. However, this was bigger, more complex, and creative. I knew that if I put forth the effort, I could create something amazing. As a learner, I am proud of this artifact because it really raised my standards for myself as a teacher. Having never attempted something so large and then being able to produce something at this level made me realize exactly what I was capable of and that I could improve as both learner and teacher. In regard to my future practice, I think this artifact has instilled in me that I can always get better, improve, and take advantages of opportunities to challenge myself.