EDTE 221 Key Assessment Templates – English Language Arts - Fall 2012
Key Assessment Checklist
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Context for Learning
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Two connected lesson plans using the secondary lesson design form (complete pages 1-2
one time for both lessons; two separate lesson outline charts)
o Plans should be written with sufficient detail that an outside reader can clearly
envision your intentions
o Plans should include at least two different instructional strategies (direct, textbased, discussion-based, cooperative learning, inquiry-based)
o Plans should demonstrate clear and purposeful alignment between your knowledge
of students, objectives, learning activities, and assessment.
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Key instructional materials and written assessments – e.g. handouts, assignments, slides,
blank assessment instruments
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Planning Commentary – 5-7 single-spaced pages including commentary prompts
Planning Commentary
Respond to the prompts below. Type your responses directly below each prompt a, b, c, d, etc.
1. Central Focus
a. Describe the central focus and purpose for the content you will teach in this learning segment.
b. Provide the title, author (or, if a film, the director), and a short description (about a paragraph
in length) of salient features of the text(s) that a reviewer of your evidence, who is unfamiliar with
the text(s), needs to know in order to understand your instruction. If there is more than one text,
indicate the lesson(s) where each text will be the focus.
Consider including the following in your description: genre, text structure, theme, plot, imagery,
or linguistic features, depending on the central focus of your learning segment.
c. Given the central focus, describe how the standards and learning targets within your learning
segment address students’ abilities to
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comprehend, construct meaning from, and interpret complex text
create a written product interpreting or responding to complex features of a text
d. Explain how your plans build on each other to help students make connections between
textual references, constructions of meaning, interpretations, and responses to a text to deepen
their learning of English-Language Arts.
e. How and when will you give students opportunities to express their understanding of the
learning targets and why they are important to learn?
2. Knowledge of Students to Inform Teaching
For each of the prompts below (2a–b), describe what you know about your students with respect
Text taken from edTPA for Washington Assessment Handbook - Copyright © 2012 Board of Trustees of
the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
EDTE 221 Key Assessment Templates – English Language Arts - Fall 2012
to the central focus of the learning segment.
Consider the variety of learners in your class who may require different strategies/support (e.g.,
students with IEPs, English language learners, struggling readers, underperforming students or
those with gaps in academic knowledge, and/or gifted students).
a. Prior academic learning and prerequisite skills related to the central focus—What do students
know, what can they do, and what are they learning to do?
b. Personal/cultural/community assets related to the central focus—What do you know about
your students’ everyday experiences, cultural backgrounds and practices, and interests?
3. Supporting Students’ English-Language Arts Learning
Respond to prompts 3a–d below. As needed, refer to the instructional materials and lesson plans
you have included to support your explanations. Use principles from research and/or theory
to support your explanations, where appropriate.
a. Explain how your understanding of your students’ prior academic learning and
personal/cultural/community assets (from prompts 2a–b above) guided your choice or adaptation
of learning tasks and materials.
b. Describe and justify why your instructional strategies and planned supports are appropriate for
the whole class and students with similar or specific learning needs.
Consider students with IEPs, English language learners, struggling readers, underperforming
students or those with gaps in academic knowledge, and/or gifted students.
c. How will students identify resources to support their progress toward the learning targets?
d. Describe common student errors or misunderstandings within your content focus and how you
will address them.
5. Monitoring Student Learning
Refer to the assessments you will submit as part of the materials for Task 1.
a. Describe how your planned formal and informal assessments will provide direct evidence for
you and your students to monitor their abilities to comprehend, construct meaning from, interpret,
and/or respond to a complex text throughout the learning segment.
b. Explain how the design or adaptation of your planned assessments allows students with
specific needs to demonstrate their learning. Consider all students, including students with IEPs,
English language learners, struggling readers, underperforming students or those with gaps in
academic knowledge, and/or gifted students.
d. What tools and strategies will students use to monitor their own learning process during the
learning segment?
Text taken from edTPA for Washington Assessment Handbook - Copyright © 2012 Board of Trustees of
the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.