I chose the following learning goals because the students have shown interest in animals since the first day I arrived. Here are a few examples of the kids conversations that lead me to the formation of this teacher work sample and these learning goals. 

• Gabriella

  • Context: Morning recess while playing family in the corner with tables and trees. There was a squirril balancing on the electrical wire. 

  • Quote: "Look, look, it's a squirril." 

  • Gabriella stopped her playing to observe the squirril and his movements. All of the other children joined in on the observation and spent about 2 minutes watching it (which is an eterninity in child time). 

• Eddie

  • Context: Listening to the sheep page of the small group read-aloud Nose-to-Toes. 

  • Quote: "Baa Baa that's the sound the sheep makes. It's a sheep, it's a sheep." (pointing to the sheep on the next page)

  • Eddie shows an interest in all of the animals during read-alouds. He is very knowledgable on animal characteristics and traits and is always looking for animals at recess. 

• Aundria

  • Context: Sitting outside with the classroom pet turtles that were named, in a class vote, Ana and Olaf. 

  • Quote: "Look at them trying to get in the water, but they don't have any water out here."

  • Aundria and several other students huddled around the basking turtles for the remainder of recess observing their movements and attempted to feed them creel, but the turtles were not hungry.