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Standard 6 / Standard 7 / Standard 8 / Standard 9 / Standard10 **Standard 4 ** The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology, to encourage children's development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills. Evidence 1: EDT 674 Lesson Plan: Story Mapping with Kidspiration Rationale 1: This lesson was created for a second grade class and taught over the course of a week while reading a beginning level chapter book. The focus of this lesson was to teach students how to identify and explain the elements of a story. The students were asked to organize their thoughts while reading and then use the information from their stories to construct a story map using the software program Kidspiration. This lesson demonstrates my ability as a teacher to use a variety of resources and strategies when teaching a basic grade level concept. I also am able to successfully integrate technology into my instruction without compromising the learning objectives and curricular content for the students. While the students were using the software program they also had to create their own layout for their story map and with that task they were challenged to use problem solving skills and creative thinking. From teaching this lesson I became more aware of the value technology has in the development of the students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills. It is also a highly motivating tool for students to complete their work.
 * Teachers know how to teach. **

KSD In order to make learning more meaningful for the student it is important to use and offer a variety of resources for them to use to demonstrate their knowledge of a concept. Such as allowing students have a choice in the book they read and have an opportunity to personalize their final product on the computer. As a teacher I sometimes learn more when I sit back and listen to the student’s think their way through a process and discover for their own way of understanding. I vary my role as a teacher in my lessons from beginning to end as an instructor to introduce new concepts, to a coach to encourage self discovery, a facilitator to generate group discussions and an audience to watch the students perform or model their understanding. When a student completes a final product to illustrate their understanding it is very rewarding to know that they were able to use their independent problem solving and critical thinking skills to produce something that not only meets the expectations, but also is a product they are proud of.
 * 4.K.3 The teacher knows how to enhance learning through the use of a wide variety of materials and technological resources (e.g. computers, audio-visual technologies, videotapes and discs, local experts, primary documents and artifacts, texts, reference books, literature, and other print resources). **
 * 4.S.4 The teacher varies his or her role in the instructional process (e.g. instructor, facilitator, coach, audience) in relation to the content and purposes of instruction and the needs of students. **
 * 4.D.1 The teacher values the development of students’ critical thinking, independent problem solving, and performance capabilities **