Standard 4: Teachers Reflect on Practice
Element a: Teachers demonstrate that they analyze student learning, development, and growth and apply what they learn to improve their practice.
During PLC time, I meet with other teachers that teach the same Spanish levels that I do. Since we have common assessments, we use this time to also discuss student performance on these assessments to change what doesn't work and continue what does work. I usually take this time to write myself notes about what needs to change for next year in my planner or on the computer. I feel we have a lot to reflect upon during the last few years since we have been moving toward Performance Assessments instead of traditional Spanish tests and quizzes. I have seen a lot of growth in students' abilities to speak and write in Spanish but we have had to tweak some of the methods used for grading grammar because that was falling behind. Together we are creating a system that works better for us but I feel that I will never stop tweaking methods to make things better for students and their quest for language acquisition.
During PLC time, I meet with other teachers that teach the same Spanish levels that I do. Since we have common assessments, we use this time to also discuss student performance on these assessments to change what doesn't work and continue what does work. I usually take this time to write myself notes about what needs to change for next year in my planner or on the computer. I feel we have a lot to reflect upon during the last few years since we have been moving toward Performance Assessments instead of traditional Spanish tests and quizzes. I have seen a lot of growth in students' abilities to speak and write in Spanish but we have had to tweak some of the methods used for grading grammar because that was falling behind. Together we are creating a system that works better for us but I feel that I will never stop tweaking methods to make things better for students and their quest for language acquisition.
Element b: Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals.
Much of my professional growth has involved technology. I have always thought that technology has to be part of the classroom. Monarch has been a great fit to be able to work through becoming a 1:1 school. My goals involve using technology to provide more authentic ways to use Spanish. Being part of the BVSD 21st Century Cohort has given me more resources to be able to use in the classroom. For a while, I tried using the flipped learning method but quickly realized that it wasn't the best method for learning a second language. My goals then changed to more of a blended classroom, where there are elements of flipped learning that provide more time for speaking and writing in the classroom.
My professional goals tend to lead me to continue attending Professional Development opportunities both in and out of BVSD. I am a life-long learner and believe that I will never stop attending training and trying to make my classroom the best it can possibly be.
Much of my professional growth has involved technology. I have always thought that technology has to be part of the classroom. Monarch has been a great fit to be able to work through becoming a 1:1 school. My goals involve using technology to provide more authentic ways to use Spanish. Being part of the BVSD 21st Century Cohort has given me more resources to be able to use in the classroom. For a while, I tried using the flipped learning method but quickly realized that it wasn't the best method for learning a second language. My goals then changed to more of a blended classroom, where there are elements of flipped learning that provide more time for speaking and writing in the classroom.
My professional goals tend to lead me to continue attending Professional Development opportunities both in and out of BVSD. I am a life-long learner and believe that I will never stop attending training and trying to make my classroom the best it can possibly be.