Molly Ward

This semester in my Professional Learning Plan, I have focused on formative assessment. I implemented 10 different strategies and evaluated their effectiveness on a rating scale I created, showing me how formative assessments serve specific purposes. Here is the rating scale!

I completed my Professional Learning Plan on differentiation, and here are some of my takeaways! Differentiation doesn’t have to be daunting; we can start with small, practical strategies to make learning accessible and engaging for all students. Here are some of my favorites!

Jumping for joy because @msfreeman23 & I finished our unit last week! If you want to know about the interactions between the hydrosphere & geosphere, we’re your girls! So thankful for the most encouraging, wise, diligent + fun unit partner & friend to take on this journey with!

The Interactions Between the Hydrosphere + Geosphere Unit is officially COMPLETE!!!!! Thankful I get to work, learn, and do life alongside the coolest gal there is! @MsWardTeaches - let’s take on every teaching adventure together!

This morning, we had the opportunity to speak on a virtual panel about the importance of implementing character education in our future classrooms! Thank you @SamfordEd for providing experiences like this!! Loved hearing from all of the panelists & gaining new ideas! @DrLizi

This PLC has grown to mean more to me than I ever could have imagined. So much love for each of these amazing friends! @MsWardTeaches @RachelAnnMoore2 @msfreeman23 @MsJackieteaches @SamfordEd

Love this! Creating a positive classroom environment means that students are able to take risks & even make mistakes in order to learn. Cultivating a classroom culture that allows for these surprises helps all learners to flourish! @kjbteach

Yesterday was our last day at Oliver Elementary! So grateful for my cooperating teacher & precious students who made me fall in love with teaching kindergarten! This placement allowed me to grow in so many new ways, and I can’t wait to apply what I learned here! @drscarbs25

In the short time that I spent at Oliver Elementary in my kindergarten placement, I got to see so much growth in my students! So exciting to witness these learning outcomes & see them mastering our learning target! @JanemMarlin

Last lesson of the semester = done! We learned about the letter H with a sorting activity, poem & multisensory practice! Seeing the instructional strategies we’ve learned about in class come to life in a lesson makes my teacher heart happy! Proud of my kindergarteners! @DrLizi

@mssnyderteaches @kjbteach The first picture was taken at Glen Falls and the second picture is from Bridal Veil Falls!

@MsWardTeaches @kjbteach I love these photos, Molly! Where were these pictures taken in Highlands?

My unit came to life on my spring break trip to Highlands, NC! Weathering, erosion, and deposition were on display all around me, and I can’t wait to use these pictures as real world examples in my lessons!! @kjbteach

Throughout the semester, I’ve been learning that SEL is an essential component in any classroom! Research reveals that SEL leads to improved academic outcomes and equips students for success later in life. A choice board is a great strategy to introduce SEL! @JanemMarlin

Teacher friends make life sweeter!!

I taught my first lesson in kindergarten last week on the letter Y! I was able to implement strategies that we have learned about in class— examples & nonexamples, T-chart, turn & talk, and more— to make learning “sticky” for my students!

@msfreeman23 @kjbirk1014 Yay for weathering, erosion & real world connections!!! #scienceROCKS

Saw all of the learning from my unit come to life today!!!! Visited Arches National Park and got to see some real life examples of weathering + erosion. Learning is all about making real-world connections- and today I made them! @kjbirk1014

So incredibly thankful for the best unit partner @msfreeman23 + our supportive unit coach @kjbteach !! Can’t imagine taking on this project with a different team! Their encouragement & wisdom push me to be my best!!

Said a bittersweet goodbye to MBE this week! So thankful for my cooperating teacher, students, and all of the experiences that allowed me to grow so much! My 4th graders will always hold a place in my heart as the first students I ever got to teach! Thanks MBE!!❤️ @drscarbs25

My Action Research spelling small group has given me the opportunity to use multisensory strategies every week! Through this project, I’ve been able to apply the Science of Reading to my instruction! @kjbteach #improvingyourpractice