InTASC+9+Professional+Learning+and+Ethical+Practice

Teachers should be a model of continuous learning and ethical practice for their students. In order to expose themselves to the immense and growing field of educational research, teachers should participate in professional development and continuous education. The majority of school districts mandate teachers attend a set number of professional development days, so teachers have an opportunity to learn and discuss new educational theories, instructional activities, or curriculum changes. While these conferences offer important information to teachers, they should not be the only professional development that teachers engage in during the school year. Instead, teachers should attend optional professional development seminars offered by their school system in order to stay on the cusp of new educational movements and better classroom instruction. In addition to these in-school opportunities, teachers can take advantage of community resources for improving their knowledge and skill set. They can join a professional organization such as the National Council of Teachers of English, gaining access to forums and discussions on important educational topics. They can subscribe to educational journals and read newly developed research, keeping current with new movements, learning theories, and instructional practices. They can enroll in college courses, working towards an advanced educational degree and learning new specific skills from highly qualified professionals. All of these strategies can help teachers maintain and improve their knowledge of their profession; however, teachers should also search out resources that can answer their specific questions about curriculum, assessments, behavior management, or instruction. School personnel function as a team; therefore, teachers should feel comfortable going to their fellow teachers, department head, or administration with questions. Furthermore, teachers should work together to improve the overall educational rigor of the school by sharing instructional activities, setting academic goals, and analyzing achievement and standardized data. Teachers should constantly strive to improve, modeling an academic lifestyle to their students. In addition to demonstrating an academic lifestyle, teachers also need to model ethical behavior for their students. Teachers should interact respectfully with everyone in the school building, showing students how to have productive workplace conversations. Additionally, teachers need to monitor their involvement on social media sites, not putting up any pictures or words that could be misconstrued by students, parents, or school officials. Overall, teachers need to be an example of academic and social excellence for students, giving them a model to follow.

An effective and professional teacher is a reflective teacher, and my reflection for student teaching proves that I carefully consider my strengths and weaknesses as an educator, always looking to improve. This reflection can be found in Appendix I, and in it, I consider the observations and evaluations from my mentors and supervisor. My reflection for student teaching demonstrates my ability to form and maintain professional relationships. I deeply respected the knowledge, insight, and experience that my mentors and supervisor had, and I appreciated that they were willing to take the time to share that wisdom with me throughout my student teaching experience. I took each comment, consideration, and critique seriously, reflecting on each in order to find my strengths and learn from my mistakes. Critically thinking about the notes from those more experienced than I, I demonstrate my willingness to learn and improve. In all of my formal observations, my supervisor encouraged me to continue to expand my "teaching toolbox," a suggestion that I intend to pursue. As I note in my reflection, I think that all teachers have room to learn and grow, and as a beginning teacher, I plan to take every opportunity to discuss different strategies, activities, and lessons with veteran teachers and administrators. I am committed to a life of continuous education, so I can be the most effective teacher possible.