The EDTPA (EdTPA) assessment requires a comprehensive Planning Commentary that showcases your pedagogical expertise. This isn't just a summary of your lesson plan; it's a detailed explanation of your instructional choices, demonstrating your deep understanding of your students, the curriculum, and effective teaching strategies. This post will delve into crafting a high-scoring EDTPA Planning Commentary, exploring key elements and providing actionable strategies.
Understanding the EDTPA Planning Commentary's Purpose
The Planning Commentary isn't about simply describing what you'll do. Instead, it's about justifying why you've made specific instructional choices. The assessors want to see evidence that you've thoughtfully considered:
- Your students: Their prior knowledge, learning styles, needs, and cultural backgrounds.
- The learning objectives: How your lesson aligns with the standards and promotes student growth.
- Instructional strategies: Why you chose specific activities, materials, and assessments, and how they support student learning.
- Differentiation: How you'll address the diverse needs of your learners.
- Assessment: How you'll gauge student understanding and use that information to inform future instruction.
Key Components of a High-Scoring Commentary
A strong EDTPA Planning Commentary incorporates these crucial elements:
1. Contextualizing Your Students
Begin by painting a clear picture of your students. Consider:
- Demographics: Briefly describe the overall composition of your class (age range, cultural backgrounds, etc.). Avoid generalizations; focus on relevant characteristics impacting your instruction.
- Prior Knowledge: What do your students already know about the topic? How will this influence your teaching?
- Learning Needs: Are there students with IEPs or 504 plans? How will you accommodate their needs? Mention specific learning styles and how you'll cater to them. This demonstrates your awareness of differentiated instruction.
2. Connecting to Learning Objectives
Clearly state your learning objectives, aligning them with specific standards. Don't just list them; explain why these objectives are important and how they contribute to students' overall learning.
- Specificity is Key: Avoid vague statements. Use action verbs to articulate measurable student outcomes.
- Standard Alignment: Explicitly link your objectives to relevant curriculum standards. This demonstrates your understanding of the curriculum framework.
3. Justifying Instructional Strategies
This is the heart of your commentary. You need to meticulously explain your pedagogical choices. For each activity or strategy, address:
- Rationale: Why did you choose this particular strategy? How does it support student learning and address the learning objectives?
- Implementation: How will you implement this strategy? Be specific about materials, procedures, and timing.
- Student Engagement: How will this strategy engage students and promote active learning?
- Differentiation: How will this strategy address the diverse needs of your students?
4. Addressing Assessment
Your commentary needs to articulate how you'll assess student learning and use the data to inform future instruction.
- Types of Assessment: Explain the types of assessments you'll use (formative and summative).
- Rationale: Why are these assessments appropriate for your lesson and students? How will they provide you with valuable information about student understanding?
- Data Use: How will you use the assessment data to inform future instruction and adjust your teaching based on student performance?
5. Maintaining a Professional Tone and Organization
Your commentary should be written professionally, using clear and concise language.
- Organization: Use headings and subheadings to organize your thoughts logically.
- Grammar and Mechanics: Ensure your writing is free of grammatical errors and typos.
- Conciseness: Avoid unnecessary wordiness. Focus on clarity and precision.
Example Commentary Snippet:
"Considering my students' varied reading levels and prior knowledge of the American Revolution, I have chosen to use a tiered approach to the reading assignment. Students will select from three different texts—one adapted for struggling readers, one at grade level, and one more challenging text for advanced learners. This differentiation strategy will ensure all students are appropriately challenged while accessing the core content. I will monitor their engagement and understanding through observation during small group work and collect their annotations and responses to guide future instruction."
By meticulously addressing each of these components, you'll craft a high-quality EDTPA Planning Commentary that accurately reflects your expertise and pedagogical understanding. Remember, this commentary demonstrates your abilities as a teacher; make it shine!
