Digital Citizenship

ISTE Standard 5

ISTE Standard 5

Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership

Sometimes with working with seasoned colleagues is they are going to do things their own way or they are up for new things. PLC’s are somewhat challenging as it is as they are always pressed for time. My team PLC sometimes never have enough time to reflect and discuss lessons we are taught or will be teaching. I feel now that now more than ever to possibly use technology to use effectively use our time. With technology, we can review results and do check-ins where we are and spend more time discussing teaching. Which led me to this question: How can I exhibit leadership in infusing technology within our professional learning communities?

PLCs can be a wonderful thing when not limited to just discussing one subject at a time. I feel like as soon as we get into a great discussion, it is cut short. Having a system in place like a shared document could possibly assist in analyzing data prior to our meeting so we can discuss what worked and what didn’t work.

Additionally, it would be nice to be able to share information with multiple schools that teach the same content area. This information would seem to be more valuable in that we can see what schools are doing that are making them successful. Though, It can also show schools that are not.

Mission Accomplished: The Reflective Teacher

Accomplished Teaching

 Marzano Framework     Program Standards  Journey Begins

Prior to classroom, my only experience I had with understanding teacher instruction was from my own personal experience as a student and then observing teaching when I inquired about becoming a teacher myself. To be honest, the term “accomplished teaching” was not on the forefront of my vocabulary bank. I was just looking into seeing how teachers do it. I didn’t realize there was a term for “just good teaching.”

I was lucky enough to be able to observe some real good teachers when I first began my journey as a teacher. One was inquiry based and on direction instruction. Both were equally good at their craft. I could only hope to take what I learn from them and make it my own and develop into a really good teacher.

In the beginning of the quarter, I was a teacher still learning the ropes of teaching grasping for ways to improve my instruction. I have had a tough time with a basic lesson design. Particularly, I had a tough time with transitions to between the new learning and independent practicing. I have learned as an accomplished teacher to reflect on how to approach my planning of the lesson segments. Before, my lesson planning felt rote and not meaningful. I was just going through steps making sure I hit every point of emphasis of a direct instruction instructional model. Now, I feel a little more liberated from the chains of direction instruction because I now know that I have a little flexibility in how I get my students the new knowledge. For example, I tend to allow more time for students to express their understanding of lesson targets.           

 The problems that occurred the most as with almost everything was time. Most of the time the instructional block doesn’t allow for instructional deviations which is why direct instruction works well. It gets the students the most information in the shortest period of time. However, I feel like the information doesn’t stick as long as it would with giving the students more time working with the new learning. The solution to this is devote some time during the day for interventions. As it is now, I work with a 30 minute block for each core of reading and math.                                                       

The Marzano Framework is used to document and show my proficiency as a complete teacher. The Marzano Framework breaks down research-based practices in 8 criteria and is used to compare and contrast my professional practices. My area of practice is best observed in Criteron 1 Providing Clear Learning Goals and Scales and 2 Demonstrating effective teaching practices.

            If anything, this quarter has provided me with a skill I have never thought would impact my skills as a teacher. It seems so simple, yet a little complicated if approaching it on my own.