Professional Learning and Ethical Practice

The Professional Learning and Ethical Practice INTASC standard calls for the teacher to engage in ongoing professional learning and to use evidence to continually evaluate their practice, particularly the effects of their choices and actions on others and adapts their practice to meet the needs of each learner. Professional learning and self-evaluation is at the core of every successful teacher. After all, you are never perfect and there is always room for growth. As a new teacher, this will be especially important for me.

Artifact 1 is a reflection of my personal professional development. This particular teaching semester I focused on my skills with ESL students. I had an ESL student in my internship class that semester and had noticed that I needed to bolster my strategies and skills regarding second language learning. I definitely have more to learn in the ESL area, but this particular professional development helped give me foundational skills and strategies to try in my classroom. Artifact 2 is an observation conducted of my teaching by a supervisor. The supervisor offered areas of strength and weaknesses and it was great to have an outside perspective on my teaching strategies. Observations are a fantastic way to see areas of weaknesses you might not be aware of. Artifact 3 is a set of notes I created while reading the professional development book Seven Secrets that I then presented to other colleagues in a joint meeting of professional development presentations. I focused on planning and learned wonderful tips and strategies from my colleagues.