Category IV: Professionalism
Committees
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
Coaching 7th Grade Reading Olympics Team
Collaborative Planning
Committees
Since this is my second year at UMMS, I wanted to make sure that I got very involved in the school community. I joined several building and district level committees. Last year, I had been part of the Humanities Committee, helping to determine how students would be selected for the accelerated course in 7th and 8th grade. I enjoyed working on a district level and decided to join the Literacy Framework Committee to help make decisions for the curriculum across the district as the 7th grade representative. It has helped to give me insight into district and state goals coming in the future as PA shifts into Common Core and new standardized tests. I also am able to be a voice for my grade.
The Acceptance Day and FOLT committees are building-based. Acceptance Day is built around Martin Luther King Day where the students learn all about different types of people in our community and how we can support and accept them. I am on the committee to help plan this day. FOLT is a building-based committee that focuses on school improvement. This year, we are in the process of being evaluated for Schools to Watch. We helped to survey the staff and find strengths and areas of weakness. We have also made improvements where we can. I have helped to build part of the community here at Upper Moreland Middle School. These committees meet the Professionalism category through my involvement and support of the school, district, and community.
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
Our school has been participating in a bullying prevention program. As part of the program, each homeroom has Class Meetings about once a month. We focus on team-building and problem-solving skills for our students. We ask them what they want to learn about. The students get to voice their perspectives and opinions of how the school and community operate. The teachers guide students toward becoming leaders who stand up against bullying. Students are able to have open conversations and gain problem-solving skills and solutions. We also reach out to the parents through this program and make it a joined effort to support our students against bullying.
Coaching 7th Grade Olympics
I offered to help Mrs. Antonuccio with the Reading Olympics Team this year. I am building relationships with students and teachers who I do not typically get to interact with. Since there is a team for each grade level, I interact with the 6th and 8th grade coaches as well as students and teachers from other districts. I have also learned about procedures for students to have given permission for joining a club and how to organize a field trip at Upper Moreland. This is one more opportunity for me to make contacts and ties outside of workshops and daily teaching.
Collaborative Planning
One of my favorite parts of teaching is collaborating across content areas. This is the main reason why I chose to pursue Librarianship. I am able to plan with many different teachers, typically with other Literacy teachers. I was able to plan one of the research assessments for my students with Mrs. Antonuccio. It gave me insight into her teaching style and expectations for students. It allowed us to Co-Teach students and work with one another in front of the kids. We were a unified team and the students were able to benefit from two teachers instead of only one. This collaborative effort helps to solidify my understanding of the school and district, as well and fortify the relationships that I have already begun to build with other teachers.
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