NC Teaching Standard #5 - Teachers Reflect on Their Practice

Many teachers deny that they reflect.  I think that is because many teachers think that means writing in a journal or doing some other "formal" review activity.  I feel reflection is as simple as thinking about what your plan was, what actually happened, and what you might do differently next time.  I often reflect on the spot - and write the results on my lesson plans. Sometimes I reflect while laying in bed, waiting to fall asleep at night. Or maybe it is that drive home from work, while decompressing from the day.

Here are the big ideas from Standard 5:

• Teachers analyze student learning. 
• Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals. 
• Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment.

Again, this standard relies heavily on some pretty formal language - analyze, complex, dynamic.  Those are all accurate, but not my first choice of words to describe my job. But good, effective teachers look at student data/results, they make sure they are continuing to learn, and they are the epitome of multi-taskers.

Here are some artifacts I used:

• Formative and Summative assessments
• EOG Review Centers
• Student Portfolios
• Take Home Tuesday folders
• Lesson Plans
• 14 Things assignment (We read What Great Teachers Do Differently as a school-wide PLC activity this year.)
• NCCAT attendance
• Google Docs end-of-year survey (Awesome! It analyzed the results for me.)

Next year, I'll be able to include my blog and even my Twitter account - using tech in a real world way for all to see!

Bonus Post! Classroom Pictures

Here is a slideshow of my new classroom. Please forgive me for the blurry shots - not sure what happened.  It is definitely a work in progress! I'm amazed at how much got done in just 2 days! I can't wait to get back in to put up bulletin boards, posters, etc.


New 6th Grade Classroom - In Progress!! on PhotoPeach

NC Teaching Standard #4 - Teachers Facilitate Learning

This is a huge standard.  And it has some goofy, super formal language in it.  So let's dissect this one a little more than the others. Here are the big ideas (my comments are in red):

• Teachers know the ways in which learning takes place, and they know the appropriate levels of intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development for their students. As a teacher, you need to know about child development and about how the brain/student learns.
• Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students. 
• Teachers use a variety of instructional methods. 
• Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction. In my district we have talked about how integrating and utilizing tech means getting it into student hands - not just being able to say that you use it yourself.
• Teachers help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 
• Teachers help students work in teams and develop leadership qualities. 
• Teachers communicate effectively. 
• Teachers use a variety of methods to assess what each student has learned.

This standard also throws around the idea of 21st Century skills and assessment.  But it doesn't really explain it!  Through my research, I finally decided that most folks agree that collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication are the key points. So that is what I focused on getting my students deep into.  I'll continue to do that next year in my new position.

Here are some things I used for artifacts:

• Learning contracts in math
• Began to use the Wiki (email or leave a comment to see the link)
• Chrome Fast Word Game
• Cuttin' Kate project
• ABC's of the EOG's project
• Video products created for Nutrition Project after EOG testing (in addition to posters, booklets, and brochures which were also options.)

Because this standard is so long and the wording is awkward, it can be intimidating.  It turns out that this is one of my favorite standards though, because it keeps me on track - I can't keep doing the same old thing if I want to get different/better results!

NC Teaching Standard #3 - Teachers Know the Content They Teach

While I'm away today, moving into my new classroom (!), enjoy my thoughts on Standard #3 - Teachers know their content. (Can we all have a, "Well, duh?" moment? Ok, moving on.)

Standard 3 seems like a no brainer, but I've seen many teachers in my 10 year career who really don't seem to know their stuff.  Aside from class management, you should have a firm handle on the basics in your subject area(s). I know there are some things you refine in the trenches - but you shouldn't learn it for the first time there!  Here are the big ideas with Standard 3:

• Teachers align their instruction with the NCSCOS. 
• Teachers know the content appropriate to their teaching speciality. 
• Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines. 
• Teachers make instruction relevant to students. 

I'm assuming the first bullet will be revised for the 2012-2013 school year, as NC will be adopting the Common Core Standards and using state developed Essential Standards for everything else.  Still, nothing earth-shattering there, right?  Here are things I used for artifacts:

• Lesson Plans
• Year Long Plan - This is a link from my "file cabinet." You may want to open it in a new window.
• SCOS Checklist - created for my colleagues who chose not to use my Year Long Plan, so they could ensure they taught the big ideas
• Connect to student interests (survey)
• "Hats off to Bloom's"
• Real-Life Math projects
• Math learning contracts in combination with pretesting for chapters
• Trial runs with Data Notebooking

 This standard makes a lot of sense to me.  I work hard during the school year and throughout the summer to refine my practices and increase my knowledge.  One of the reasons I've started blogging again was to create a network of like-minded professionals from whom I could learn.  I see a lot of overlap in this standard and in Standard 4 (Teachers Facilitate Learning for their Students.)  But we can talk about that tomorrow!

NC Teaching Standard #2 - Respect Diversity

Standard 2 gets me sometimes.  Maybe because we don't have a very diverse population, so I tend not to focus on making sure a variety of backgrounds are represented.  Here are the big ideas of Standard 2: Teachers Establish a Respectful Environment for a Diverse Population of Students.

• Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults. 
• Teachers embrace diversity in the school community and the world. 
• Teachers treat students as individuals. 
• Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs. 
• Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students. 

 Here are the things I used as artifacts:

• PEP and DEP paperwork - PEPs are for below level kids, DEPs are for kids identified as AIG.
• Conferences with parents
• Conference, phone calls, and email communication with a social worker for a student who was having difficulties outside of school
• Bullying prevention lessons
• "Eliminating Bias" workshop at the Raising Achievement and Closing the Gap conference
• Tuesday folders
• Classroom website/voice mail maintained

I understand the need for this standard - I did well in it, but I can definitely improve, especially in the area of family involvement.  I'm already working on how to "fix" that for the new year.  I'm also hoping that I can handle the "treat students as individuals" better/differently since I will be seeing all the 6th grade students.  In this standard it is both a blessing and a curse that I've taught some of these students before.  I need to focus on the positives, let go of prior bad experiences, and start fresh!