Pre-Reading activity
* I chose Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities. I chose this because I feel that in my classroom there are some areas that could be improved that would lead to my students being in an environment to better serve them and to help them learn.
* I feel most comfortable with Component 4c: Communicating with Families. I work with students K-6 with Multiple Disabilities. When you work closely with a small group of students in a small school district you get to know them and their families very well. I communicate with my parents through notebooks that are sent back and forth daily, and through phone calls. I call at least 1 parent a week, usually 2, and always for good things and just to see how things are going and to tell them something that their child did that I was very proud of during the week.
* The part that I believe ties in most with my instruction is 4b: maintaining accurate records. A lot of my instruction is based on IEP goals and all of that has to be monitored and has to be monitored closely. Without keeping accurate records, their profess would be difficult, if not almost impossible, to monitor.
* I would like to zero in on component 4b for my instruction because I feel that it does tie in so much with my instruction. I feel like this is a key part of the component for me to have down pat when it comes to working with my students.
POST READING
*QUESTION FOR MY GROUP: In what ways do you find it best to go about professional growth? What PD’s have you found most useful for your professional growth and development, and how does your school work in time for you to have professional growth and development time?
* How this domain looks in my classroom
* 4a – reflecting on teaching. My paraprofessionals and I often have meetings, informal or formal, that reflect on what we are doing with the students, what is working, what is not working, and any ideas that anyone has to make the lessons work better for the students. I also often take ideas to my principal to see why they aren’t working or to run by ideas of why something didn’t work but what goal I was going for to have a better lesson for the next time.
* 4b: - maintaining accurate records. IEP folders. Each of my students have IEP binders that are very thorough.
* 4c – Communicating with families. Each day I send home a notebook with good or not so positive remarks about the child’s day. I always have 2 positives for every negative if there has to be one. The notebook can then be sent back if the parents have any questions or comments. Also all parents have my phone number and e-mail address to reach me at anytime during the day or evening.
* 4d – Participating in a professional community. I work daily with the Kindergarten, First, and Sixth grade teachers to make sure all is well and that we are collaborating on a level that is most beneficial for my students. I also volunteer my time when needed and coach middle school volleyball and middle school cheerleading for basketball. Also, I have begun to share any information and resources I have with other teachers and through this we all share information and have come about some reliable and fun resources that will work great for our individual students!
4e: Growing and developing professionally. I have a professional growth plan that my principal and I did together. My paraprofessionals and I will be doing a growth plan for them together next week. Also I participate in many PD hours including a recent alternative assessment training, throughout the year.
4f – showing professionalism. This is done daily in my classroom through how I handle my students and how I work with the paraprofessionals and peer tutors in the room. I do my best to maintain an ethical and moral ground that can be looked up to by other teachers and/or staff members.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Task 3
Pre-Reading Questions:
I absolutely believe that every student has a capacity to learn. This capacity is shaped by their home environment, opportunities outside of the school, socialization or extracurricular activities, and if the student has a disability it is also based on the early intervention services that the child received. I believe that as a teacher we have a lot of influence upon the capacity to learn once they reach school. It is part of our job to encourage them and to gear some of our instruction to life experiences that the students may have had. Teachers make a huge difference in students' lives and I feel like every teacher has a chance to influence a students ability and/or capacity to learn.
This assumption shapes my instruction every day. I work with students with Multiple Disabilities but I know they can learn and that they have the capacity to learn many different things. I know it may take longer but I know they can do anything they put their minds to. That attitude and assumption helps me create a positive and encouraging environment for my students that help them learn every day.
Post Reading:
What I got most out of the Resnick and Nelson article was that there are numerous ideas of what intelligence is, how it is measured, and what it consists of. There is no one way to look at intelligence and often it is different with every student. They gain information from the world around them, their school environment, their culture, natural ability, and sometimes it is argued that intelligence is gained if the student puts forth the effort.
Also I enjoyed reading about acquiring habits of mind through socialization. I think this is very important and a huge aspect for students especially those with disabilities. The students have a great need for socializing with their peers. This helps them not only become a part of a group and community but also provides models for how they should act in certain places.
I definitely have a hard time believing that effort creates ability. If effort created ability I know a lot of students that would not know much. However it is getting to know your students and providing the necessary motivation for that student to help them learn and succeed in the classroom.
After reading about the four domains, the one that I would like to learn more about is domain 4. I think reflecting on my teaching is something that I do but I need to follow up on that. Maintaining accurate records is very important with all of my students on IEP’s and communicating with families is extremely important each and every day. Also, I am a third year teacher so I think I really need to focus on growing and developing as a professional throughout my next years as at teacher.
I absolutely believe that every student has a capacity to learn. This capacity is shaped by their home environment, opportunities outside of the school, socialization or extracurricular activities, and if the student has a disability it is also based on the early intervention services that the child received. I believe that as a teacher we have a lot of influence upon the capacity to learn once they reach school. It is part of our job to encourage them and to gear some of our instruction to life experiences that the students may have had. Teachers make a huge difference in students' lives and I feel like every teacher has a chance to influence a students ability and/or capacity to learn.
This assumption shapes my instruction every day. I work with students with Multiple Disabilities but I know they can learn and that they have the capacity to learn many different things. I know it may take longer but I know they can do anything they put their minds to. That attitude and assumption helps me create a positive and encouraging environment for my students that help them learn every day.
Post Reading:
What I got most out of the Resnick and Nelson article was that there are numerous ideas of what intelligence is, how it is measured, and what it consists of. There is no one way to look at intelligence and often it is different with every student. They gain information from the world around them, their school environment, their culture, natural ability, and sometimes it is argued that intelligence is gained if the student puts forth the effort.
Also I enjoyed reading about acquiring habits of mind through socialization. I think this is very important and a huge aspect for students especially those with disabilities. The students have a great need for socializing with their peers. This helps them not only become a part of a group and community but also provides models for how they should act in certain places.
I definitely have a hard time believing that effort creates ability. If effort created ability I know a lot of students that would not know much. However it is getting to know your students and providing the necessary motivation for that student to help them learn and succeed in the classroom.
After reading about the four domains, the one that I would like to learn more about is domain 4. I think reflecting on my teaching is something that I do but I need to follow up on that. Maintaining accurate records is very important with all of my students on IEP’s and communicating with families is extremely important each and every day. Also, I am a third year teacher so I think I really need to focus on growing and developing as a professional throughout my next years as at teacher.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
New post!
I think this is how I do a new blog post which should make it easier for everyone to comment - I apologize for just using the same post and commenting for my other tasks :) I was not thinking that through! I got it now though! My task 1 and task 2 are both under my first post.
Thank you!
Thank you!
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