Useful Theorists and Support Guides for the edTPA

Formats

Lesson plans formats, structures, and templates will differ per school, university credential program, subject, department, and individual. The edTPA does not specify any specific format for your lesson plans that you have to submit. But they have to be followable. Furthermore, you will have to justify why you did what you did with theory. If you plan to write the TPA a "long time" after doing the lesson, then you should keep it in mind. You want to be able to remember the key parts of your teaching on each of those days you designated for the edTPA.

It is best to use a word document, Google Docs, or other word processor documents, because you can alter the format if necessary. If you copy and paste to make sure you're careful to double check the formatting and readjust as necessary.

Remember that your scorer is likely reading this on a computer screen rather than on a printout.

Your Biggest Takeaway: Document Organization

Organize the lesson plan for the edTPA in a manner that makes scoring easy for the scorer. The following section gives some critical points for visible organization.

Use Bold Headings/Labels!

Read over the expectations bullet points for your subject handbook for the EdTPA. Each subject will differ.

For each bullet point, identify (and highlight) the key words of the bullet points. We will do a few examples.

Take those key words (or equivalents) and place them as headings for sections in your lesson plans.

Put those specific headings in bold.

Make sure each bullet point on your handbook is properly accounted for. Do not miss one or more of them!

Most importantly, using bold headings makes it easy for your scorer to find all the aspects that he/she has to score you on. Your scorer will be very appreciative of this and can easily check off scoring guidelines for you.

You are instructed to use Arial 11-point font with one-inch margins for the format of your edTPA document submissions. This does not apply to lesson plans but if you can, consistency is more comfortable and be aware for most subjects there is a four page maximum allowable for each lesson plan.

Chronological Ordering

Put your activities and questions in chronological order for each lesson. Make sure the reader can follow everything easily.

Make sure to account for the whole period. Include attendance and other procedural work. If you give them stretch breaks etc, make sure you account for that. For your convenience, set time stamps for your work.

Have the date that you actually do the lesson on each of the specific lesson plans. When you submit them, make sure they are in order.

For the writing analysis process, you can jot down which theories you will use to justify your decisions to facilitate the writing process. But remove all of them from your lesson plans before submission. In fact, it may be better to have a separate document specific for submission that excludes the theories and justifications.

It is best to include checkpoints for assessing learning. Even if it is not part of your normal teaching routine for the TPA it is best to have such points.

Take notes during those assessment points. Write separate notes about the students' progress. Think a little bit about how you will write your analysis. For single subject teachers, you can rehearse this process with other periods if your focus class for your edTPA is not your first class.

Prepping Your Lesson Plan Submission Document - Secondary English Language Arts Example

The following is an example for secondary school English Language Arts course. It is on page 9 of the handbook under the main bullet point about the lesson plan. Please note that the specific edTPA task for English Language Arts focuses on reading comprehension as detailed by the handbook but we are not going over those details. The following bullet points are exactly from the handbook.

State-adopted student academic content standards that are the target of student learning. (Note: Please include the number and text of each standard that is being addressed. If only a portion of a standard is being addressed, then only list the part or parts that are relevant.)

Learning objectives associated with the content standards

Informal and formal assessments used to monitor student learning, including type(s) of assessment and what is being assessed

Instructional strategies and learning tasks (including what you and the students will be doing) that support diverse student needs

Instructional resources and materials used to engage students in learning

From this your headings/labels should include

State-adopted standards

(This label is shortened from the highlighted words; also put the numerical codes in bold as well.) You can shorten "State-adopted student academic content standards" to just State Standards but make sure to write down the exact numerical code designations. If applicable, put down the Common Core Standards.

Learning objectives

You write these learning objectives for the explicit content using the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor taxonomies.

Assessments

In the course of the lesson, label whether they are formal or informal. It is also best to list each of them in a section on your lesson plan too and include whether they are formal or informal and other critical information. Checkpoints, exit slips, and exit activities count in this too.

Instructional strategies (Strategies and structures used during the activities.)

If you want to use formal terminologies, Spencer Kagan notably created and termed many strategies and structures such as Think-Pair-Share that are used in classrooms today. Check out his site and books for the formal names. Describe the strategies and what happens during them.

Adaptations for diverse student needs (they need to be able to see that adaptations supports students' needs)

you can also label this section as "Adaptations for diverse student needs" etc. However, without disclosing names, make sure it is for learners in your classroom.

Instructional resources and materials (what you are using for any activities throughout the lessons.)

List out all texts, supplies, and materials you are using for the lesson.

Grants and Funding

Want to apply for a grant to improve your classroom or reward your master teacher, colleagues, or school?
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The NEA Foundation

Association of American Educators

McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation

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