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Competency Based Growth
Teacher Overview
26 November 2014
If my teaching career were a graph, it would be an exponential
growth function. For every day I spend with the inspirational and
supportive faculty, parents and students at ECS, my abilities as an
educator increase. The guiding principles: commitment, collaboration,
catalyst, and character, serve as the foundation on which I improve my
practice. I am creative, enthusiastic, reflective, and have a variety of
experience, but above all I am devoted to doing what is best for
students. I continually challenge myself to progress and be openminded and invite my students to do the same. In addition to sharing
my enduring curiosity, I inspire kids to become problem solving
enthusiasts, critical thinkers, and thoughtful members of the
community. I have been able to come into my own as a teacher since
starting at ECS, and have had many opportunities to demonstrate and
sharpen my skills, strengthen my weaknesses, and learn new ways to
take on challenges.
One of my greatest strengths is how comfortable I am with
change. Change is a symptom of growth and reflection. I actively strive
to make my practice better everyday. Whether it is writing reflections
about lesson plans, asking for advice from co-workers, or attending
professional development opportunities, I refuse to be stagnant. If a
lesson doesnt go very well in the first block of the day, I make
immediate adjustments for block two, then continue to refine aspects
for block three. Additionally, being comfortable with change is
important as a teacher because students needs are constantly
evolving. Developing a curriculum and daily lessons for 75 students is
not a simple task, and without being flexible I would never be able to
reach every student. I see change as synonymous with learning. As my
students grow and change, so must my practice.
Being naturally curious, I find just about everything fascinating. I
bring this enthusiasm into my classroom and invite my students to
share in making discoveries about the world. Teaching science is
perfect for me, as there are so many opportunities for daily
investigations and surprises. When deciding how to adapt lessons and
teach big ideas to a large group of fourth/fifth graders with unique
needs, I try to imagine what would be most engaging for me. This
thought process inevitably leads me to hands-on activities that
promote discovery. If I am bored, the kids are definitely bored, too.
Children are investigators by nature, so I keep that in mind when I
design my lessons. Experiencing a concept first hand has a lasting
impact on learners of all ability levels, making project-based and
authentic learning the best method of differentiation.
My insatiable appetite for learning led me to pursue additional
certifications in middle level mathematics and science. In addition to