Reflection

Throughout my enrollment in the DSU Education Program, I have completed

assignments and tasks I will describe as artifacts. My e-portfolio contains these artifacts that
illustrate my ability to competently use the DSU D.E.S.E.R.T. model in the classroom setting.
These artifacts have helped me take my caring disposition and grow into a confident, competent,
and qualified elementary school teacher.
Although I do not have the original copy of my Educational Philosophy, I was able to
recount my original philosophy in a reflection of how my Educational Philosophy has changed
over time. This Educational Philosophy over time is listed as artifact one in my e-portfolio under
the last D.E.S.E.R.T. model, Teaching Dispositions, (DM 6). My Educational Philosophy over
time illustrates that I have a caring disposition, especially when establishing a classroom,
interacting with students, and interacting with students families. I take into account that every
student has self-worth and needs to be listened to, feel safe, and respected. The second artifact
that displays my caring disposition is found in the Environment component, (DM4). This artifact
outlines further how I will interact with my students by establishing meaningful classroom rules,
updating parents though written letters, and having a classroom management plan in place
beforehand. By taking the time to prepare my classroom I am demonstrating to parents and
students that elementary education is important. I believe that by having and maintaining a
caring teaching disposition is important because when students feel that a teacher cares for and
about them; students in turn care more about their education.
The first artifact in the Diversity component, (DM1), is my Student Assessment Profile
paper. This artifact demonstrates my ability to competently analyze student assessments and each
student as a whole. Through this artifact, I found that when using assessments to guide teaching

and re-teaching, that I must take into account all the outside factors that may affect the student. I
have learned that just because a student does poorly on an assessment does not necessarily mean
he or she does not know the material. I have discovered that there are other factors to consider
such as: the validity of the test question(s) or any uproar in the students personal life. When I
understand that each child has unique needs and interests, I can work to meet their needs which
displays competency in my understanding. I believe artifact one found under Subject Matter
(DM3) also shows that I am competent to teach elementary. Through creating a history
production to teach students about the American Flag, one of our well known national symbols, I
was able to demonstrate my ability to successful use technology in a way new to me. As a
teacher it is important for me to continually learn and have the competency to learn new material
as I will expect my students to do as well.
I believe the Video of teaching Math and Reflection, listed as artifact one under
Reflection, (DM 5), displays my qualifications. This video shows how I teach students while
touching on my caring disposition. To go along with this video and reflection, is the second
artifact in Diversity, (DM1), which illustrates that I can successfully implement all 30 Sheltered
Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) into one lesson. The SIOP model, along with the
D.E.S.E.R.T. model are among the best teaching practices because they allow me, as a teacher, to
meet the needs of all the diverse learners in my classroom. By successfully implementing the
SIOP model, I am demonstrating that I am qualified to use the best teaching practices possible to
further my students learning experience.
Through my acceptance into DSUs Elementary Education Program, I have had the
opportunity to complete several benchmark assessments described as artifacts. By completing
these artifacts I have come to better understand and recognize the importance of the D.E.S.E.R.T.

model in teaching and learning. I believe the D.E.S.E.R.T. model outlines the requirements for
the best teaching practices because it covers all the components I, as a teacher, need to be
mindful of in the classroom: diversity of students, effective pedagogy, subject matter, the
environment, being able to reflect, and my own teaching disposition. Through the artifacts I have
understood how the D.E.S.E.R.T. model has helped me to become a more caring, competent, and
qualified elementary teacher.