Standard 5: Reflection
Teacher leaders contribute to systematic, critical analysis of learning in their classrooms and beyond. They are lifelong learners who model and support ongoing professional development. Teachers embrace critical thinking, problem solving, and innovation. Indicators are:
- Promote an educational culture that values reflective practice.
- Model the development of meaningful professional goals.
- Model personal and professional reflection to extend student learning and school improvement.
Context: This artifact was completed for RES 5535, Race, Class, and Gender in Literature Research. This final reflection is a self-reflection and critique of my current reading practices and values. I contemplated my present knowledge and belief system and explored how to further expand my expertise and continue to learn to improve my practice.
Rationale In this course I become profoundly aware of the different home environments and how these environments effect student learning. I thought I was sensitive to my students, but this class made me take a harder look at the preconceived ideas I held and that I only skim the surface of understanding some of my students' differences and challenges. As an educator of over twenty years, I have the advantage of experience. At this point in my career, one would think I have gained enough knowledge of learners and teaching that I could continue teaching with the information I have gained. However, that is the point where I hope I stop teaching, because when we stop learning, we stop being effective as educators. Teaching children, especially teaching children to read, is my passion and I will continue to strive to find ways to help all of the students under my care to learn. At this point in my career, I have the privilege to help other teacher with their craft, so I must continue to seek answers to teachers questions.
Basket of BooksContext: This artifact was created for RE 5730, Reading and Writing Instruction for Intermediate and Advanced Learners. It is a collection of books with a theme of autism awareness. It contains children's literature, nonfiction books, and teacher resources. I gathered the collection to provide teachers and students access to material to expand their knowledge on this area of disability.
Rationale: My hope with this collection of books is that teachers and students will use it to further their knowledge of autism and broaden their understanding of students within the spectrum. With the knowledge gained from this collection, they can build a foundation with which they share with others. My goal is that this is a springboard for continuing education as we encounter more students with autism.