PSIIIProfessionalGrowthPlan/GoalsandReflections

Name:KristinKobbert
PlacementSchool:OurLadyoftheAssumptionSchool
TeacherMentor:AndreaNemecek
UniversityConsultant:ArleneDriscoll
PracticumDates:September6thtoDecember23rd,2016
A.ProfessionalandFaithGoals
Goal#1:Toimprovemyclassroommanagementskillsbyencouragingstudentstotake
responsibilityfortheirownactions,clearlystatingexpectations,andconsistentlyupholding
expectations.
Rationale:Itisnecessaryforagoodfoundationofclassroommanagementforstudentstolearnat
theirbest.Teacherswhoeffectivelymanagetheirstudentsthroughroutines,clearexpectations,
andconsistencycreateaclassroomenvironmentthatencouragesandcultivateslearning.
Goal#2:Toimprovemyquestioningskillsbyestablishingmoreeffectivequestioning
procedures,askingmoreopenendedquestions,involvingmorestudents,andconsistently
providingstudentswithenoughwaittime.
Rationale:Inpreviouspracticums,Ifoundmyquestioningskillstobeweak.Studentsdidnot
alwayscomprehendwhatIwasaskingthem,andthereforedidnotknowhowtoappropriately
respond.Itisnecessaryformetoasktherightkindsofquestionsintherightwaysostudents
understandandcanengagewiththequestionforbetterlearning.

Goal#3:Togrowinmyownfaithandtoincorporatefaithprinciplesintomyeverydayteaching
andclassroomenvironment.
Rationale:IamCatholic,butIneedtodevelopmyownunderstandingofmyfaithand
relationshipwithGod.Ithinkitisimportanttosharethiswithstudentstoencouragethemtodo
thesame.Byincorporatingthevaluesoffaithintotheclassroomdynamicsitwillhelpsetthe
foundationofafaithcommunitywherewecanallgrowourfaith.
B.Strategies
(HowIwillgoaboutachievingmygoals?)
StrategiesforaddressingGoal#1:Iwillensurethatmyexpectationsareclearlyconveyedtothe
students,andthatIamconsistentwithmyexpectations.Iwilluseroutinestohelpestablish
expectations.Iwillalsoendeavortobefirmwiththestudentswithmyexpectationssothey
understandthattheexpectationsmustbemet.Additionally,wheneverpossible,Iwillpositively
reinforcecorrectbehaviorsandconductsofstudentstoencouragethemtocontinuemeeting
expectations.

StrategiesforaddressingGoal#2:Iwillidentifykeyquestionspriortothelesson,andpreplan
howbesttoaskthequestionforincreasedstudentunderstanding.Iwillalsorephrasequestions
whenitappearsthatstudentsareunsureofwhatIamasking,andalwayscheckforunderstanding.
Iwillalsomodelmyexpectationsforstudentsandprovidethemexampleanswersformy
questionswhereapplicable.Additionally,Iwillpauseandcountto10afteraskingkeyquestions,
orallowstudentstothinkpairsharemoredifficultquestions.
StrategiesforaddressingGoal#3:Iwillpraywiththestudentsbeforelunchandencourage
studentstotalktoGodifthereareproblemstheyareexperiencingintheirlives.Iwillcontinueto
bekindandrespectfulandpromotethisbehaviorintheclassroom.
C.IndicatorsofProgressTowardsGoals
(HowwillIknowwhenandifIhaveachievedmygoals?)
IndicatorsofProgressforGoal#1:Ifstudentsknowwhattheroutinesare,andareableto
followthemconsistentlyandcorrectly.IwillreflectweeklyonwhetherornotIwasclearand
consistentwithmyexpectationsthroughouttheweek.Anotherclearindicatorofeffective
classroommanagementwillbeifthestudentsareconsistentlymeetingexpectations.
IndicatorsofProgressforGoal#2:Ifstudentsareabletorespondtomyquestionswithease,
andprovidethecorrectanswers.Ifstudentsareabletorepeat/rephrasemyquestionorinstruction
backtome.IfIamcountingto10onmorethat70%ofthequestionsthatIasks.
IndicatorsofProgressforGoal#3:Ifthestudentsurveyindicatesthat85%ofallgrade36
studentsfeelacceptedaspartofafaithclassroom/community.Ifstudentstellmetheyfeel
acceptedintheclassroom.
D.TimelineforCompletion
Goal#1:SeptemberDecember2016
Goal#2:SeptemberDecember2016
Goal#3:SeptemberDecember2016
E.SummaryofGrowthofGoalsAchieved
Goal#1:Iimprovedmyclassroommanagementskillsbyencouragingstudentstotake
responsibilityfortheirownactions,clearlystatingexpectations,andconsistentlyupholding
expectations.
Goal#2:Iworkedonmyquestioningskillsbytryingtoestablishmoreeffectivequestioning
procedures,askmoreopenendedquestions,involvemorestudents,andbyconsistentlyproviding
studentswithenoughwaittime.
Goal#3:Growthinmyownfaithandinclusionoffaithprinciplesintomyeverydayteachingand
classroomenvironment.
F.ReflectionsonProfessionalGrowth

