Professional_Development_Plan

Final Project: Professional Development Plan Edna Marange April 3, 2011 AED/210 Suzanne Devitt The education field is one that is severely misunderstood. I look forward to this long journey that lies ahead of me. Becoming a successful, dependable, intelligent, worthy teacher will be very time consuming. The adventure of becoming a great teacher comes with many obstacles that must be crossed over. The education field is one that you must truly be comfortable with in order to succeed. There will be many days that things go wrong and especially as a new teacher, one will want to quit. There are many things that a teacher can do to expand their knowledge of the field in order to succeed. There are programs that have been started that help new teachers learn more about the field and become more comfortable in the classroom. Organizations are now available that specifically target aspects of teaching that one may not be completely comfortable in. Setting goals for oneself is a big part of entering the educational field. This is not something that is going to be easy as most believe and it will take time to adjust to how things really are. Becoming a teacher is not something that can be taken lightly because although it seems like it is simple and easy being a teacher is a lot more than obtaining a degree and passing licensure tests. Setting professional goals has become a need in today’s society, especially as a prospective educator. I have to set goals that will lead me along the road to get to my final destination a certified teacher. Many of the goals I have set for myself will take time to get to but they all lead up to one another. In order to successfully achieve these goals I have to stay focused and committed. Finish college and obtain my degree (associate and bachelor’s) in Elementary Education from Axia College University of Phoenix. I have to successfully pass the State of Louisiana licensure programs for educators. I would like to teach in the Lafourche Parish school District working with children with learning disabilities. When it comes to setting my ten year goals I would like to help develop a program that specializes in working with children with learning disabilities. Not all of these children need to be enrolled in special education classes, although that is where they are put in most cases often to lack of funding and teachers. In order to be successful in doing this I must finish all requirements to be specialized in working with special education children. I would also like to go back to school and complete my education my getting my Master’s degree in education. While continuing to complete these goals I would like to work on the school board committee to help control things that go on in our schools. Things cannot be done without people working hard to have them done so I want to be the voice of parents that have concerns and/ or questions that don’t seem to be answered. In order to for me to get to my goals I have to stay focused. Keep my goals within reach; I do not want to set goals that I cannot achieve. Having a simplified plan of action when it comes to goal setting is important. I look at my goals as a road map, I see where my final destination is and I have several stops along that way marked off. By doing it this way I do not overdo myself or try to do too much at one time. Setting goals is a reasonable way to keep track of things that I want to accomplish. Staying focused, having a good means of support (from others), and keeping goals within reach is how I set my goals for life and for my future career. Having good time management skills is an important step for me to manage in achieving my goals. I have to work hard at my school work as well; I have to become a better student. Maintaining a good grade point average is important as well. A person can pass with a D but that does not mean that they can give the best education to today’s children. One principle from the INTASC Principles Website that I feel I need to improve upon is making the content meaningful. I am fully aware that every student learns in a different way but how do I make the information come across to every student as important and meaningful' I have to find new and exciting ways to gain and hold on to my student’s attention and explain and review the materials over and over again in different ways so that each student understands it. Making the material more meaningful will mean that I am getting through to each child in my classroom. Sometimes making a “game” out of the material may help me get it across. I also have to be sure that I completely understand the material that I am going to teach. If I do not understand it I cannot teach the material in a way that my students would understand it. Being able to make use to content that I am teaching to attract my students attention will hold their attention and hopefully make them more eager to learn. The diverse needs of today’s learners are steadily growing, although the education field itself seems to be staying the same. It is harder and harder each passing today to hold onto a child’s attention and keep them focused in the classroom. In order for me to be the best teacher that I can be I would enroll in professional development programs. I plan to enroll in any program at which I would be capable of doing while still having the time to focus on my work in the classroom. A professional program is designed to help teachers learn and to better their knowledge in the classroom. I want a program that helps me become a better teacher, one that can get the lesson out and explain it to my students so that they are knowledgeable of all the classroom materials that they face, even in years to come. Being that I want to work with elementary aged children I will be one of the first teachers they encounter when they begin school. By learning more about and being aware of diverse learners I will have the skills necessary to be able to recognize