4A: Communicating with Families: My CT is in constant communication with parents and families. This communication is essential for the facilitation of the majority of our online learning. Parents must be able to guide their children through the assigned learning activities, online resources, and Zoom video conferences. Efficient communication with families is how parents stay informed about how to approach online learning and how to support and navigate their child through it all. Because we no longer see these students in a traditional classroom setting--or at all, face-to-face, for that matter--this communication also assists with at-home student assessment.
4B: Participating in a Professional Community: My personal participation in a professional community has been limited to our online learning environment. Since the school closure, I have not been an active participant in the Taos Charter School's professional development planning and meetings. I believe this is because there is no protocol for such a situation, and the school and district personnel are still trying to figure it out themselves. Meetings have not been consistent when they do occur, but my CT keeps me informed when there is news or information provided by the school or district.
I do, however, participate professionally in our online learning community by finding and assigning weekly learning activities, being present and facilitating weekly Zoom video conferences with the class, reviewing students' assignments and leaving thoughtful feedback and questions, staying in contact with my CT and logging in to our learning platform daily to interact with the students and their activities.
4C: Reflecting on Teaching: Even through the transition to online learning, I continue to write in my teacher journal as a way to reflect and process my experience as a student teacher. The current COVID-19 pandemic offers a new avenue for reflection as an educator as this is nothing we have even encountered, or were prepared to encounter before. I also have a supportive CT and team of professional educators with whom I reflect.
4D: Demonstrating Professionalism: As a student teacher, even in a virtual learning environment, I still maintain the same professionalism I did in the classroom. I address students by name, I am punctual to Zoom video conferences with the class, and timely when reviewing and giving feedback to students and families. I also demonstrate professionalism by taking initiative and responsibility for my ability to take on tasks and alleviate some responsibilities from my CT.
4E: Growing and Developing Professionally: I feel that I am growing and developing into a professional educator, by remaining flexible and willing to transition, with my CT, to an online learning platform. This unfortunate situation has given me an opportunity to take on challenges, head on, and discover my fullest potential by means of exploring other routes to student engagement and education in general.
4F: Maintaining Accurate Records: At this time, I do not manage or handle any students' personal or academic records. I do keep record of class occurrences, activities, what works well and what could be improved by recording and reflecting in my teacher journal.