1. Describe how you have developed as a teacher.

I feel that I had a good foundation moving into the teaching position. Managing the classroom environment and professional abilities were strengths I had going in to the job. I feel that with the help of my cohort and host teachers, I was able to work on my planning, preparation and instruction in class. I have more knowledge of my content-related pedagogy which helps me work with my upper end students. Working with the SPED department on differentiation has help me understand my students’ skills and learning processes. I am able to set more realistic goals for my students and provide differentiated instruction for all of my students.

1.a. Describe how PD activities specific to content and content pedagogy have contributed to your development.

Our department has been working through a book that is specific to project=based social studies curriculum. It has helped me look for and develop new curriculum for the 6^th and 7^th grade classes that I teach. It also breaks down how to teach to middle schoolers – how to give directions for activities and keeping the students engaged.

1.b. Describe a specific example of how collaborating with a colleague has improved your teaching.

I am currently collaborating with the 6^th grade Language Arts teacher for a debate on the Greek and Roman civilizations. This has helped me introduce the correct academic language that is being used in the English classes, so the students are not confused but seeing the same expectations in multiple classes.  This has also helped me to expect more from my students’ writings. Even though I only teach history, I can still hold them accountable for their writing in their essays. We are also co-teaching the students on how to correctly tack notes in an organized fashion for their grade level. This will help me scaffold my 6^th and 7^th grade expectations each year.

1.c. Describe a specific example of how utilizing resources from professional education organizations has improved your teaching.

Using Bird Brain History, on online organization, has helped me differentiate non-fiction reading materials. This allows me to assign the same reading assignment for all students for a discussion. The articles are on the same topic but adjusted to each student’s reading ability. The students are then able to participate fully in a class discussion, project or report, alongside their peers without being lost or “labeled” as a particular type of learner. This helps me to keep students engaged and the class’s pacing and structure can be the same. This program also helps me create a better assessment for each student, watching them master the standards at their own level.

2. Describe a specific goal for how you want to improve as a teacher.

My one specific goal I want to improve is a more thorough and complete 6^th grade curriculum. Our school does not use textbooks or resources from one particular company. We are given the freedom to create our curriculum, meeting the State standards, from a variety of sources. The 6^th grade focuses on Ancient Civilizations and I feel that the units I have introduced could flow a lot better with more project/inquiry learning.

2.a. Discuss how you will accomplish the goal described in part 2.

This goal will be accomplished through a lot of research and trial. With each unit introduced, I take in the pre/post assessments and student engagement to evaluate the lesson. I will also be looking for how the students perceived the lesson through their evaluations – was the assignment easy or hard, did they feel like they learned something new, was it fun and exciting and kept them wanting to find out more. Do they feel that it prepared them for the next unit? Questions like these will allow me to reflect on whether I should keep the units or look for something new.