Cambridge Scholars Publishing The edTPA Assessment for Special Education Pre-Service Teachers: Creating a Successful Portfolio

This book is designed to assist the Special Education pre-service teacher plan and prepare a successful edTPA portfolio assessment. Creation of this portfolio requires the candidate to plan, implement, and assess a series of three to five lessons designed specifically for one student with a disability. In total, the portfolio amounts to the writing of up to fifty pages of commentary and analysis of their pedagogical skills. The need for pre-service teachers in special education to receive a passing score on the edTPA portfolio assessment has become a requirement for teacher certification and the successful completion of a degree preparation program in the majority of states in the USA. The creation of a successful, high quality edTPA portfolio necessitates the incorporation of teaching and assessment strategies geared towards students with disabilities, or the “focus learner” in edTPA parlance. This book will provide the Special Education pre-service teacher and edTPA candidate with detailed guidance on the development of a high-quality portfolio. The reader will discover here a wealth of best practices and proven strategies that teacher candidates of special education are sure to find highly beneficial in creating their portfolio. About the Author Stephen J. Hernandez has been an Assistant Professor in Special Education and the edTPA Coordinator in the School of Education at Hofstra University, USA, since 2014. In his role as edTPA Coordinator, he provides training and guidance in the development of edTPA Special Education portfolios to hundreds of students, as well as to faculty in their support of these students. He also serves as a trainer and consultant to other teacher preparation programs in support of their pre-service teachers in the development of their edTPA portfolios. He has published a number of journal articles and book chapters on topics including edTPA portfolio analysis and best practices, assessment in special education, as well as collaboration in special education.