Domain Three

The focus of Domain Three is Instruction. I chose to focus on this Domain as I feel it is the most important aspect of education, and by effectively implementing it into my classroom, I will be benefiting my students most.

The component of Domain Three that I am most comfortable with is 3a, Communicating with Students. I have made it a focus in my class for my kindergartners to be able to communicate with each other and others the clear learning goals and expectations of each content area. My clear learning goals are not only posted, but discussed and revisited throughout a lesson. Behavior expectations are noted prior to each activity and procedures are clearly posted, discussed and reviewed. My students are not only able to tell a visitor what the objective is for a lesson, but also why that objective is important. Delving further into communication, I have the unique experience of working in an inner-city school where the English language is used in multiple different facets. Many of my students have a different version of the English language that they use at home then they are taught to use at school. And trust me...it is taught. At our school, we call it a "code switch" where students have to switch from what is appropriate at home, to what is appropriate at school. This goes beyond language and into behavior, procedures and expectations, but it is most noticeable in language.

I think the component that most strongly ties with instruction is 3d, Assessment. Assessment is a driving force in academics as it helps me determine if I was successful in my teaching and if my students are prepared to move on, or if I need to task analyze at a more defined level. Daily assessments are key in the form of exit slips, the output in a content notebook, observation, discussion, and flash backs. With the effective use of daily assessments, unit or theme assessment results should be at a higher level, or at least unsurprising.

The component that I struggle the most with and would like to focus on is 3b, Questioning and Discussion. I tend to struggle with this component greatly in my classroom. When using questioning with kindergartners, I have found it hard to dig deep into content that is typically knowledge based. Some students are able to give further explanation or discussion of things, but the majority seem to only answer with the knowledge based-content. As for discussion led by questions of the students...whoa! I spend most of the year getting my five year olds to recognize that a question is not a statement. It's always that moment of panic when a guest speaker says the dreaded "Does anyone have any questions?", because every kindergarten hand in the room will pop up, but all will be statements and if there is a question it is typically "Can I go to the bathroom?".

So the question that I pose to anyone reading: is there any advice as to provide lessons that are question and discussion based, that is not only appropriate for five year olds, but also the most effective form of instruction? I would really appreciate any responses!