EDU 6134 Reflection: Growing and Developing Professionally

In this final course reflection, I will be addressing program standard 8.2 Growing and Developing Professionally – Teacher welcomes feedback from colleagues when made by supervisors or when opportunities arise through professional collaborations.

The term professionally can be defined as, “A person who is expert at his or her work” (Dictionary, 2016). How can a teacher be an expert? I believe that a teacher can be an expert by displaying a willingness to collaborate, eagerness to experience growth, and commitment to developing meaningful relationships with colleagues, students and parents. Inevitably, most teachers prosper professionally with ongoing years of experience. However, no matter the number of years of experience, a teacher’s ability to welcome feedback and work along side colleagues is imperative to their level of effectiveness.

At my current internship, I have observed and experienced that the health/fitness department functions effectively when there is communication, support and sharing of ideas amongst all teachers. Our department is given time to collaborate 26 times a year when students are released 75 minutes early from school on Learning Improvement Fridays (LIF Days). In the Everett School District, LIF Days were first introduced in 2012. Superintendent Gary Cohn sent an email to parents informing them that LIF Days allotted teachers time to work together, “Discussing and analyzing student learning results, planning lessons together and designing ways of teaching that improve each student’s learning” (Daybert, 2012). Figure 1 presents information on the correlation between

student achievement and ongoing teacher development. With students losing a considerable amount of class time, LIF Days are very controversial. Yet, I am confident that LIF Days reap the benefits of professional collaboration. I feel very fortunate to be working (i.e. learning) in a department that functions effectively through the use of professional collaboration amongst all four physical education teachers. We are so much stronger when we join forces to face a common or individual goal.

As this post comes to an end, I found it helpful to consider the following quote, “A great teacher is like a fountain; she draws from the still, deep waters of personal growth and professional knowledge to serve others from her abundant overflow” (Godbold, 2012). Drawing from the stills = Professional collaborations.

References

Daybert, A. (2012). Everett teachers OK contract with early Friday releases - HeraldNet.com - Everett and Snohomish County news. Retrieved November 26, 2016, from http://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-teachers-ok-contract-with-early-friday-releases/

Godbold, W. (2012). How to be a great teacher: Create the flow of joy and success in your classroom. Myrtle Beach, SC: Bee Sharp LLC.

Professionally. (2006). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 26, 2016 from Dictionary.com website http://www.dictionary.com/browse/professionally

WASA. (n.d.). The Value of Teacher Collaboration Time [Brochure]. Author. Retrieved November 25, 2016, from https://wasa-oly.org/wasa/images/WASA/4.0%20Government%20Relations/4.3%20Current%20Issues/Download_Files/Teacher%20Collaboration/Value%20of%20Teacher%20Collaboration%20Time%20brochure11x17.pdf