Looking Forward

A Timeline of the Next 5 Years

Desirae Chatigny
April, 14 2015
TED 690
National University
Professor England

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with my goals for the next 5 years as a
developing educator. The paper is laid out over the next 5 years with inclusion of courses, course
descriptions, and tuition for each. My goal as an educator is to explore and expand my
knowledge through classes and trips around the world. This paper sheds light on what I feel is
important in my near future.

Looking Forward Plan

A Timeline of the Next 5 Years
2016
Working as an elementary teacher in Beaumont, it will be imperative that I continue to develop
as a professional. Because of the shift toward technology in our society today I firmly believe
most of that development should take place in the area of technology. One class I would like to
take over spring break next year would be Video Storytelling. According to the website,
This intensive three-day certificate workshop provides hands-on training in all aspects
of video storytelling, from planning through production. In addition to learning the basics
of video production, you will learn critical storytelling skills, storyboarding, and editing
skills that are essential to creating videos that are both effective and meaningful.
The class is a week long, so I would need to attend during our spring break in March of 2016.
The cost is $1,595 this year so I would assume the cost would be just over that amount next year.
The class would be held at the Graduate School of Journalism, University of California Berkeley,
near San Francisco. I believe this class would be beneficial to myself, my students, and others at
our school because I would be learning how to create fantastic videos from which learning could
take place. Learning through projects while equipped with technology tools allows students to
be intellectually challenged while providing them with a realistic snapshot of what the modern
office looks like (Why Integrate Technology into Curriculum, 2008). We could create videos
about culture, math, science, daily happenings at school, and virtually any content area.
Technology like this would provide students with engaging information and I would have the
opportunity to involve my students in creation of something they could learn from and take pride
in.
2017
The next class I would like to take would be PEDC 9001 25 Students, 25 Lessons? Is this the
case? Differentiated Instruction for Today's Diverse Learner. The class is offered three times
a year so I would likely take this course in March of 2017 at the University of the Pacific. Cost
for this class is $255 and it is one month in duration. Course description is as follows:

All of our students are different, it is obvious, everyone learns differently. Educators
cannot expect a one size fits all approach to learning. This course teaches practical
solutions to a frustrating problem, how can I provide the best instruction to all of my
students? Straightforward strategies can be used to enhance your everyday instruction
and create meaningful experiences for all of your learners. Teachers will learn concrete
ways to identify learning styles and strategies to adapt lessons that meet the different
types of learners, according to grouping patterns for instruction. Different types of
grouping create an environment conducive for successful lesson differentiating, station
learning, rubrics and grading policies. It is important for all areas of instruction meet the
needs of your diverse student population such as ELA, Social Studies, Math, Science,
LOTE, ESL, Special Education, the Arts, and Physical Education, N-12 are appropriate
for this course. Common Core State Standard initiatives are addressed.
A class such as this would assist me in differentiating of instruction in the classroom. No two
learners are exactly alike, and therefore we as teachers need to understand how to provide each
student with the best education possible. This class will offer strategies for adapting lesson plans
and successful differentiation in assessing my students. All students that make up a single
classroom are all different and quite unique. They all have strengths, weaknesses and specialized
abilities which allow them to express knowledge and creativity through various means. Students
are not cookie-cutter beings, the development of our potential is affected by the match between
what we learn and how we learn with our particular intelligences (Tomlinson, 1999, p. 18).
Differentiation is necessary in schools today, and teachers should utilize resources such as this
class to maintain differentiation in their own classroom.
2018
In April of 2018 I would like to take ABC's of Effective Mainstreaming and Inclusion at the
University of the Pacific. This course will aide me in dealing with special education students in
a general education classroom. Knowing there will be challenging students ahead, I believe this
course would be appropriate for me as a new teacher.
An increasing number of special education students are receiving instruction in the
general education classroom, k12 grades. This course offers definitions, information on
diagnoses, observable traits and instructional/behavioral strategies to support each

learner. Youll be better prepared to handle the most frustrating aspects of teaching a child
with a learning difference, more prepared to maximize each students strengths, better
equipped to meet the multitude of challenges ahead and manage change in
education. This class is appropriate for all educators N-12, ELA, Social Studies, Math,
Science, LOTE, ESL, Special Education, the Arts, Physical Education, Guidance
Counselors and Social Workers.
I want to make sure all my students have the opportunity to learn. I truly believe classes such as
this will benefit the teacher, children with and without disabilities, and their parents. If I am
going to be an effective teacher, I need to take the time to enroll in classes that will help me
create this equal learning environment. In inclusive classrooms, children with and without
disabilities are expected to learn to read, write and do math. With higher expectations and good
instruction children with disabilities learn academic skills (The Benefits of Inclusive Education,
2015).
2019
Another course I would like to take in 2019 at some point would be Connecting Family,
Community and Schools. The course is offered through PBS Teacher Line. It is an online selfpaced program that would assist me in effectively communicating important information to and
from my students and our school. Cost for the course would be $140. Course description is
located below.
Learn the Action Team for Partnership (ATP) model and discover how to engage families
and communities in children's education. Examine the "connection" issues, acquire tools
to integrate partnership programming into your curriculum, and develop a plan that
involves parents, family members, and community resources in your own classroom.
A class like this one would be beneficial to me as a teacher because teaching cannot be done well
without communication between home and school. Life outside of school is important in a
childs education, and a teacher should be able to effectively communicate with the community
in which his or her students reside. The most important job we teachers have is giving our

students a loving, safe place to connect with each other, with teachers, and with the curriculum
(Weisberg, 2013). In becoming a teacher, you are becoming a part of a community. I truly want
to immerse myself in the community where I begin my teaching career. Students, parents, and
community members will be more likely to help and support you and your students if you make
that extra effort.
2020
Finally, in 2020, I hope to take a Professional Development Tour through Education First. On a
tour through EF I could learn about culture, education practices across the world, and different
approaches to teaching and learning while earing professional development credits. University
of the Pacific offers credits for taking part in such tours. As we grow and become more
dependent on our 21st century skills, I would like to have a sense of global competency which I
could acquire through research and absorption on a trip across the world. I am here to prepare
my students for the future, I would love the opportunity to share an experience like this with my
own students. A trip like this one, including the cost of units would run $5000 or more. Price
will likely depend on the economy at the time of departure.

5 Year Plan for Professional Development on a Time line

2016
Video
Storytellin
g Course

2017
Diverse
Instruction
Course

2018
Effective
Mainstreaming and
Inclusion Course

2019
Connecting Family,
Community and
Schools

2020
Professional
Development
EF Tour

References
Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many. (2008, March 16).
Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integrationintroduction.
Tomlinson, C. (1999). The differentiated classroom: Responding to the needs of all learners.
Alexandria, Va.: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

The Benefits of Inclusive Education. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from
http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/inclusive-education/thebenefits-of-inclusive-education/.

Weisberg, M. (2013, January 11). The Importance of Connections in the Classroom. Retrieved
April 15, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-weisberg/the-importance-ofconnect_b_2452987.html.

Professional Development Course References

Classes at University of the Pacific and full course descriptions can be found at
http://www.pacific.edu/.
PBS Teacher Line courses can be located at http://www.pbs.org/teacherline/.
Information regarding the Video Storytelling at Berkley class can be found at
http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/workshops/videostoryboard/.