Standards 6 & 7: Engages With the Community Outside the Classroom
I believe teaching is not just about knowing your students as individuals. You are not only teaching a adolescent, but you are teaching someone's child. I think parent involvement at home is very crucial for a student's success in the classroom. Behavioral patterns and work ethics should be monitored at home. Throughout this year, I have learned that I cannot solve all of the problems in my classroom. Sometimes students need that extra push from home so they can be even more successful. Through Parent Email, PowerSchool notes, parent/teacher conferences, and calling home, I have developed relationships with parents. In this particular email, I discuss a struggling student who loses all his homework and does not turn in his work. The interesting aspect of this student is that when he does turn in his work, he receives very high marks. This email was not the first time I contacted his parents. My goal was to work with his parents to establish some kind of game plan to improve his grades.
Throughout the year, I have attended many professional development days and staff meetings. As a staff, Malow met at least once a month for two hours at a time. I learned how teachers learn with one another and grow together as a school. On particular professional development day stuck out to me. The administrators discovered this company that put a new twist on literature circles. This PD Day was very helpful because I used the game they introduced to the staff two days later in my own classroom. With this activity, I used the district's Close and Critical Reading more interesting and engaging for the students.
I also had an amazing opportunity to lead a small Bible study group at my school. I got the chance to get to know some of my students on a very personal level. We talked about daily struggles and how we could all improve our lives to become better people. This club really let students open up to me and I think we developed healthy, trusting relationships.
Throughout the year, I have attended many professional development days and staff meetings. As a staff, Malow met at least once a month for two hours at a time. I learned how teachers learn with one another and grow together as a school. On particular professional development day stuck out to me. The administrators discovered this company that put a new twist on literature circles. This PD Day was very helpful because I used the game they introduced to the staff two days later in my own classroom. With this activity, I used the district's Close and Critical Reading more interesting and engaging for the students.
I also had an amazing opportunity to lead a small Bible study group at my school. I got the chance to get to know some of my students on a very personal level. We talked about daily struggles and how we could all improve our lives to become better people. This club really let students open up to me and I think we developed healthy, trusting relationships.