I feel that teachers grow into their profession. Many teachers that I have consulted always tell me that the first year, or even the first few years f teaching are the hardest. I completely agree. But through the rough start that many have, there in lies a large opportunity for growth. Teachers need to learn how to adapt to their environment, how to adapt to their students and how to adapt to new styles of teaching that can save them head ache and heart ache.
Charles Dawrin said that, “it is not the strongest or the most intelligent that survive, but that ones who can best adapt to change.” Change happens daily when teaching and it is how teachers react to the change that separate those that succeed and those that do not.
Domain 4 of the Charles Danielson framework speaks about Professional Responsibilities. These responsibilities include: reflecting on teaching, keeping accurate records, communicating with families, participating in a professional community, growing and developing, and showing professionalism. All aspects that teachers should do to not only make themselves look good in the eyes of the parents, students and administration, but for future employers as well.
Professional development is important. The best place for a teacher to develop professionally is at the school in which they work. “Schools are, in other words, professional organizations for teachers, with their full potential realized only when teachers regard themselves as members of a professional community” (Danielson 2013). Being willing to be apart of your organization brings many benefits. “Some people join professional organizations to take advantage of benefits, most people align themselves with one or more professional organizations to fulfill career-related goals” (Lohrey 2014). Whatever the reason for joining an organization, an individual will benefit. One of the most important benefits, I think, comes from the networking received by being connected to other professionals. “Building good networking relationships is vital to finding hidden job opportunities and furthering a budding career” (Lohrey 2014). Another benefit comes from the access to information as well as the access you have to free or low cost training (Lohrey 2014).
How do I fulfill the domains?
4a Reflecting on teaching
So, as a budding teaching professional, I have found that I am fulfilling the aspects of domain 4. I continuously reflect on my teaching and consult other teachers as to how to better handle situations.
4b Keeping accurate records
When record keeping, like most teachers, I have a hand written grade book that can then be translated into the digit form to submit grades. But another record keeping tactic that I have is the participation. I have my students on a CW+ system. It means “good class work” this system is designed to hold students accountable for their class work and class behavior. I found that my students are under the misconception that just because they give a weak answer to a warm up question or a discussion question that they fulfilled the requirement and can do whatever they please. But when we discuss the said question, they are expected to actively listen to their peers. So as they goof off, they lose those points, which of course can be earned back. But this system takes a great amount of consistency and record keeping to avoid angry students and parents who refuse to believe their angels could misbehave during class.
4c Communicating with families
At first, communicating with families was difficult for me. There is a language barrier when teaching at an international school. I over came that by biting the bullet and contacting parents with concerns about student work and behavior. From a viewed titled, Please, No Surprises! Step-by Step to effective Parent/Teacher Communication with Ms. Morrison. This video was produced by In-service Works. In the video, Ms. Morrison emphasized the importance of sending continuous communication home so that the parents are aware of what is happening in class. She suggested calling early to start positive communication. Also, student check lists that can be given to parents are a good way of connecting to parents about both positive and negative behavior. This is so there are no surprises come report card times.
4d Participating in a professional community
Some professional communities that have been made available are ISTE and ASCD. Both of these organizations are good organizations. These sites offer opportunities to teachers to collaborate and learn from one another. I have plans to join them both. Besides my school as a professional organization another organization that I am a member of is Friends of the Inyo. This refers to the Inyo Valley. As an Environmental Science teacher, I think it is very important to be apart of environmental organizations.
4e Growing and developing professionally
Then also, being a continuous learner is a way for teachers to grow. This can be done by taking refresher courses in your subject area to better understand your classroom material. These can be done with a local university or community college, online courses or online self study. Self study is the path that I chose mostly because of the cost. It is free. There are many online classes that are free to the public, but they have to sought out.
