Summary of "How to Pass CAL TPA CYCLE 1 & 2 : Exam Support, Tips, Ideas from a Professional Certified Assessor"

Summary of "How to Pass Cal TPA CYCLE 1 & 2 : Exam Support, Tips, Ideas from a Professional Certified Assessor"

Dr. Dickinson, a teacher educator and certified Cal TPA assessor, provides a comprehensive guide to successfully completing the California Teacher Performance Assessment (Cal TPA), emphasizing practical advice and best practices. The video breaks down the Cal TPA process, focusing on the teaching cycle and the four main steps candidates must follow to pass the assessment.

Main Ideas and Concepts

What is the Cal TPA? A performance-based assessment for teacher credential candidates in California that involves planning, teaching, assessing, reflecting, and applying teaching practices based on evidence collected from a real classroom.
The Teaching Cycle: The core framework for Cal TPA, consisting of:
1. Plan
2. Teach and Assess
3. Reflect
4. Apply
This cycle is iterative and flexible; sometimes planning starts by looking at assessments or reflecting on past lessons.
Eligibility: Candidates must be currently student teaching or in an internship and focus on one actual class for their Cal TPA.

Detailed Methodology / Instructions for Cal TPA

Step 1: Planning

Gather evidence about your class before planning:
- Collaborate with your master teacher or mentor.
- Review end-of-year assessments or existing student work.
- Use interest inventories, parent input, or student biographies.
Identify and focus on three specific focus students:
1. English Learner (EL): - Must be one of the three focus students (non-negotiable). - Review their language proficiency (e.g., CELDT scores), and plan scaffolds to support academic language without lowering cognitive demand. - Include a detailed narrative about their background, culture, strengths/assets (e.g., social skills, interests), and needs.
2. Student with Identified Learning Needs: - Could have an IEP, 504 plan, or be gifted. - Review their files, accommodations, goals, and learning challenges. - If no formal plan exists, focus on a student with academic struggles.
3. Student Needing Social-Emotional Support: - May have behavioral issues or challenging home life circumstances. - Plan to provide wrap-around services and emotional support.
Align your lesson plan with content-specific standards (e.g., Common Core, NGSS, VAPA).
Incorporate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles:
- Multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression.
- UDL strategies are critical for achieving high rubric scores.

Step 2: Teach and Assess

This is the performance phase where you videotape yourself teaching.
Submit three annotated video clips with evidence of:
1. Creating a Safe and Positive Learning Environment: Examples: greeting students, check-ins, warm-ups, activating prior knowledge.
2. Higher Order Thinking: Evidence of students engaging in critical thinking, discussions, real-world connections, and use of graphic organizers.
3. Monitoring Student Learning: Evidence of formative assessments such as walking around, questioning, one-on-one support, exit tickets, or digital tools (e.g., Desmos).
Annotation requires you to reflect on and cite specific evidence from the video clips.

Step 3: Reflection

Review your lesson plan and video clips.
Reflect on:
- What went well.
- How you adjusted your teaching based on formative assessment evidence.
- How the lesson supported your three focus students.
- Areas for growth and potential improvements.
Emphasize progress over perfection.

Step 4: Apply

Use insights from reflection to plan future teaching.
Consider what you would do differently or repeat.
Example: adding more enthusiasm or continuing successful cooperative projects.
This step closes the teaching cycle loop and prepares you for ongoing improvement.

Additional Tips

Do not attempt Cal TPA without being in an actual classroom setting.
Know your class well and collect evidence early.
Focus deeply on your three focus students throughout all steps.
Use UDL strategies to support diverse learners.
Annotate videos thoughtfully, citing clear evidence.
Reflection is key to demonstrating growth and understanding.

Speakers / Sources Featured

Dr. Dickinson – Teacher educator, mother, blogger, podcaster, and professional certified Cal TPA assessor who provides all the advice and guidance in the video.

This summary encapsulates the core advice and structure provided by Dr. Dickinson to help teacher candidates successfully navigate and pass the Cal TPA CYCLE 1 & 2.