Professionalism

My performance in cluster 6 is one of the strongest compared to all other clusters. I pride myself on the relationships I build with the people around me -- my colleagues and my students. I am always respectful towards them and ask questions to get to know them better; when you know the people you work with well, you can more successfully navigate the school and provide appropriate support for students. My daily goal is to find more ways to serve my students better. This requires I constantly reflect critically on my teaching practices and how to improve them. When I’m teaching, as the class period progresses, I make a note of what is and is not working in my head; I keep that in mind as I repeat the lesson with the next period and plan my lesson for the next day. 

I also actively seek out feedback from my mentor. I ask my mentor for advice on how to approach specific situations (such as communicating with students and parents). I often ask for suggestions on how I can improve each activity I facilitate. When my mentor provides feedback, I jot down notes and ask questions to clarify exactly what part of my practice I should adjust. Documentation of this feedback makes it easier to return to the notes and apply the changes in my teaching. 

Areas of growth I have identified for myself are participating more in school activities and becoming more integrated into the community. I have attended some student performances, such as the Christmas concert and the recent celebration during Black History Month. I would like to find more time in my schedule to attend my students’ activities, such as sports games and  theater performances. I want to show up for my students outside of class, too.