children that may be having problem learning. Diverse learners are becoming more and more common in today’s schools. Diverse learners in today’s society require extra help. I have to develop an understanding of diversity and teaching strategies that will target these children (Davidson, et al, 2005). In order for me to reach these students I have to work harder in and out of the classroom. There are certain learners that are easy to recognize, however, there are also diverse learners that are harder to recognize. Acquiring professional knowledge is also a helpful key in working with diverse learners (Davidson, et al, 2005). As a teacher, I have to pay extra close attention to students that I may suspect are having problems. Once I have recognized a diverse learner I have to figure out exactly what is holding this child back. Involving the parents and/or guardians and other school officials is helpful in developing a plan of action. By involving these students’ hands on and also by using specific techniques to target these students I can help them be successful in the classroom. There are many professional organizations available for teachers to help them expand their education and help them learn more about teaching. Two of my favorites are the Association for supervision and curriculum development (www.ascd.org) and the Council for exceptional children (www.cec.sped.org) (Davidson, et al, 2005). Both organizations have a lot of information for teachers. The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development enhances all aspects of effective teaching and learning including professional development, educational leadership and capacity building (Davidson, et al, 2005). I believe this one will be helpful because it covers all aspects of teaching. It can help me develop as a teacher and help me recognize more where I would need to expand my knowledge to give students the best education possible. The Council for exceptional children provides educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with learning disabilities, and/or the gifted (Davidson, et al). This one is very exciting to me. My dream is to work with students with learning disabilities. These children are often very intelligent and eager to learn however, they have what I call a block that prevents them from being able to do so. With the right guidance they can learn and excel at everything that the education system has to offer them. As a teacher I have to be able to recognize children that have difficulties learning and be able to approach the child and his or her parents so that together we may come up with a plan so that this child has easier time learning. In order to evaluate my progress I will continue taking workshops. I will use what I learn in the classroom and keep notes of when I am in a situation that I am unsure of what to do. I will also remember that there are teachers who have been in the field for years and I will get advice from them about situations that I am unaware of. The school principal will also be a person that I turn to and ask questions and get guidance from. I do not expect to make a great amount of progress over night. I do realize that it will take time and only with small steps will I be able to completely feel comfortable handling any situation that is presented to me. I will continue to educate myself as much as possible. In order to develop leadership skills I will work extra hard. I will serve on school level curriculum committee where I can help make a difference (Davidson, et al, 2005). I will help my district establish policies on issues such as grading, dress codes, and attendance policies (Davidson, et al, 2005). I also hope to help establish a better plan for helping children that have learning disabilities. Having a specific program where I can work with other staff members where we target these children specifically. Being a teacher it is important to have and maintain good leadership skills; everything a teacher does is seen by students. Children have brains that are constantly picking up on things so as a teacher I have to maintain a good composure no matter a situation, be a good role model. I cannot speak ill of another staff member, student or parent of a student. I have to be sure that all of my actions are monitored closely by me. Joining a meaningful field is very important to me. I want to make difference. I want my students to be able to look back one day and remember me as the teacher that would do anything to be sure that they fully understood the material that I was responsible for teaching them. By setting goals for myself and doing my best to make sure that I complete each goal; even if doing so means taking baby steps, I am setting an example for my future students (and my own children). Being involved in all programs that I am capable of being in as one person is an important way for me as a teacher and role model to show my future students that there is no such thing as too much education. No matter where we come from anything is possible; and anybody can be anything that they would like to be. The education field is a steadily growing field that seems to have a shortage for strong minded teachers that truly want to make a difference. Each child that comes upon us is like a blank piece of paper waiting to be molded and shaped. By staying focused and keeping my goals in sight I am slowly headed toward the end of the road. I will get to make a difference, be an influence on children, and be the teacher that I have always dreamed of being. Being a teacher to me is more than just a job it is a necessity. I will get to spend time with children that need a good role model and a caring teacher that cares not just for them but for their education. As I head toward this goal I will work hard and keep my eye on the road ahead. References: Davidson, Gineapp, & Heyman. (2005). Nation of Nations: a concise narrative of the American Republic (4th ed.). The McGraw-Hill Companies.