Professional Development Fall 2016

Karen Teel

ELL Training 11/10/15 11/11/15

Lari Valtierra: Teaching Academic Language to ELs
Over the two days of training, we mainly explored 4 major areas. We first
examined how students acquire a second language. Then, we investigated how
classroom teachers can use WIDA resources to plan explicit lessons. Next, we
identified the components of academic language and lastly, we identified
important strategies that help ELs master content. One thing I didnt know that
was quickly clarified in the beginning of the training is that ELs, ELLs, and ESLs
are interchangeably used to describe students who have a different native
language other than English. We also covered the basic 4 language domains of
listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
As we looked at how language acquisition occurs in a process, I did not
realize that there are so many levels that students can be at throughout their
learning process. Comparing these levels with the WIDA standard divisions, it is
initially intimidating to think about how I can meet the different exclusive needs of
every student in my class. I really appreciated Lari Valtierra walking through
multiple teaching tools with us. In the handbook that she provided, there were
multiple rubrics that help teachers assess where exactly their students language
skill are and where they should be. I think this is so essential in ensure that every
child in the classroom has what they need to be successful and learn. Similarly,
there were also provided performance definitions describing exactly what level
students should be performing in the classroom in regards to language. The tool
that I feel like will be the most beneficial to me, was the Can Do Descriptors.

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Karen Teel

They show what each student should be capable of at each level. Assessing is
important, but it also essential to know where to go when students levels are
determined, with the end goal for ultimate progression.
Overall, I feel like this training was extremely relevant to teachers today.
Even though the number of people speaking a language other than English in
Alabama has dropped, the number of people speaking a foreign language in the
U. S. increased recently. Teachers have the responsibility to provide every child
the opportunity to learn to reach their fullest potential. As an educator, I refuse to
let the barrier of lacking English communication get in my way.

ARA Conference 11/12/15 11/13/15

Overall, the ARA conference was a very beneficial professional
experience. I didnt know what to expect initially. However, from the first speaker
on, I learned a tremendous amount in the few days that we attended. I
participated both, Thursday and Friday mornings from check-in until lunch. I had
a hard time deciding which sessions to attend, but a few of the speakers I got to
hear were exceptionally outstanding to me, personally.
As a student who grew up in Elmore County Public Schools and in hopes
of becoming a teacher in Alabama, it was very exciting to get to hear about the
direction that education is heading from State Superintendent, Dr. Tommy Bice.
Dr. Bice unpacked Plan 2020 and described the changes are in the makings in
our states education system, with the biggest challenge of redefining success.
Shifting from having schools meet Adequate Yearly Progress to College and

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Karen Teel

Career Readiness standards, he profoundly stated that every student who

graduates needs to have a choice after graduation. I strongly agree that school
needs to be a place of relevance for students, in order to help them develop into
the men and women to lead our state and nation in the future generations.
Though many parts of Plan 2020 seem to only apply to high school, they also
effect elementary, as primary and middle school grade levels is where students
begin their educational experiences and develop their perspective on learning.
What Dr. Bice described that he wants for our state, is parallel to what I have
envisioned for my own classroom, as a safe place for risk and failure for me to do
what needs to be done for students to succeed.
Another speaker that I thoroughly enjoyed at the conference was Dr.
Elfrieda Freddy Hiebert and her discussion on words as the foundation for
reading a complex text. Discussing the 5 ideas, I found it very insightful that she
pointed to the ASPIRE testing and students need to know that we wont teach
them every word on the test. The best ways she suggested to expand their
exposure is to encourage them to practice through reading magazines,
consistent conversations, and take a stance for diversity in vocabulary. Not
degrading teacher read-alouds, Dr. Hiebert emphasized that students need to be
the ones reading the most in the classroom. The person who is doing the reading
is the one improving their reading. That was a point that I had never taken into
consideration previously. I loved her wording that Knowledge is stored in texts
and words are placeholders for that knowledge. This reminded me of a saying
that my AP ELA teacher used to harp to us about. She would say, You have to

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know something to write something about what you know. I looked into the
resource site she provided us with at the end of her presentation and it contains
even more presentations that go in depth on each of the 5 main ideas of the
Text Project.
Lastly, one of my most favorite speakers at the conference was Todd
Gerelds, the author of Woodlawn. He spoke from his heart and challenged us as
educators to love well. He said that as we realize that loving experiences are
profound, our students will be highly impacted through the love that we can show
to them and their families every day. This was truly inspiring and encouraging as
we enter a career field that lends us the opportunity to have a meaningful
influence over students lives.
Most Likely To Succeed Screening 11/12/15
This movie was unlike other issue-based documentaries. I was expecting
for it to be centered around a struggling or failing school but, it took a different
approach. The movie faced the question of whether or not American education is
outdated and what we are going to do about it. In order to hit this issue head on,
the movie looks at what it means to be successful in todays society. Talking to
heads of major corporations and companies, it was determined that they are
looking for employees who will be resourceful and resilient, with a learninggrowth mindset. The education system that we all know focuses on students
acquiring knowledge through the teacher. Because knowledge can now be
accessed through every electronic/ digital device, that familiar education system
is invalid and out of date. Content that students can build their knowledge base

