SLO 2

SLO 2: Use and model effective communication skills.

My understanding of SLO 2: 

     To me, SLO 2 is all about creating a dialogue between students, parents, and the school. We are one team, and making sure that everyone involved is on the same page is important to me. I want to ensure that my students and their parents know that I am available to talk and discuss the happening of our classroom. I believe it is important, and helps build that sense of community in our room. 

     It also means that students are able to show what they know through their communication skills.  Not only can they solve a problem given to them, but they also can explain why they solved it that way, why the used the information they did, and where it came from. By communicating, students are using their higher-order thinking skills, and really demonstrating their knowledge. 

Artifacts:

• Parent Newsletter
• Double Consonant Lesson 
• Chants & Songs

Rationale:

     These artifacts show the proper use of communication throughout my time student teaching. I chose the Double Consonant lesson because it shows that I can facilitate students’ development of communication skills, thinking skills, and creative expression as a basis for instruction. I know that by having them orally explain the process to one another, it will become more permanent into their long-term memory, and they will be able to apply it throughout the curriculum. 

     I also used my introduction newsletter because it is vital in opening the doors of communication between the parents and myself.  I want them to know what is happening in our classroom, especially if they can't be there themselves. I take pride in communicating with parents, and a weekly newsletter is something I plan on continuing in any future classroom. 
     With my third artifact, I use effective communication strategies to model different language arts and math chants for my students. These chants and songs help students remembering different concepts, and have them take an active role in their learning. They are using their communication skills to take that role.