Understanding edTPA Task 1 Parts C & D

Answer: When in doubt, consider putting it with assessments.

Explanation:

The materials file (Task 1 Part C) is the file that you will put instructional materials in. It will include graphic organizers, screenshots of websites, thumbnails of PowerPoints, support materials, photos of anchor charts, title pages of texts, covers of books, etc. The assessments file (Task 1 Part D) is where you will put all of your assessments.

The confusion begins with considering where to place guided and independent practice: worksheets, prompts, and practice that students do during the lesson. Since the practice is part of instruction, teachers begin to wonder if they should put the worksheet in materials or count it as an assessment.
Key Point: Once you begin to think that you will be reviewing the in-class work to check for understanding, then it can be considered an assessment (even if it is low stakes).

Task 1 Part C Instructional Materials

The purpose of this file is to provide evidence of strategies and supports that you report planning when you write the Planning Commentary. The materials file has a limit 5 pages per lesson. The scorer will be checking mainly for a variety of instructional supports, alignment with central focus, and evidence of lessons that build upon one another. This is also where you can show evidence of materials that support personal/cultural/community assets.

Best advice for Part C: focus on showing instructional supports and strategies.

Task 1 Part D Assessments

Unlike Part C, the assessments file has unlimited pages. Scorers will want to see a variety of assessments for your Subject Specific Emphasis that are pervasive throughout the learning segment. This means that the more assessments that you have, the more varied they are, the better! This is also where evidence of an alternative assessment for any unique learner would be an excellent piece of evidence to help you reach a level five on rubric 5.

A lot of teacher candidates will ask if it is an assessment if you are helping the students or allowing them to correct their mistakes. Yes, it is if you are either informally or formally monitoring student learning. An assessment does not have to be high-stakes to be an assessment; most assessments are formative.

Best advice for Part D: Take advantage of unlimited pages in order to showcase a large number of varied assessments.

Key Advice

My advice is that if you feel an artifact could go either place, lean towards putting it in assessments.

Remember this: The files are there for reference so that when you are writing you can refer the scorer to the evidence.

For example: "In order to support my students with the language function compare/contrast, I am providing a Venn Diagram, which can be viewed on page 6 of my materials file."

For example: "In order to evaluate my students on procedural fluency, I will be helping students during their guided practice on Day One (see Assessments file p. 3), looking to see if they are remembering the strategy."

Learning Progression Organizers:

On TPT, I sell learning progression organizers that will help you plan varied assessments and supports for your learning segment.

Answer: When in doubt, consider putting it with assessments.

Task 1 Part C Instructional Materials

Task 1 Part D Assessments

Key Advice

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