Professional Growth Plan

STANDARD 1: Learner Development

The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing
that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and
across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas,
and design and implements developmentally appropriate and
challenging learning experiences.
I have learned a lot about this standard from my time at Ball
State. My Educational Psychology class really helped me learn a lot
about child development. This is information that will be important for
me to know as a teacher. I can create my learning experiences based
off of the research that has been done about students at particular
ages. MUSE 353 has helped me focus in on adolescents in particular.
WE have learned a lot about how their brain is developing, and how
this then affects how they learn and act in the classroom. I think the
other methods classes that I will take will further my understanding of
this concept. For further knowledge, I can research this on my own.
Once I know what age group I will be teaching, I can research where
they are developmentally and plan a learning experience that will be
most beneficial for my students.
STANDARD 2: Learning Differences
The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse
cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments
that enable each learner to meet high standards.
This standard has been the focus of my multicultural education
class. I have learned a lot about how to create an inclusive classroom. I
want my classroom to be a safe place where students can come and
feel valuable, no matter their background or cultural differences.
Something that I have learned is the importance of high teacher
expectations. If I set high standards, I need to believe that each and
every student can reach them, regardless of their cultural diversity. I
want my classroom to be a place where the students will be challenged
in various ways. I want to push my students, but I also want them to
know that I am advocating for their success both in and out of the
classroom. Moving forward, I think putting myself in a variety of
educational settings would give me more first hand experience.
Volunteering at difference places around Muncie would help me feel
more comfortable handling students from a variety of backgrounds.
STANDARD 3: Learning Environments
The teacher works with others to create environments that support
individual and collaborative learning, and that encouraging positive
social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

This standard is very easily applied to choral music educators. All

of these things need to be present to some degree to make music
chorally. There is required collaboration that will be present even with
the most ineffective teachers. I love collaboration in the classroom, and
seeing the students interact with each other positively. I want this to be
a big part of my classroom. Along with learning collaboratively, there is
also a section of individuality that comes with choral directing.
Students need to be learning and improving individually so that they
can better contribute to the choir as a whole. I think that the choral
methods courses will be very beneficial in expanding upon the
concepts addressed in this standard. Learning from different
observations could be helpful as well. Current teachers have more
insight into what does and does not work in the classroom.
STANDARD 4: Content Knowledge
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and
structures of the disciple(s) he or she teaches, and creates learning
experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and
meaningful for learners to assure mastery of content.
I think this standard is one of the ones that I have experienced
the most growth in since coming to Ball State. Before coming to
college, I had extensive training in piano. This covered the basics of
theory and gave me piano skills, but did not have much to do with any
sight singing or ear training abilities. I would definitely like to improve
my ear training skills, and I have been working on this skill a lot
through my classes. I have been thankful over and over again that I
came into this program with above average piano skills. I had really
underestimated the importance of piano proficiency coming into this
program. I have also learned a lot from my methods courses. These
classes have been so helpful in preparing me to create learning
experiences in a way that will lead to students mastery of the content.
Sequencing is so important, and I feel much more confident in my
abilities than I did coming into this program. My other methods courses
will continue to develop this, as I still have a lot to learn.
STANDARD 5: Application of Content
The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing
perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and
collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global
issues.
I find this standard difficult to include sometimes. There seem to
be countless ways to apply outside situations in the classroom, but too
often it becomes a distraction and takes away from the content. I have
found through field experience in MUSE 353 that students can very
easily become distracted and fixated on outside experiences when
they are brought into the classroom. It is a great way to make the

