Context
Throughout the semester I spent student teaching at Hardin Park School, I collaborated with my cooperating teacher, Amy Murphy, and community members to provide meaningful experiences for my Kindergarten class. This artifact is a reflection on how I demonstrated the importance of collaboration and research to provide best practices for my students.

Impact
In collaborating with other professionals during my semester of student teaching, I learned how to provide quality instruction for students. I learned how to design developmentally appropriate units and how to address diverse learners. I also learned how to effectively use the talents and interests of community members to provide diverse experiences for my students. This will help me to become a more effective teacher because I now know how to utilize my resources and personal talents to provide meaningful instruction, which also meets state standards.

Alignment
Standard 16
Indicator 8: This indicator was met in working with my cooperating teacher to learn the best practices for teaching kindergarten students. In working cooperatively to plan units and assessments, I researched how to best instruct this age group, and then I disseminated those ideas through my teaching.
Indicator 9: By collaborating with my cooperating teacher to plan lessons and involve community members in our instruction, I demonstrated my competency of this standard. In working with a seasoned professional, I strengthened the content, research, and pedagogy behind my lessons so as to provide quality instruction, which also met state standards. In incorporating members of the community into my teaching, I also demonstrated an understanding of this standard.