Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program

Fall 2009

My Portfolio

Andrea ZuccaroArgentina

Content Introduction

Goals

Seminars◦ Reflective Practice◦ Educational Leadership◦ ESL Research Methods & Assessment◦ Intensive Technology Training◦ US Culture

Internship◦ Internship Goals

Personal Experience

Afterword

IntroductionMy name is Andrea Zuccaro and I am an EFL teacher from Buenos

Aires, Argentina . I graduated as and English teacher in 1992 and later on I got a degree in Educational Management.

This portfolio is a compilation of my academic and personal experiences as a TEA fellow at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, during the fall 2009.

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My goals for participating in the program are related to both the professional and the personal areas:

To explore new teaching and learning strategies especially those related to cooperative learning.

To learn more about differentiated instruction and share the new insights with my colleagues upon my return.

To experience personal growth through the interaction with people from the US and other cultures.

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Goals

This seminar , conducted by Dr. Steeley , helped us to reflect on our practices and our experiences both at the University and our internship schools. It also focused on the development of our sense of agency to be able to apply and disseminate our learnings from the program upon our return to our home countries.

Reflections

Lesson Plans

Strategies

Reflective Practice

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Educational Leadership

This seminar, conducted by Dr. Shahroki and Dr. Woody, gave us the necessary tools to become teacher leaders and change agents in our settings.

Multiple Intelligences Lesson Plan

Life Style Inventory

Teacher Leadership Self Assessment

Personal Leadership Action Plan

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ESL Research and AssessmentThis seminar , conducted by Ms. Nora Elbilawi, gave us a deeper

understanding of brain-compatible practices and differentiated teaching. We also explored the characteristics of authentic assessment in order to incorporate them into our practices.

Research on Brain Compatible Learning

Five – Day Lesson Plan

Assessment Observation Report

Assessment Design Project

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Culture

This Seminar , conducted by Cara Bremer, helped us understand the idiosyncrasy of the USA and its people. Cara taught lively, interesting classes incorporating many of the principles of cooperative learning. We learned many of these techniques by actually taking part in them. Back to content

Intensive Technology Training

One of the objectives of the Tea program is to provide intensive training in the use of Technology . Abel , our teacher, took us through the hard path of gaining expertise in the use of Word, Power Point and Excel with much patience and sense of humor.

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InternshipThe internship component of the

program offered us a window to the US system. Twice a week I attended Oakton High School where I had the chance to observe Steve Glick , my mentor, teaching his English 10 and AP English class. I observed ESOL , Biology and Self – Contained English classes as well. I also had the chance to conduct a class about Argentina and assist Ms. Risso in her special Halloween class. Being engaged in the school’s daily activities and in special occasions such as the Pep Rally was an opportunity to learn more about teen ager in US , a knowledge that I am sure will be of interest to my students.

Teaching at Oakton High School

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Internship Goals Identify ways to differentiate instruction in a

main streamed class with special education students

Identify new types of assessment for use in Argentina.

Explore and understand the structure of American high schools in order to practices to bring to Argentina.

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Personal Experience New Friends

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Personal Experience New Cultures

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Afterword As the program comes to

an end I can say that all my goals have been achieved. I have gained theoretical and practical knowledge that I am taking back to share with my students and colleagues. What is more important I have lived an experience that I will always remember and I have made friends that I hope to keep for ever.

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