Sarah Engström, Outdoor and Environmental Educator
K-8 Teacher Certified
ALASKA STATE TEACHING STANDARDS
Evidence supporting my ability as a teacher to adhere to Alaskan Teaching Standards
Standard 7: Family and Community Involvement
A beginning teacher works as a partner with parents, families, and the community.
Rationale
Artifact
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Standard
7A. Promoting regular communication between the classroom and students’ families
7B. Participating in school-wide efforts, if available, that involve families and the public in the school community.
7C. Relating curriculum to local lifestyles, using culturally relevant lesson plans, using local experts, local artists, and field trips; and using other instructional strategies that connect classroom activities with students’ cultures and families and with the local community;
7D. Providing parents and families the opportunity to set and monitor student learning goals.
This standard was not addressed at midpoint portfolio time.
To address standard 7B I wrote lesson plans for and participated in 3 school wide literacy and multicultural events at Chinook and Wonder Park Elementary Schools.
I also organized various fun and educational extracurricular events designed to create connections to the Kellogg Campus of Alaska Pacific University and the families of Farm School students, and the greater APU community.
This artifact addresses my ability to meet Standard 7a because it is an example of a weekly letter I would send home to parents, via a variety of stragegies and mediums, to maintain regular communication between my classroom and student families.
"She accomplishes this [making connections with local cultures] through creating hands on place based curriculum on her own, going above and beyond the typical job description of a lead instructor. In addition, Sarah has a “get things done” work attitude calling on community guest speakers and coordinating age appropriate field trips within our Palmer Community. She speaks clearly, communicating directly with other teachers as well as myself. She was visible, friendly and holds a strong presence both in and out of the classroom. Students both respect and adore her."
-Megan Rock, Louise's Farm School Director
This quote from my advisor at Louise's Farm school proves my ability to meet Standard 7C. In the curriculuae I designed here were focused heavily on the concept of Human resources available in education. I had guest speakers from the Department of Transportation, Fish and Game, Local Beekeepers, Farmers, Bat Scientists, and a group of 6th grade students in Chimacum, WA (with whom we created a collaborative blog discussing climate change in different parts of the United States.)
MIDPOINT PORTFOLIO ARTIFACTS AND RATIONALES
FINAL PORTFOLIO ARTIFACTS AND RATIONALES
7A. Promoting regular communication between the classroom and students’ families;
7B. Participating in school-wide efforts, if available, that involve families and the public in the school community.
7C. Relating curriculum to local lifestyles, using culturally relevant lesson plans, using local experts, local artists, and field trips; and using other instructional strategies that connect classroom activities with students’ cultures and families and with the local community;
7D. Providing parents and families the opportunity to set and monitor student learning goals.
This artifact proves my ability to meet standard 7A because it demonstrates how I am keeping communications open with parents about their student's progress. Many of the parents of these students called the office phone number for my host teacher, and I was always willing to answer their questions, but most of them chose to speak to my host teacher instead.
Had this been my own classroom, I would have supplemented these phone calls with regular update newsletters. In my own classroom I plan to make full use of a class blog, where I would post updates and generic plans for the week. I think that this would be beneficial for students that are absent as well.
When I was working as a long term substitute at the Russian Immersion Program at Turnagain Elementary I did send home weekly update newsletters. Attached is an example.
This artifact proves my ability to meet standard 7 B because it shows proof of my participation in school wide events and planning other field trips and excursions. I also played on the "Student vs Staff" Volleyball game before Spring Break (March 2016) as well as the Patrick "Pacman" Perez anti-tobacco student assembly.
This artifact proves my ability to meet standard 7C because I was actively participating in the grading process in the classroom, which was posted online as well as sending progress reports home with students to increase connection between home and school lives. I also participated in Parent Teacher Conferences, which I found to be very interesting. I am always fascinated in meeting the families of students and learning more about the different facets of their lives.
This artifact proves my ability to meet standard 7B because my host teacher notes how I am bringing in the local culture into my lessons as well as taking students out into their community.
Palmer Junior Middle School has a significant population of Alaska Native students and it was very interesting to discuss culture and connections with these students as a part of my lessons as well.
"Sarah participates in daily email conversations between staff and parents to update them on student progress and academic needs."
-Host Teacher Comments
"Sarah arranged field trips to the National Tsunami Warning Center and Musk Ox Farm for the Science Olympiad class. She made a point of relating some of the Alaskan Native cultural stories with stories from other cultures. When discussing astronomy Sarah included a discussion of mythology and how people use stars for modern day horoscopes and navigation. She also made a point of connecting students to their place by getting kids outside to observe native and invasive plant species for Science Olympiad lessons."
-Host Teacher comments
For more information about my involvement in schoolwide finctions and extracurricular activities click here!
"Sarah updates grades every other day on the iCue grade reporting software used in the Mat-Su Borough School District.
She prints out progress reports for parents to sign every two weeks. Sarah was a big help during Parent Teacher Conferences."
~Host Teacher Comments"