The edTPA. Just the name itself can send shivers down the spine of even the most seasoned pre-service teachers. This high-stakes assessment can feel overwhelming, particularly when it comes to crafting a compelling commentary. Fear not, future educators! This article provides a lifeline—a collection of insightful quotes and strategies to elevate your commentary and conquer edTPA anxiety. We'll explore how to use these quotes to strengthen your analysis and showcase your pedagogical prowess. This isn't just about passing; it's about demonstrating your understanding of effective teaching practices.
Understanding the edTPA Commentary
Before diving into the quotes, let's clarify the purpose of the edTPA commentary. It's not just a summary of your lessons; it's a sophisticated analysis of your teaching decisions, student learning, and the effectiveness of your instructional strategies. You need to demonstrate your understanding of learning theories, assessment principles, and differentiated instruction. This is where strategic use of relevant quotes can significantly enhance your analysis.
Powerful Quotes to Enhance Your edTPA Commentary
Here are some powerful quotes, categorized for easy reference, that can provide a framework for your analysis:
On Student Learning and Development:
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"The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men who are capable of doing new things." - Jean Piaget: This quote is perfect for framing your discussion of how you fostered student creativity and problem-solving skills. Use specific examples from your lessons to show how you facilitated this "invention and discovery."
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"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." - Abigail Adams: This quote emphasizes the importance of student effort and engagement. Connect this to your strategies for motivating students and creating a positive learning environment. Discuss specific instances where you observed student diligence and how you supported it.
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"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." - Pablo Picasso: This quote can be particularly relevant if you taught art or a creative subject, but its broader message about fostering creativity applies to all disciplines. Demonstrate how you nurtured your students' artistic abilities (or equivalent creative skills) within your subject area.
On Teaching Strategies and Instructional Decisions:
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"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin: This timeless quote highlights the importance of active learning. Connect this to specific activities and strategies you used in your lessons. Analyze how these methods promoted student engagement and deeper understanding.
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"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." - Mark Van Doren: This quote emphasizes the teacher's role as a facilitator of learning, rather than simply a dispenser of information. Use this quote to reflect on your questioning techniques, your scaffolding of learning, and how you guided students to make their own discoveries.
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"The teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron." - Horace Mann: This emphasizes the importance of student motivation and creating a positive classroom environment. Use it to discuss strategies you employed to cultivate intrinsic motivation in your students.
On Assessment and Feedback:
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"Assessment should be an ongoing process, not just a final judgment." - Unknown: This underscores the importance of formative assessment. Discuss how you used formative assessment strategies to inform your instruction and adapt your teaching to meet student needs. Provide specific examples.
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"Feedback is the breakfast of champions." - Ken Blanchard: This quote emphasizes the importance of effective feedback. Analyze your feedback methods. How did you provide constructive criticism? How did you adapt your feedback based on student responses? Use specific examples.
How to Effectively Integrate Quotes into Your Commentary
Don't simply drop quotes into your commentary; integrate them thoughtfully. Explain why you chose the quote and how it relates to your teaching practices and student learning. Always connect the quote to concrete examples from your lesson plans and observations.
By strategically employing these quotes and analyzing your teaching with precision, you can transform your edTPA commentary from a source of anxiety into a powerful demonstration of your pedagogical expertise. Remember, it's not just about the quotes; it's about the insightful analysis they help you to articulate. Good luck!