content relevant to the students, but I want to work on applying this in

a way that enhances the content, not distracts from it. I really like the
aspect of problem solving that is included in this standard. We have
discussed in depth the concept of problem-based learning. Again, in
my field experience for MUSE 353 I have seen how well this works. It s
a great way to get students engaged, and they seem to retain the
information a lot better when they come to the conclusion themselves.
Further development of this standard will come with more experience.
STANDARD 6: Assessment
The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to
engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and
to guide the teachers and learners decision making.
In music education, informal assessments are a lot more
prevalent. In the beginning, it seemed that assessment in music could
be quite ambiguous because of how subjective music can be. People
will be at all different levels, and varying degrees of talent. As I have
gone through my methods courses, I have come to a better
understanding of how to assess effectively. Something that I have
found really valuable as an informal assessment is simply walking
around the classroom. This allows me as a teacher to hear students,
without putting the pressure on them to perform alone. We have also
learned great informal assessment tools from MUSE 353 such as
perception charts or lyric dictation sheets. I know that further methods
courses will dive deeper into how to apply assessment properly in the
choral setting.
STANDARD 7: Planning For Instruction
The teacher plans instruction that supports every students in meeting
rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas,
curriculum, cross disciplinary skills, and pedagogy, as well as
knowledge of learners and the community context.
I really enjoy lesson planning. It helps me feel more secure when
I get up to teach. I know my material and I have practiced it. I really
want to work on including more options in my lesson plans. I tend to
plan towards the majority of the class. My multicultural class has made
me think more about making my lessons inclusive so that I am able to
reach every single student. This may not happen every day, but I want
enough variety in my lesson plans that I reach all of my students
regularly in a way that applies and makes sense to them. I also want to
improve on creating specific goals that I want accomplished in a class
period. It is easy for me to get distracted, so having clear, achievable
goals will help me stay on track with my lessons. Having more
experience will help me to continue to develop my planning abilities.
STANDARD 8: Instructional Strategies

The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies

to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas
and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in
meaningful ways.
Having a variety of instructional strategies is crucial to be an
effective teacher. Being able to vary my teaching style to reach the
needs of all of my students will be integral for me as a teacher. I have
learned through different classes that I need to be presenting my
information in a variety of different ways. It is most likely that I will
have students from various backgrounds in my classroom, and I need
to be prepared to present the concepts in ways that will relate to them.
When I vary my instructional strategies, this ensures that each of my
students will receive what they need at some point. I am great at
presenting information in the way that makes the most sense to me,
but I really want to develop my abilities in varying my instruction. The
methods classes that I have taken so far have pushed me out of my
comfort zone and introduced me to different instructional strategies. I
want to be sure to get the most out of my methods courses, so that I
am able to get the most out of my future students.
STANDARD 9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses
evidence to continually evaluate his or her practice, particularly the
effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families or
other professionals, and the community) and adapts practice to meet
the needs of each learner.
I really enjoy this standard because I think this is so important. To
be effective teachers, we need to continue growing and learning
ourselves, even when we are out of college. I want to continue growing
and developing as an educator long after I have graduated. There are
countless options for professional growth. Getting involved in a
professional organization is a great start, and they offer many valuable
conferences and retreats. This is definitely something that I have been
applying now as I go through my college education. I have learned so
much through these extra opportunities, and that is not something that
I want to stop once I graduate. I will have to be more purposeful about
it outside of school, but it will benefit my students and me.
STANDARD 10: Leadership and Collaboration
The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to
take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners,
families, colleagues, other school professionals, and community
members to ensure learner growth, and to advance the profession.
This is the standard that I feel the most comfortable with. I have
held a variety of leadership positions throughout my life, and
leadership is something that I really enjoy. I have learned many things

through all of these past experiences, and this is something that I want
to continue throughout the rest of my career. I have learned valuable
communication skills that I would not have experienced had I not held
the leadership position. Teaching corresponds really well as leadership,
and I think this is one reason that I feel so drawn for it. I naturally take
the lead in most situations, so this standard applies to me personally
really well. Something that I would like to work on is using my
leadership to advance the profession. I would like to be an advocate for
my classroom and my content area. In the future, I would like to
become involved with different organizations that can give me a
platform to continue to grow in my leadership abilities.