Running Head: DOMAIN A LITERATURE REVIEW, SHEEDY 1

Domain A Literature Review

Mekala Sheedy-Atkinson

TED 690

National University
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Abstract

This paper will focus on a literature review of the article “Playing to Students’ Strengths.” This

article in particular defines and elaborates on the BAWD method of teaching. BAWD stands for

Build, Act, Write, or Draw which is a method/strategy for teaching content to students. Domain

A for the California Teaching Performance Expectations is Making Subject Matter

Comprehensible to Students and this article shows how a teacher can do that.
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Domain A Literature Review

For the California Teaching Performance Expectations teachers are supposed to exhibit

proficiency in all six of the domains they outline. The first domain is Domain A, Making Subject

Matter Comprehensible to Students. This domain focuses on the importance of teaching state

adopted content standards to students (Commission on Teaching Credentialing, 2013). Meaning

it is important for teachers to be able to take their state standards and be able to turn it into

material that they can teach to their students. Furthermore, the students should not only be able to

learn/comprehend the material, but they should also be able to retain the information as well.

The article “Playing to Students’ Strengths” introduces a method known as BAWD

(Build, Art, Write, Draw) to help teachers implement making subject matter comprehensible to

students. This method allows students to show case their learning through which ever means

suits them the best. For example, if they are artistic and like to draw then they can draw out the

information that they are learning. If they like to write, then they can write a poem or short story

demonstrating the content being taught. This method should not only be applied when letting

students show case their styles of learning but also when letting the teacher showcase their style

of teaching.

This method can be used in all subjects at any level because it allows students to

demonstrate their understanding of a concept. The student can choose how they best represent it,

by building a model, acting it out, or drawing it (Boutelier, McPherson, 2018). When

implementing this into the classroom it is important for a teacher to allow the students to choose

which form of expression suits each student. Providing the students with the opportunity to

choose is vital because it allows them to feel as though they have a say in their education which

is empowering.
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Providing teachers with the flexibility to incorporate this into their own teaching will also

be beneficial because it gives the teacher the freedom to showcase content in various formats.

For example, instead of just reading a history textbook a teacher can make or find a video clip of

the same content. The teacher can also create various activities that allow the student to learn the

content being taught such as role play, projects, papers, and multimedia presentations.

BAWD gives teachers and students the freedom and flexibility to display the content that

they have learned in a way that is fitting for them. This method is versatile and can be done in a

variety of ways in all classes at any age. It is engaging and empowers students to learn and

demonstrate their strengths.

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References

Boutelier, S. & McPherson, N. (2018). Playing to Students’ Strengths. Retrieved April 15, 2019,

from https://www.edutopia.org/article/playing-students-strengths.

California Teaching Performance Expectations. (2013, March). Retrieved April 15, 2019, from

https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/educator-prep/standards/adopted-tpes-

2013.pdf.