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Artifact #3: Writers Workshop Portfolio

This artifact depicts my professional development and demonstrates my knowledge of the

English Language Arts curriculum as well. This artifact contains six types of writing styles that

students will learn about while in school. By having these various types of writing styles

outlines in a portfolio it will allow my skills as a writer to be viewed. This artifact also depicts

the strategy used to organize essay writing. On the opinion piece the information is organized

firstly by the topic, then by a green dot at the beginning and end to symbolize the introduction

and conclusion and how they must be similar. The body paragraphs are symbolized by yellow

dots and the supporting details are symbolized by the red dots. This will significantly benefit

students who are visual learners as they can visualize the steps needed to complete the writing

piece. This writing portfolio shows my strengths in teaching writing techniques to students.

Benjamin Bloom (1971) believes in the mastery of learning theory where students learn and

build upon that knowledge to eventual mastery of the subject matter. This portfolio will help

students on that path.

Connections to Standards

INTASC Standards

Standard # 4: Content Knowledge

The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of

the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these

aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the

content.
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4(a): The teacher effectively uses multiple representations and explanations that

capture key ideas in the discipline, guide learners through learning progressions, and

promote each learner’s achievement of content standards.

NYS ETHICS
Principle 2: Educators create support and maintain challenging learning

environments for all.

Educators apply their professional knowledge to promote student learning. They

know the curriculum and utilize a range of strategies and assessments to address

differences. Educators develop and implement programs based upon a strong

understanding of human development and learning theory. They support a challenging

learning environment. They advocate for necessary resources to teach to higher level of

learning. They establish and maintain clear standards of behavior and civility. Educators

are role models, displaying the habits of mind and work necessary to develop and apply

knowledge while simultaneously displaying a curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. They

invite students to become active, inquisitive and discerning individuals who reflect upon

and monitor their own learning.

The Ontario Ethical Teacher Standards

Care: The ethical standard of Care includes compassion, acceptance, interest and

insight for developing students' potential. Members express their commitment to students'

well-being and learning through positive influence, professional judgment and empathy

in practice.
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Trust: The ethical standard of Trust embodies fairness, openness and honesty.

Members' professional relationships with students, colleagues, parents, guardians and

the public are based on trust.

P-12 NYS Common Core Learning Standards for ELA, Math and Social Studies
A. Standards

Category: Writing

Grade: 3

Standard and Statement: . Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a

point of view with reasons. a. Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an

opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons. b. Provide reasons that

support the opinion. c. Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, for

example) to connect opinion and reasons. d. Provide a concluding statement or section. 2.

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information

clearly. a. Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations

when useful to aiding comprehension. b. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and

details. c. Use linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect

ideas within categories of information. d. Provide a concluding statement or section.3.

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective

technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. a. Establish a situation and

introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

b. Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences

and events or show the response of characters to situations. c. Use temporal words and

phrases to signal event order. d. Provide a sense of closure

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New York Standards

Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding Students will listen,

speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners and

readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships,

concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written,

and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and

written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to

acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information

Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum Standards

A. Standards

Category: Language

Sub category: Writing: Using Knowledge of Form and Style in Writing

Grade: 6

Standard and Statement: Voice (2.2) establish a personal voice in their writing,

with a focus on using concrete words and images to convey their attitude or feeling

towards the subject or audience

Sentence Fluency (2.4) vary sentence structures and maintain continuity by using

joining words (e.g., and, or) to combine simple sentences and using words that indicate

time and sequence to link sentences

Producing Drafts (2.8) produce revised, draft pieces of writing to meet identified

criteria based on the expectations related to content, organization, style, and use of

conventions
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TEAC/CAEP CLAIMS 1-3

Claim 1: Medaille College graduates know the subject matter in their certification

area(s)

Claim 2: Medaille College graduates meet the needs of diverse learners through

effective pedagogy and best teaching practices.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

8. Neither engaging in nor tolerating any practice that harms individuals with

exceptionalities

o ILA
 Standard 2: Curriculum and Instruction
 Candidates use instructional approaches, materials, and an

integrated, comprehensive, balanced curriculum to support student

learning in reading and writing.

o CEC
 2. Maintaining a high level of professional competence and integrity and

exercising professional judgement to benefit individuals with

exceptionalities and their families.

 6. Using evidence, instructional data, research and professional knowledge

to inform practice.
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Writers Workshop Portfolio

Mauro Di Fazio

Medaille College

Sunday April 22nd, 2018

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Sunshine on my skin
Cushiony grass beneath me
Wishing you were here
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Walking with you side by side,

Noticing that with each step you take you glide.

Walking on top of fallen leaves,

Giving me hope that helps me continue to believe.

We will be together again one day,

Until then the only words I can say

I Miss you.
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Topic: Halloween

Every year on October 31st children all around the world celebrate Halloween

Costumes
Many types of costumes (ex. Horror, Funny, Fairy-tale)
Bought vs. Homemade
Safety Features

Decorations
Carving pumpkins (Jack-o-Lanterns)
Theme colors (ex. Orange and Black)
Spooky

Candy
Trick or Treating (Ex. Checking bags, bad treats, etc)
Chocolate
Chewy

In conclusion, the above facts show why Halloween is celebrated by children all over the
world!
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Topic: Summer

Out of the four seasons that are experienced in North America summer is by far the best
one.

Weather
More sunshine and longer days
Warmer or hotter outside
Motivates you to go outside more

Clothes
Shorts, t-shirts, muscle shirts
Can wear shoes that let your feet breath (ex. Flip-flops, sandals)
No bulky winter clothes (no jackets, long pants, hats, scarfs or gloves)

Activities
Going to the beach, swimming, etc.
Sleeping in
No School!

In conclusion, the above facts show why Halloween is celebrated by children all over the
world!
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Topic: Greater access to technology in the Classroom

I strongly believe that students should have greater access to technology within the
classroom.

Allows more imaginative ways to Learn

Students can use iPads with tools such as merge cubes to learn in virtual/augmented
reality
Does not restrict students to looking at one piece of source material (ex. Text book)

Leads to more motivational learning (self-driven learning)

Students can use these devices in their free time to conduct further research on a desired
topic or something that interests them.
Takes student’s learning and puts it into their own hands giving them the opportunity to
continue learning on their own.

It is for the reasons stated above why I firmly believe that within the classroom students
should have greater access to technology.
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My eyes burst open and were flooded with the light of the sun that shone brightly. It was a crisp
autumn day and the leaves had already begun to change color. As I walked down the street the
fallen leaves crunched beneath my feet. “Where am I?” I thought. As I continued walking none
of the scenery seemed familiar to me. This unfamiliar feeling caused the knot in my stomach to
grow. As I continued to walk the foggy landscape I noticed that the streets were barren of people.
After this revelation I quickly became aware of an ominous fog rolling in from every area around
me. Suddenly, there was a loud bang. Pinpointing the sound, I ran around the corner to see who
or what had made that loud noise. Out of breath I rounded the corner to see a woman standing
with her back towards me and holding some boxes out in front of her. Her long brown hair
draping neatly behind her back and ending just before her waist. “Finally! I found someone else.
Can you tell me where we are?” I asked eagerly. Hearing this the woman turned around and
slowly lowered the boxes. She stopped when her eyes were revealed. They immediately locked
onto mine. This unending eye contact caused the knot in my stomach to grow even more. After a
couple moments she lowered the boxes completely to reveal her mouth was missing…