Biggest Success
- melissanjahnke
- Feb 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Standard 1 Element C:
Teachers demonstrate knowledge of the content, central concepts, inquiry, appropriate evidence-based instructional practices, and specialized characteristics of the disciplines being taught.
Overall, my biggest success has been the tremendous learning and growth I’ve experienced while teaching World History. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a clinical concentration, and when I was applying for the teaching program, I was advised to study for the Social Studies Praxis. I followed that advice and successfully passed the exam, becoming licensed to teach Social Studies. While my background in Psychology initially led me to believe I would focus more on science, I embraced the challenge of teaching Social Studies and adapted to the situation.
I immersed myself in the material, dedicating time to reading extensively, outlining lesson plans, and developing resources for my class. This hands-on approach allowed me to tackle the subject matter head-on, while simultaneously creating a curriculum that met my students' needs.
A key part of my success has also been building strong relationships within the Social Studies department. Through collaboration with my colleagues, I’ve gained valuable insights into their teaching methods and how they approach the content. This exchange of ideas has complemented my own learning and deepened my understanding of how to effectively teach World History. It’s been an enriching experience, and I’m proud of how much I’ve grown as a teacher in a subject area I hadn’t originally imagined teaching.
Why It Works:
By developing my own curriculum, I not only deepened my own understanding of World History but also ensured that the lessons were tailored to my students needs. For example, the content I created for the Islam unit was designed to be inquiry-driven, allowing students to ask questions, explore primary sources, and analyze the material from multiple perspectives. This approach aligns with evidence-based instructional practices that promote critical thinking and engagement, ensuring that students were not just passively receiving information but actively engaging with it.
Artifact Explanation:
I dedicated significant time to researching, reading, and outlining lesson plans that would meet the needs of my students. As part of this process, I created original resources, including the lesson content for the Islam unit, which reflects my commitment to understanding the central concepts of the subject matter and delivering it effectively to my students. I didn’t rely solely on pre-existing materials; instead, I made sure to craft lessons that were both informative and engaging, ensuring that students could make meaningful connections to the content.
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