EPORTFOLIO - SM@RT Goals

SM@RT Goals

These goals proved valuable to my growth and development as a future educator. It is within these moments where I get to demonstrate the working knowledge that has been presented to me in the program at Sheridan College. It is in the small but significant windows of opportunity where I feel I can guide the students perspective to achieve a positive growth mindset. Every occasion presents new challenges. It is how we choose to react to those circumstances that can create a healthy work environment. I believe it is my duty to ensure all students have an equal opportunity. My outlook during these times has changed the way I interact with students. I have learned how to engage with many of the different learning styles and this has made me a better person and a better educator. I have had the flax my personality to suit the needs of the students.

The feedback I have received by the teacher in the room as well as the E.A. has been all very positive. I have asked for progress reports and constructive criticism in after class discussions on multiple occasions and the feedback has always been that I am doing a fantastic job. I have been encouraged by their comments and strive to continue to achieve great learning outcomes for the students. My reaction to the comments I have received is that I am fulfilling my ultimate goal. The reason I am heading down this journey as a second career, is to help inspire the youth of today. I am thankful for their feedback.

With the examples below, I felt it was more beneficial to present the material in a nonchalant way as opposed to a more formal structure. This made the assignments more of a collaborative effort offering the students and other educators in the room to elaborate on the idea.

SM@RT Goal #1 - To become proficient with 2 tech tools.

The 1st tech tool I explored was Jamboard. I was able to expand my resource base when I suggested to the teacher to offer a project where the students could choose from a variety of topics and present in many different ways. This activity was indicative of the lessons taught in class in reference to the UDL method. Below is a picture of the Jamboard that was created for the students to add to and select from. This was a very engaging exercise because it gave each student th option to select a topic in which they were passionate about. They all participated and had fun. I was pleased to see their individual presentations.

The 2nd tech tool I chose to explore was Google Slides. I have typically used PowerPoint in the passed so learning another format was a great opportunity for me to grow and expand my knowledge base. I noticed the students were using this tool a lot in my placement so I took the time to discover it for myself with the intention of using this to assist the students with their classwork. This came in really handy when I was tasked with leading a lesson with one of the students regarding banking. Considering my background as a financial advisor I felt I was suited well in helping the student. I was able to navigate through and fill in the blanks where the student needed help. Below is a screenshot of that exercise.

SM@RT Goal #2 - To take the lead role in 2 lessons.

This was a fun goal for me. After getting to know the students and creating a connection, I was able to interact with them in a more meaningful way. One day in class, the teacher asked the students if they had any Christmas family traditions as it was the beginning of December. I asked the students if they used advent calendars because this was a tradition in my house. They each responded by saying this was not an activity there was prevalent in their house. I immediately thought of an activity that would be fun for all. It was a great way to share in the Christmas theme and work together with the students. Each of the students created a modified version of their. I did create a template for those who wanted to follow along with my idea. See images below.

The 2nd activity I was asked to lead was to present a YouTube video to a student who is non-verbal. This student loves nature and especially videos on ocean life. We spent the next 10 minutes watching a video on whales in the ocean. I narrated along with the video. It was so nice to see her smile. I cannot be certain what she was thinking but I know she was happy and this is the exact reason why I entered this field of study. This experienced touched my heart. Below is a screenshot of that experience.

SM@RT Goal #3 - Promote Social and Emotional Learning.

I enjoyed researching social and emotional learning (SEL). I have read several books on the topic however, I was left unaware of how best to implement and practice these aspects of a students development. This investigation led me discover "My Big Life Journal". This is a resource that offers school aged students with a variety kits to emphasize their SEL awarenes. It offers educators the opportunity to create meaningful and impactful conversations that promote SEL. Once I aquired these kits I discussed them with the teacher and EA who I am shadowing. They were thrilled to see the lengths I had gone to in order to strengthen the mindset of the students in our class. I then asked if I get lead a 5-10 minute lesson each day I was present where I complete an exercise that promotes SEL. The results were exactly as expected. The students engaged with each other while sharing personal experiences where they displayed these characteristics and also times where they could have improved.

SM@RT Goal #4 - Familiarize myself with different roles within the school setting.

This goal was difficult to experience for me because my placement was completed in a virtual setting. Due to this I was not allowed to participate in a meeting with the SRT. Fortunately for me, the teacher of the class where I was placed was involved with this team and is a SERT. This enabled me to have several conversations after class regarding what these meetings look like and how they are conducted. We did a mock meeting which illustrated the flow of these meetings and what steps are taken to achieve individualized goals for each student discussed. It was very informative and helpful . I was glad to have such a willing SRT to share knowledge as well as take the time to assist me in my growth as an educator .
The 3rd part of this goal, which I added in leu of not being able to participate in an official SRT meeting, was to partake in the annual Mass designated for all educators. The PVNCCDSB hosts "Faith Day" once per year on a PA Day. All the school staff are invited to gather in person or virtually. This was a great day where we gathered to discuss the lesson taight by the guest speaker. We would break into small groups to discuss our thoughts and add to a document for all to see. It was a learning opportunity for the staff. It also allowed the staff a chance to socialize with each other and interact on a different level. I am glad I had the chance to experiance this.

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Get in touch with me at kernohaa@sheridancollege.ca