1.In what ways have you surprised yourself?

I think what surprised me most was how successful I was in implementing an online learning environment in which students were highly engaged. Every week I set a goal for myself to include at least one fun activity before beginning online class sessions. I wanted my students to feel welcomed and have something to look forward to every time they logged in. This simple goal not only improved attendance and homework turn-in rates within my class, but also allowed us to connect personally online. I underestimated how valuable these experiences were for my students. I found that most of my students were eager to connect and they needed a safe online space to do that.

2.Describe a professional goal you have for yourself beyond induction. Why have you identified this as a need or interest?

Going into next year, I will want to focus more on mastering classroom management into in-person learning amidst all the new covid requirements. I think this is a big area we need to address as we return back to the in-person classroom. I believe this year has permanently changed what teaching in this field could look like. As educators, we will be met with new challenges and growth opportunities shaped by the events of our time. I look forward to evolving and innovating to serve this changing environment.

3.What actions will you take? How will you assess goal attainment?

To advance my in-person classroom management I will continue to curate resources of past teachers and make covid friendly accommodations to current management techniques. My aim is to create a safe learning environment where students are engaged, interacting with each other, and are independent learners. I will always strive for personal development that encourages targeted learning and innovative teaching methods.

4.What actions can you take to remain a connected educator throughout your career?

To stay updated and knowledgeable about the educational field, I will continue to pursue professional development in areas of interest and collaborate with colleagues in PLC settings.

5. What can you do personally and professionally, to sustain the energy it takes to be passionate about students, teaching, and learning? (Ideas from Edutopia)

To keep being the best teacher all year long, I owe it to myself to make healthy boundaries between my work and personal life. Getting married last October and becoming a full-time Academy Teacher at Springs quickly made those healthy boundaries a necessity. To continue this healthy habit, it is important that I make my time in the classroom and in my personal life targeted and manageable. I had to force myself to reflect on the most important priorities in both my personal and professional lives. I then decide to allow myself enough time and grace to budget my energy. The biggest personal lesson in maintaining myself was to enjoy where I was in the moment.

My biggest piece of advice that I would give to any new teacher is that the relationship you have with your student should be one of your biggest priorities. When your students feel safe with you and connected to you, meaningful lifelong learning will follow soon after. You have to approach each student as an investment of your time and effort. You have to ask yourself what kind of legacy you want to leave each student with. This will help guide you on how you want to run your classroom and everything else in your teaching career.

Student Responses:

• "When she goes step by step and if people don't get she goes little by little and that help me"

• "When she would give us little chats they would always uplift my spirit's and make me wanna get on more of work"

• "Her canvas is so easy and helpful it's so organized."

• "Mrs.Thomas is very good at understanding and helping."

• "She takes the time to help student who need help."

• "how to look at the feedback and grades"

• "Math"

Student Responses:

• "she very caring kind smart helpful and funny"

• "She helps me when i don't know how to understand a math problem"

• "I think that she supported me in every way possible (such as in class if I got something wrong she would help me understand how to work the problems out and prepared me for the next ones."

• "She would always Constantly check up on me and make sure we understood everything"

• "she helped me and is still helping me with my homework"

• "The amount of help we are able to get throughout the weeks."

• "she cheers us up and helps us with alot of things"

• "She all ways motivates me to keep going."

• "telling me how to improve"

• "She is always there even when she is off work."

• "She will give us a little push to help us get the awnsers right"

• "Well she encouraged the kids by telling them they are doing great. She always answered them and teach them, I wish she can have more time ..."

• "being there for office hours"

Student Responses:

• "Just keep what she doing a never give up bc she is the best teacher ever"

• "Nothing to improve I think the class is great the way it is"

• "I honestLy think that she could NOT improve in anythIng because she is a marveLous teacher she helps out where ever possible and has tought me things I thought I could never do before. There are so many incredible things about her if I listed them all it would be as long a a dictionarY. She is a very lovely teacher. She is impeccable when it comes to teaching."

• "Honestly I love the way she run's her system she's super positive and helps whenever we need it so I would be very happy if she stayed like that"

• "Does not need to its great"

• "I am not sure."

• "More small groups"

• "I honestly don't know. its pretty good that i cant think of other things. maybe make the emails more noticeable?"

• "Mrs.thomas did every that she can do to help me in school and to get my grades up."

• "Reading the chat more."

• "Her class is already perfect"

• "Give them much more time of class..."