Goal 8: Professionalism
- Demonstrates an understanding and commitment to professional growth and relates the process to improvement of teaching and learning.
- Documents professional growth activities outside of program requirements and sharing of professional knowledge with colleagues
Throughout the course of my career and pursuing my master’s degree I have had several opportunities to participate in a number of professional growth opportunities. Since our family moves frequently my experience looks quite different than most teachers. I have had the opportunity to participate as math chair, technology teacher, as well as being the “new teacher” at 5 different schools in three different states. Since I move so frequently, it is often difficult to maintain leadership positions. I feel like I am constantly learning and work diligently to share my professional knowledge with my colleagues; additionally, as I move each time I try to listen to and seek support from my colleagues.
My first teaching position was in Virginia. During my time as a third grade teacher I was able to participate in the school math committee. My second and third year on the committee I was the math committee chair person/co-chairperson. I worked with my committee to create math placement tests on Quia so teachers could assess their students who came in during the school year. I also helped create/lead math training for our staff.
After teaching in Virginia we moved to Alaska. During my first year in Alaska I worked part time as a technology teacher. I had the opportunity to collaborate with the classroom teachers to incorporate technology into the curriculum. I learned how to download and update different software and helped staff troubleshoot any issues they had with different types of technology. I helped teachers work with students to create Power Point presentations on Westward Expansion and helped my 6th grade class do a Claymation project. I enjoyed working as a technology teacher because I was able to collaborate with teachers in a way I never had before.
Over the course of the next four years I taught second and third grade. During this time I had the opportunity to participate in many professional learning activities. Since I spent a great deal of time designing a website, I shared my website with my colleagues. I showed my cooperating second and third grade teachers how I created it and offered to help them whenever they needed support. Additionally, as I was working on my qualitative research I had my cooperating teachers watch videos of me teaching math; then they helped me revise these videos before I shared them with my parents.
During my third year in Alaska I chose to do a project model for my annual professional growth model. I decided to use the Daily 5 and Café Model in my classroom. The goal of my project was to provide remediation for 7 students throughout the course of the fall semester using these models. I collected baseline data and used the models from October through December. Then I assessed the students again in December to see how they did. Through the course of this professional growth model I learned a great deal about how my students learned reading. I also learned several different strategies I could use to help my students become better readers.
I have grown tremendously as a professional during the course of my current semester in my master's program. I just completed EDET 635. During this course I created a module on gamification. I included my first Google Hangout in my module on gamification. Additionally, during the creation process I worked with my peers to offer support on their modules and to seek support in creating mine. I learned a great deal about myself as a professional during this process. Now I can look forward to a new school year this coming fall with an "I can do" attitude.
My future plans include teaching 4th grade in the fall provided my license goes through. I am also working on getting a tutoring position so I can help students be successful in mathematics. I want to help students consider choosing a career in mathematics since there are many careers that need mathematicians. I also hope to help parents understand how math is being taught today.
Artifacts (taken from work done outside of my master’s program):
Math Placement Test
Math Training: An Effective Classroom
Classroom Website
Professional Growth Plan (2012-2013)
Artifacts (taken from work done during my master’s program):
Gamification Module
Google Hangout with Michael Matera, hosted by Sara Lambries
My first teaching position was in Virginia. During my time as a third grade teacher I was able to participate in the school math committee. My second and third year on the committee I was the math committee chair person/co-chairperson. I worked with my committee to create math placement tests on Quia so teachers could assess their students who came in during the school year. I also helped create/lead math training for our staff.
After teaching in Virginia we moved to Alaska. During my first year in Alaska I worked part time as a technology teacher. I had the opportunity to collaborate with the classroom teachers to incorporate technology into the curriculum. I learned how to download and update different software and helped staff troubleshoot any issues they had with different types of technology. I helped teachers work with students to create Power Point presentations on Westward Expansion and helped my 6th grade class do a Claymation project. I enjoyed working as a technology teacher because I was able to collaborate with teachers in a way I never had before.
Over the course of the next four years I taught second and third grade. During this time I had the opportunity to participate in many professional learning activities. Since I spent a great deal of time designing a website, I shared my website with my colleagues. I showed my cooperating second and third grade teachers how I created it and offered to help them whenever they needed support. Additionally, as I was working on my qualitative research I had my cooperating teachers watch videos of me teaching math; then they helped me revise these videos before I shared them with my parents.
During my third year in Alaska I chose to do a project model for my annual professional growth model. I decided to use the Daily 5 and Café Model in my classroom. The goal of my project was to provide remediation for 7 students throughout the course of the fall semester using these models. I collected baseline data and used the models from October through December. Then I assessed the students again in December to see how they did. Through the course of this professional growth model I learned a great deal about how my students learned reading. I also learned several different strategies I could use to help my students become better readers.
I have grown tremendously as a professional during the course of my current semester in my master's program. I just completed EDET 635. During this course I created a module on gamification. I included my first Google Hangout in my module on gamification. Additionally, during the creation process I worked with my peers to offer support on their modules and to seek support in creating mine. I learned a great deal about myself as a professional during this process. Now I can look forward to a new school year this coming fall with an "I can do" attitude.
My future plans include teaching 4th grade in the fall provided my license goes through. I am also working on getting a tutoring position so I can help students be successful in mathematics. I want to help students consider choosing a career in mathematics since there are many careers that need mathematicians. I also hope to help parents understand how math is being taught today.
Artifacts (taken from work done outside of my master’s program):
Math Placement Test
Math Training: An Effective Classroom
Classroom Website
Professional Growth Plan (2012-2013)
Artifacts (taken from work done during my master’s program):
Gamification Module
Google Hangout with Michael Matera, hosted by Sara Lambries