Goal#1:Ilearnedthatakeypartofclassroommanagementisaboutsettingclearexpectations
andfirmconsequences.AfterafewissueswithstudentstalkingwhileIwastalkingIdecidedthat
iftheexpectationwasthatstudentsneedtolistenwhileItalk,thenIneededthemtoknowthat
andwhatwouldhappeniftheydid.IwasquiteclearwiththeexpectationsthatIhadformy
students.However,itdidtakesometimeformystudentstofullyrealizethatIreallymeantwhat
Isaid.Inthepastfewmonths,Ihavebeenfirmerwithmystudents.Thishashelpedthemrealized
thatexpectationsmustbemet.
IthinkthatIhavedoneagoodjobwithbeingclearaboutmyexpectations.Inthefuture,Iwould
liketocontinueworkingonbeingfirm,andconsistent,inordertoensuremystudentsmeet
expectations.

Goal#2:Ifoundthatidentifyingkeyquestionspriortolessons,andimaginingpossiblequestions
thatmayariseduringmylessons,reallyhelpedmeimprovemyquestioningskills.Preplanning
myquestionswaseffectivebecausethenIcouldputthoughtintothequestionsthatIwasasking,
andensurethatIincludedhighlevelthinkingquestions.ThisisstillanareathatIwouldliketo
seesomegrowthin,becauseIstillsometimeshavedifficultlycomingupwithgood"why"
questionsonthespot.However,IampleasedwiththegrowthIhavemadeinthisarea.
Iamalsoproudtosaythatmypreplanninghasimpactedmystudentsabilitiestounderstand
whatitisthatIamaskingthem.Inthepastfewmonths,moreofmystudentshavebeen
answeringquestionsinclass.Itwasgreattoseeincreasedparticipationinclassroomdiscussions
becauseitindicatedtomethatmyquestioningtechniqueshadimproved.
Goal#3:Iprogressedtowardsmygoalofdevelopinginmyownfaithbyincorporatingdaily
prayerintomyday.Ifoundthatitwashelpfultojusttakesometimeeachdaytothinkaboutmy
faith.Ihadforgottentomaketimeforthatinmydayandsoitwasnicetobeabletomaketime
forsomethingthatisimportant.Ialsotriedtoattendmassonmyownandthengoingtothe
schoolmasswithmystudentswasusefultoseeothersdevelopingtheirrelationshipswithGod.I
wanttocontinuetoworkonthisgoalafterpracticumiscomplete.
Asfarasincludingfaithprinciplesintomyclassroomteachings,Itriedtoemphasizethe
importanceofbeingkindtowardsoneanotherandinclusionintheclassroom.Studentscameto
understandthattheywouldworkingroupswitheveryoneintheclassandthatChristianbehavior
wasexpectedduringgroupwork,justasitwasduringallschooltimes.