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on is found right in their hands, constantly changing and improving. The

documentary determined that the new focus of education needs to be to produce
citizens who are capable of innovative thinking. These qualities of creativity, antiauthoritarian, unafraid to fail, lead education in the direction to be all about skillapplication instead of knowledge. Considering the documentary point to this
educational shift, I see that it will be necessary for students to build such skills to
effectively communicate, handling feedback and developing self-awareness that
enables them to logically problem-solve.
With the arch of innovation involved with High Tech High School that was
mentioned in the movie, students were getting good at a whole lot more than just
knowledge acquisition. An entrepreneur innovated High Tech High to produce
the kind of people who could be successful in todays society that is more in
demand of skills than people who can follow directions. The school was filled with
innovative teachers who created opportunities for students to explore and create
as they worked towards a real-life applicable goal. Therefore, students were
pushed to be innovative in their presentations at the exhibition, giving them an
authentic experience that they can continue past high school.
Overall, this film provided me with a new perspective about the career field
that I am entering. I realized that the classroom environment that I create will be
crucial, as I will also need to push my students to explore the unknown and not
limit their creativity. Encouraging them to work on projects that will not just be for
my class, their secondary education, but rather, for their future lives in the
innovative world. After viewing this film with my fellow colleagues and other

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Karen Teel

education professionals, I believe that all educators in the United States should
view this to open their eyes to the change that is necessary in our countrys
education system. It would also be beneficial for parents to see the film, as they
need to also share the innovative vision for their children to grow into successful,
thriving citizens of the future.

Professional Learning Plan

Parent/Family Engagement
Date/Time

Topic

10/10
7:00 PM

Lesson #1:
PERSONALITY

10/29
7:00 PM

Lesson #2:
COMMUNICATION

Reflection (What did you take away from the session?)

Prior to meeting, we took a personality survey and my
results showed that I was an ESTJ-A, The Executive. We
discussed what each letter in the combination meant and I
determined strengths of individual traits were extraverted,
observant, thinking, judging, and assertive. When talking
through the personality summaries, I was not surprised by
the qualities that are typical for my profile. We discussed
the weaknesses and strengths of the personality types of
each of the members in the group. I could relate to many
of them, validating the results of the survey. I think this
was an important meeting to highlight areas in my
personality that could affect how I teach and interact with
others.
In this meeting, we started off by discussing the difficulty
with delivering bad news to parents in conferences. One of
the main take-aways that I had was to always remain
factual. Information and evidence behind an issue or
concern should be given without a bias. When discussing
what NOT to do in the conference, the first point we
covered was about not being too harsh or judgmental. I
realize that this could potentially be a struggle for me as
being judgmental is one of my weaknesses that I
acknowledged in the first session. Being aware of my tone
of voice and comments that I make will be essential when
meeting with parents. My professionalism will come into
play and I should rely on factual evidence when
addressing their childs issues.

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11/5
7:00 PM

Lesson #3:
PARENTING
STYLES &
DISCIPLINE

11/19
7:00 PM

Lesson #4:
WHAT TYPE OF
TEACHER ARE
YOU?

Karen Teel

This session was all about understanding parenting style

choices and how they can effect childrens behavior. In
education this semester, we frequently discuss the
importance of knowing the children in your classroom.
Knowing the parents could be a window to reason why
children behave the way that they do. Understanding
discipline at home could help determine the best discipline
strategies to, or not to, use at school. We talked about
how the word discipline is normally interchanged with
punishment. In the world of education, the term discipline
is more like guidance for children as they make behavior
choices. I see that communication with parents will be on
the forefront as teachers need their support for disciplining
the child when they are at home and at school.
Consistency is key.
The final session was about different types of teaching.
We profiled 4 major types of The Guardian, The
Artisan, The Idealist, and The Rationalist. I saw
qualities in myself that are found in each of the four types.
However, I feel like I am more similar to the guardian and
idealist types because I love structure and I am very
committed to push my students to reach their fullest
potential. I think that understanding my teaching style and
philosophy of education will help me have a better selfawareness of who I am as a teacher. Knowing who I am
as a teacher will also help me know how to address issues
in my classroom and communicate with other educators,
administrators, and parents that I come in contact with.