Teaching Context

For my student teaching practicum, I was placed at Classical High School in Providence, Rhode Island. The mission statement of Classical High School encourages students to "demonstrate excellence and leadership within the global and local community." Classical High School leads Rhode Island as the highest performing high school in the state and one of the highest performing in the entire nation. Their student population is around 1,150 students grades nine through twelve.

Starting in September, 2018, I observed four periods of my teacher mentor's, Scott Macbeth's, high school biology classes and by January, 2019, took over for his 3rd period 9th grade biology class and 5th period AP biology class. For AP biology, the materials were based on an accelerated track that covered as much material as possible in preparation for the AP exam. For 9th grade biology, which will be the focus of this teaching portfolio, the Unit materials were tailored to cover the material students needed to know to succeed in their final exams but also had lessons that helped to develop science skills to help them be citizens in the 21st century, which included a variety of instructional strategies such as lab investigations, student presentations, poster projects, group activities and class discussions.

3rd Period 9th Grade Biology:

19 students

Non-tracked, heterogeneous group

5th Period AP Biology:

20 students

Non-tracked, heterogeneous group

2 students with Section 504