Do I Really Need to Take the Edtpa Again
Proficient Advice: Avoid These Half-dozen edTPA Mistakes
What can teachers do to ensure they accomplish a passing edTPA score, while making the process equally painless equally possible? Here, she shares common mistakes teachers make.
Hither at Selected, we constantly explore new ways to back up teachers. Anxious nigh your upcoming interview? We'll assist you nail it. Overwhelmed with pupil behavior? We've got yous. Even the dreaded demo lesson: we have the answers. But when it comes to the edTPA, the teacher assessment more and more states now require teachers to pass for certification, we chosen in an expert. Come across Michelle Lewis-Mondesir, CEO of L.E.A.R.Due north Coaching & Consulting, LLC, who has spent over a decade in diverse leadership and educational activity positions in schools. In improver, she is a former edTPA evaluator, and currently provides expert coaching for teachers completing the edTPA.
We asked her the question all edTPA takers want to know: What can teachers do to ensure they achieve a passing score, while making the process as painless as possible? And Michelle broke it down for u.s.. Here, she shares mutual mistakes teachers make that 1) result in a lower score, 2) waste education candidates' precious fourth dimension, and 3) make their lives more difficult.
The About Mutual Pitfalls to Avoid
Pitfall #1: Being Vague
When nosotros asked Michelle what mistakes teachers almost often make when completing the edTPA, beingness vague was the first thing she mentioned. Y'all must control your story. The full general rule: If you are thinking information technology, write it.
As educators we tend to fill in the blanks for our students, and when we do this we often give them the do good of the doubt considering we know them. EdTPA graders will not give you the benefit of the uncertainty. They don't know you, they simply know what is on the page. If you lack details, the evaluator will make their own assumptions about your planning. You lot do not desire this. Remember, there is no opportunity for clarifying questions, and if there is a lack of details, your score will reflect this.
Pitfall #ii: Choosing A Lesson Topic You Are Unclear About
You are going to spend a lot of time on the topic you lot cull for your lesson. Y'all will be asked to explicate your thinking and planning in peachy detail, and you will be expected to know how to scaffold and anticipate educatee misconceptions. If you aren't familiar with the lesson content, this tin can brand things very difficult.
For example, a teacher might write their lesson plans on research skills when they are notwithstanding learning the content, or haven't taught information technology before. This instructor will have to grapple with familiarizing themselves with all of the task components of edTPA while simultaneously learning best practices on teaching research skills. This, of course, isn't platonic.
Michelle recommends choosing a topic you are very comfortable with and have a adept deal of interest in. Since you lot volition be spending a significant amount of time with the subject, interest is central!
Pitfall #3: Completing The Tasks And Job Parts Out Of Order
Michelle couldn't stress this more: Plan your lesson first. Complete this task thoroughly before attempting other tasks.
Well-nigh teachers brainstorm with this intention, but when they don't plan thoughtfully and feel constrained past fourth dimension, they endeavor short cuts. They recall they tin make a rough lesson programme (not thoroughly equally Michelle advises), and so pic the lesson and complete the instructional commentary on the lesson afterwards the video. Finally, they become dorsum and finish the lesson programme. This creates a number of problems:
- The quality of the video is only as good as the lesson planning. If you don't accept the fourth dimension to plan your lesson before yous teach it, yous will be stuck trying to make the video fit. This creates additional work, and can also lower your score for this task.
- Making changes to your lesson plan subsequently the fact often results in inconsistencies. Ofttimes times, teachers make changes subsequently the fact, and they are not reflected in all of the tasks. For example, a teacher might discuss how they assess using Socratic seminar in Task ane, only then they don't include it in their lesson plans. Some edTPA graders pay shut attending to these details. Information technology's of import that all tasks are aligned and consistent.
Pitfall #four: Not Managing Time
Task i is oftentimes the virtually hard and time-consuming component, and many teachers become overwhelmed. Allow time for it. Michelle assures usa that if you have the time to consummate Job 1 properly, Task two will be much easier and of higher quality.
Michelle shares tried-and-true strategies for approaching difficult sections, and overcoming moments you experience stuck on a task and unable to make progress. She recommends tackling the tasks in stages:
- Begin past setting a timer for ten-fifteen minutes (or a duration that feels achievable) for each question. This can serve as a first draft and a starting point for revisions.
- Write all of your ideas out in free course, focusing on the content rather than the quality of the writing.
- Once you take your ideas down, you lot will likely experience less overwhelmed. At this bespeak, use the timer strategy again, adding details and editing for writing quality.
Pitfall #5: Not Planning The Filming Thoughtfully
Y'all are merely required to upload 10-xx minutes of video (depending on your subject area). As a event, some teachers just film 10-twenty minutes of content. This is a mistake —you lot need to account for tech fails, or issues such as inaudibility.
Michelle's solution is to film at least two unabridged lessons then you have a selection and tin cull the all-time footage. You are teaching the lessons anyway, you might also film all of them.
Another video-related error that teachers make is that they either 1) accept the photographic camera only on the teacher or two) only on the students. Yous volition need to show both, and all parties demand to be audible. This material volition be critical to you when you are writing your commentary, and also to the scorer.
Pitfall #six: Teaching To I Type of Learner
Differentiated didactics is central. Be clear about all of the various ways you will arrange all learning types. Some examples of this include conferencing, vocabulary cards, graphic organizers, also as homogeneous or heterogeneous pairings for pocket-size group work.
In improver, the struggling learners mentioned in the Context for Learning should exist mentioned in your lesson plans and commentary. In that location should exist a clear plan for these students, and the differentiation should seem very intentional across all tasks, particularly in the lesson plan. Most graders will notice if this is incomplete, and it volition be reflected in your score.
Final Thoughts
Completing the edTPA is near careful planning and difficult work, but it'south also psychological. As difficult every bit the edTPA tin can be at times, the requirements are widely considered best educational activity practices. Michelle encourages you to grade the right mindset. If y'all approach the assessment from a place of learning and growth for your ain development, rather than but an test, it may help to relieve your anxiety and will likely show in your score. Expert luck, teachers!
If you lot are looking for boosted tips while completing the edTPA, check out these passing submissions. And for more support, reach out to Michelle who is happy to provide individual and grouping coaching, both virtual and in-person, for teachers across the country. For more data about these edTPA services, along with others, visit WWW.LEARNCC.NET.
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Source: https://blog.getselected.com/2019/07/31/expert-advice-avoid-these-six-edtpa-mistakes/
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