Standard 6: Professional Growth
In what ways does the student teacher:
  • reflect thoughtfully on his/her teaching experience? How, and from whom (colleagues, administrators, students, families) does s/he solicit feedback and accept criticism? How effectively is the reflection and/or criticism used in improving performance?
  • use learning theory to inform his/her practice? Does s/he regularly apply new ideas presented in coursework, and professional publications and journals that discuss current issues in education?
  • make an effort to learn about and value the backgrounds and cultures of the students that may be different from his/her own?
  • explore new instructional strategies? Is s/he flexible? Willing to take risks in trying new teaching approaches? Is s/he open to critically appraising the results of teaching methods employed?
  • develop basic technological literacy (use of computers, video and audio equipment, knowledge of the Web, the Internet, web publishing and use of search engines) for professional purposes, as well as classroom applications?
  • take responsibility for his/her own professional growth by successful and punctual completion of all course assignments and readings and thoughtfully participate in class discussions? Does the student teacher also participate in workshops, courses and other educational activities that support his/her development as a teacher?
I am proud of how, even if things didn't always go smoothly, I tried everything, every strategy, subject, or method, that my mentor teacher suggested I try. One great success in this area, as I've mentioned, is with my adoption of the mini-lesson format as the format for nearly every lesson. This structure helped me across the board in my teaching, and I plan to continue to follow this structure as I enter my future as a teacher. Of course it has its limitations, but I found that as a guideline, the basic steps involved in the mini-lesson clicked for me and enabled me to plan more succinctly and efficiently, especially in regard to keeping my objectives small and precise.
 
It was difficult to incorporate technology into our homeroom since we lacked the LCD projector that so many classrooms now feature. But in my science unit I relied heavily on technology, modeling dissection on overhead video, then conducting a review session and a final assessment online in PowerPoint format.
 
NPCCutting
 
 
A real struggle for me was to balance and plan my time well; I was frequently unable, despite significant efforts on my part, to complete all my 4th grade planning and my graduate coursework in the time I had. I had difficulty juggling such diverse and substantial demands on my time, frequently in the end spinning out or devoting too much time to one particular assignment at the expense of others.