Standard #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Reflections: Spring 2015
A teacher has knowledge of a variety of self-assessment and plans to use as a tool of reflection. They have a knowledge of how a personal identity, worldview, and prior experience affect views and prospects, and comprehends certain interactions. One interaction occurs when the teacher understands laws related to students’ rights and teacher responsibilities. Once this is discovered a plan for growth will be put into place. Professional growth is based on feedback from evaluations, observations, and data of performance.
In my SPCE 277 class, we focus on reflection. How do we make something better? I learned that it is a trial and error process. Every time I try something, I look back and see where the result led me, and then if necessary I change it. I came from a Catholic school where expectations were high. That is how I was raised, and that is how I teach. As a teacher, I have knowledge of what I know my students are capable of doing. I am going to push my students to that level I know they are capable of. In the past I know it annoyed some of my students, but I am okay with that being the case, because the reward is so great. For one of my classes I had to write a paper. An element of this paper was to discuss how to further our education after graduation. I have already started by going to lectures, reading books and magazines. I believe that in order to become the best teacher I can need to know policies, practices, research, and other reflections. The world is changing and my strength is that I am determined to change with it.
A person never stops learning. Every year I want to partake in seminars, lectures, classes, and I want to read journals and books. In doing this I will continue to grow and become the best teacher I can be. My education does not stop just because I am the one who is educating others. In education it is important for a teacher, to document everything to ensure a legally safe environment. As a teacher you must be careful of what you document. A teacher must document everything, that is a strength of mine, since I already document everything. Documentation also includes what is placed on social media, nothing is private, and it can be harmful as a teacher.