InTASC Standard:  

Standard #2: The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards (InTASC, 2013).

Brief Description of Evidence:

In the spring of 2023, in my EDUC 233 Literacy Development through Children’s Literature class, I made a book list and classroom library design. I chose to do mine through Pinterest and added multiple books I would one day want in my classroom. I chose diverse and inclusive books such as I Love My Hair, Who Was Frida Kahlo, I Am Golden, The Elephant Girl, and more. I found a few reading areas for the classroom design that other teachers have made, and I would like to have one day in my classroom.

Analysis of What I Learned:

Through the course of my literacy class, I learned how important it is to get children to fall in love with reading. Through this assignment, I realized how much work it takes to create a list of books you would like to have in your classroom. I didn’t think of having diverse cultured books, or that half of your readers should be from within the last three years. I learned how to find culturally appropriate books for the grade I would one day like to teach. Because of this assignment, I now have a list of grade-appropriate books and an idea of what I would like my reading to be once I’ve graduated. I was taught that a few books should also be below and above the reading level for your grade. Having a wide range of books for my students to choose from allows me to find a book for every student, even the ones that don’t like to read.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASC Standard:

The artifact demonstrates my competence in standard #2 because I was able to show a wide range of individual differences. Having multiple books on my list gives my students a wide range to express themselves through reading. I added diverse cultured books to the list allowing students from any background to feel welcomed in my inclusive classroom environment. I also added books from different reading levels to communicate to my students that it doesn’t matter what level they are on because we are an inclusive classroom that welcomes all kinds of readers and people. A theorist that I feel goes along with this artifact is Abraham Maslow and his hierarchy of needs. Precisely, the third level, which is love and belonging, states, “The social needs on the third level of Maslow’s hierarchy relate to human interaction and are the last of the so-called lower needs” (A Guide to the 5 Levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs - 2023 - MasterClass, 2020). This says to us that students need to feel loved and belong to enable the learner to meet high standards.