Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities
4a: Reflecting on Teaching
After each teaching day I review the work turned in by my students, I check the work for accuracy as well as understanding. Through their written assignments, I check to see if they have developed a clear understanding of the topic. If there appears to be some cloudiness, I review the following class to try and clear this up. Prior to any formal assessments, we review the information to be assessed through Q&A, Kahoot, and Jeopardy. The use of Kahoot and Jeopardy help to make learning fun through both friendly, individual or team competition. Students work hard to come up with the correct answers so that their team can earn extra credit points toward the assessment.
For my own recollection, I try to make notes on my seating plan or on my lesson plan so that I can remember which students participated and which did not. In order to maintain a flow of participation, I have begun to use Popsicle sticks when volunteers are few. Also, I make notations on student’s assignments to let them know where they need to provide more information in their writing assignments. These notations are helpful because it is not always possible to provide one on one information to the students. With the notes, they can also look back on their work and see where they need to improve or where they are performing well.
4b: Maintaining Accurate Records
Through the School District of Philadelphia, I have learned the functionality of the School Districts Infinite Campus for Attendance Record keeping and Grade Book record keeping. In addition to the Infinite Campus, I have become quite adept at posting assignments and announcements on the Google Classroom application and also inputting grades and feedback for students on this site. This site is wonderful for providing the students with a medium to access both class and homework when they are absent from class. With the use of this site students can communicate directly with me with questions regarding assignments. The application allows for immediate feedback and grading that can then be relayed back to the students. Parents may also contact me directly through the application with questions or concerns.
4c: Communicating with Families
Throughout this semester, I have strived to maintain open communication with students and parents. At the beginning of the school year, I made myself available to all parents who came to the Back to School night. Throughout the semester, I have made myself available to the students through Google Classroom. Assignments have been made available to all students through the Google Classroom portal so that they can maintain the expected performance level. Through this same method, students have the ability to contact me to ask questions, look for clarification of instructions and submit their assignments. Parents also have the ability to review assignments, completion and grading through both this method and the Philadelphia School Districts Insight platform.
For the last two days I have met with parents and discussed their students performance in the classroom. We have reviewed expectations and assignments and looked at the future assignments that their students will be working on. Students are aware that they can bring to me their concerns regarding classroom assignments or any other concerns that they may have, and parents know that they too can reach out to me.
4d: Participating in the Professional Community
As a new teacher, I value the input and opinions that other teachers voice to me. They have been doing this job a lot longer then I have and so they have valuable advice for me. Administrators also can provide me with valuable information and I try to create an open communication with both the teachers and the administrators within the school. Although I may not always agree with the methods or procedures that are initiated through the administration, I understand that I must conform to their guidelines. As I have past administrative experience, I know how difficult the job can be and so I strive to work with them versus against them.
4e: Growing and Developing Professionally
In order to keep current on educational issues, I have registered with the following organizations:
4f: Showing Professionalism
Throughout the class meeting time, I attempt to provide students with an opportunity to bring concerns to me. They are provided with key time periods that they can come and meet with me to discuss assignments, grades and other general information that they need to have a successful school year.
4a: Reflecting on Teaching
After each teaching day I review the work turned in by my students, I check the work for accuracy as well as understanding. Through their written assignments, I check to see if they have developed a clear understanding of the topic. If there appears to be some cloudiness, I review the following class to try and clear this up. Prior to any formal assessments, we review the information to be assessed through Q&A, Kahoot, and Jeopardy. The use of Kahoot and Jeopardy help to make learning fun through both friendly, individual or team competition. Students work hard to come up with the correct answers so that their team can earn extra credit points toward the assessment.
For my own recollection, I try to make notes on my seating plan or on my lesson plan so that I can remember which students participated and which did not. In order to maintain a flow of participation, I have begun to use Popsicle sticks when volunteers are few. Also, I make notations on student’s assignments to let them know where they need to provide more information in their writing assignments. These notations are helpful because it is not always possible to provide one on one information to the students. With the notes, they can also look back on their work and see where they need to improve or where they are performing well.
4b: Maintaining Accurate Records
Through the School District of Philadelphia, I have learned the functionality of the School Districts Infinite Campus for Attendance Record keeping and Grade Book record keeping. In addition to the Infinite Campus, I have become quite adept at posting assignments and announcements on the Google Classroom application and also inputting grades and feedback for students on this site. This site is wonderful for providing the students with a medium to access both class and homework when they are absent from class. With the use of this site students can communicate directly with me with questions regarding assignments. The application allows for immediate feedback and grading that can then be relayed back to the students. Parents may also contact me directly through the application with questions or concerns.
4c: Communicating with Families
Throughout this semester, I have strived to maintain open communication with students and parents. At the beginning of the school year, I made myself available to all parents who came to the Back to School night. Throughout the semester, I have made myself available to the students through Google Classroom. Assignments have been made available to all students through the Google Classroom portal so that they can maintain the expected performance level. Through this same method, students have the ability to contact me to ask questions, look for clarification of instructions and submit their assignments. Parents also have the ability to review assignments, completion and grading through both this method and the Philadelphia School Districts Insight platform.
For the last two days I have met with parents and discussed their students performance in the classroom. We have reviewed expectations and assignments and looked at the future assignments that their students will be working on. Students are aware that they can bring to me their concerns regarding classroom assignments or any other concerns that they may have, and parents know that they too can reach out to me.
4d: Participating in the Professional Community
As a new teacher, I value the input and opinions that other teachers voice to me. They have been doing this job a lot longer then I have and so they have valuable advice for me. Administrators also can provide me with valuable information and I try to create an open communication with both the teachers and the administrators within the school. Although I may not always agree with the methods or procedures that are initiated through the administration, I understand that I must conform to their guidelines. As I have past administrative experience, I know how difficult the job can be and so I strive to work with them versus against them.
4e: Growing and Developing Professionally
In order to keep current on educational issues, I have registered with the following organizations:
- ASCD-Edge: Professional Networking Community for Educators
- ISTE - Empowered Learner Magazine and Professional Learning
- Education Weekly / Education Week Teacher
- Edutopia
- The Learning Revolution
- Classroom 2.0
- NEA - National Educational Association
- AFT - American Federation of Teachers
- National Council for the Social Studies
4f: Showing Professionalism
Throughout the class meeting time, I attempt to provide students with an opportunity to bring concerns to me. They are provided with key time periods that they can come and meet with me to discuss assignments, grades and other general information that they need to have a successful school year.