Rachel Cason

Professional Development #1
Trace Crossings Fine Arts PTA
This semester, Trace Crossings hosted a Fine Arts night in conjunction with a PTA
meeting The goal of this event was to highlight the !specials" at the school# music, art, dance,
and even ph$sical education and li%rar$ The night %egan with the %usiness portion of the
meeting The principal and officers discussed new officers, as well as changes for the end of this
$ear and the %eginning of ne&t $ear Then each special class had the opportunit$ to present
something the$ have %een wor'ing on throughout the $ear The li%rarian as'ed a few students to
perform dramatic readings of (o )illems %oo's, and the art teacher showed a video of art
projects her students have %een wor'ing on recentl$ The music teacher called first graders to the
stage and wal'ed through a t$pical da$ in music class This demonstration included a welcome
song, instruction regarding tempo, and movement activities to reinforce the musical content
After the dance team performed, ever$one moved into the g$m to watch students demonstrate a
game that incorporated math and ph$sical activit$
* participated in this event %$ wor'ing with the !Tiger Trac's" dance team to prepare for
this performance Their sponsor, (rs +nutson, has had a %race on her foot for most of the
semester, and she needed help leading rehearsals and chaperoning the students at events *
attended practices on Tuesda$ afternoons, sometimes leading warm,ups and sometimes
participating with the students or demonstrating steps that (rs +nutson could not do with her
%race on At the PTA performance, * warmed them up %efore the$ went on stage, and * too'
pictures of them during the show * thought this event was a great wa$ to show parents what their
students are involved in outside the academic classroom * am than'ful * had the opportunit$ to
contri%ute to the dance team and wor' alongside a dance teacher to com%ine two of m$ passions-
Professional Development #.
/omewood 0oard of 1ducation# Ann (arie Corgill
2n April .3, .413, Ann (arie Corgill spo'e to the /omewood 0oard of 1ducation a%out
creating a growing communit$ of learners (rs Corgill is currentl$ teaching fourth grade at
Chero'ee 0end 1lementar$ 5chool, and she has also pu%lished a %oo' a%out strategies for
teaching writing to students 5he is also in the top 16 Ala%ama Teacher of the 7ear candidates
(rs Corgill firml$ %elieves that creating a strong classroom communit$ is essential to
promoting learning 5he compared communit$ to the trun' of the tree 8 the part that provides
structure, gives support, and allows nourishment 9learning: to ta'e place in the %ranches
1sta%lishing a classroom communit$ teaches students to ma'e meaning in ever$da$ interactions
and in societ$, not just in school *t also promotes a growth mindset Rather than telling 'ids that
the$ are good or %ad at something, it is important to show them that the$ are all on a continuous
path of growth
According to (rs Corgill, there are three essentials for growing a communit$ of forever
learners The first is to slow down *n this strateg$, teachers ta'e time to reall$ get to 'now their
students, and the$ also provide opportunities for students to !dwell in an activit$" This gives
ever$one a chance to reflect and internali;e what the$ are learning instead of %eing in such a
hurr$ to cover content The second essential is to put relationships first 5tudents need to %e a%le
to get to 'now their teachers as well, and the$ should also have opportunities to connect with
people outside the classroom, such as principals, authors, and professionals in fields students are
interested in (rs Corgill %elieves that the %est relationships are %uilt through small group and
one,on,one conferencing, and she encourages that these %e used in the classroom
The third essential is to stop tal'ing *n order for students to feel empowered and ta'e
ownership of their wor' and their learning, teachers must give them the chance to tal' and give
their own feed%ac' For this to %e successful, teachers must instruct students in how to ma'e
conversation and offer constructive feed%ac' 5tudents should %e allowed to teach and share with
their classmates, and the$ should e&plain, defend, and ela%orate on a pro%lem to engage higher,
level thin'ing s'ills *f all three of these essential tips are implemented, (rs Corgill states that
students will %e inspired to form a communit$ and pursue lifelong learning *nstead of learning
%eing onl$ a%out what students 'now or do, learning can %e a%out what students can 01