Another way to grow professionally is to increase your skill set; by doing this, you as a professional can look good while being a better teacher. Skill sets can be improved through peer observation, teacher to teacher communication and research on specific skills which teachers want to improve on. I practice all three of these activities in order to grow as a teacher to be seen as more desirable not only to my administration but to future employers as well
4f Showing professionalism
Following the rules set in place by the school is an easy aspect to fulfill. I think this comes straight from the idea that teachers are role models, teacher need to be examples, and teachers need to show that following directions and policies is the acceptable mode of behavior. When students see teachers acting accordingly, students may follow suit. My school does not have many rules, but those that are in place encompass many aspects that should be assumed to follow.
Action steps in order to better fulfill the domains
One aspect that I want to improve on is my parent teacher communication. What I learned from the video viewed with Ms. Morrison is that I need to send all syllabuses and policy forms home to parents so they are aware of the expectations of their students, just as the students are aware of the expectations of themselves. Early communication is important
Another aspect to improve is growth. Teachers can always grow. I plan on doing this through more peer observations. By seeing other teachers in action, I can pull out activities or tactics used that I can apply in my own classes.
Then, by joining more professional networks, whether they be educational or environmental, I can improve my networking capabilities. If I connect myself with more professionals, more opportunities will com and more doors will open for me.
Conclusion
Professional responsibilities are important for teachers. Not just because teachers need to keep their jobs, but they are also in charge of shaping the minds of young learners. Teachers need to realize their part in the lives of the students and of the student’s families. By involving families through communication, the classroom becomes a community, parents take more interest in their student’s academic work, and also in the teacher that is teaching the class. It adds to a teachers personal network as well because you never know who’s dad is who’s and what doors that can open for you.
Charles Dawrin said that, “it is not the strongest or the most intelligent that survive, but that ones who can best adapt to change.” Change happens daily when teaching and it is how teachers react to the change that separate those that succeed and those that do not.
Domain 4 of the Charles Danielson framework speaks about Professional Responsibilities. These responsibilities include: reflecting on teaching, keeping accurate records, communicating with families, participating in a professional community, growing and developing, and showing professionalism. All aspects that teachers should do to not only make themselves look good in the eyes of the parents, students and administration, but for future employers as well.
Professional development is important. The best place for a teacher to develop professionally is at the school in which they work. “Schools are, in other words, professional organizations for teachers, with their full potential realized only when teachers regard themselves as members of a professional community” (Danielson 2013). Being willing to be apart of your organization brings many benefits. “Some people join professional organizations to take advantage of benefits, most people align themselves with one or more professional organizations to fulfill career-related goals” (Lohrey 2014). Whatever the reason for joining an organization, an individual will benefit. One of the most important benefits, I think, comes from the networking received by being connected to other professionals. “Building good networking relationships is vital to finding hidden job opportunities and furthering a budding career” (Lohrey 2014). Another benefit comes from the access to information as well as the access you have to free or low cost training (Lohrey 2014).
How do I fulfill the domains?
4a Reflecting on teaching
So, as a budding teaching professional, I have found that I am fulfilling the aspects of domain 4. I continuously reflect on my teaching and consult other teachers as to how to better handle situations.
4b Keeping accurate records
When record keeping, like most teachers, I have a hand written grade book that can then be translated into the digit form to submit grades. But another record keeping tactic that I have is the participation. I have my students on a CW+ system. It means “good class work” this system is designed to hold students accountable for their class work and class behavior. I found that my students are under the misconception that just because they give a weak answer to a warm up question or a discussion question that they fulfilled the requirement and can do whatever they please. But when we discuss the said question, they are expected to actively listen to their peers. So as they goof off, they lose those points, which of course can be earned back. But this system takes a great amount of consistency and record keeping to avoid angry students and parents who refuse to believe their angels could misbehave during class.
4c Communicating with families
At first, communicating with families was difficult for me. There is a language barrier when teaching at an international school. I over came that by biting the bullet and contacting parents with concerns about student work and behavior. From a viewed titled, Please, No Surprises! Step-by Step to effective Parent/Teacher Communication with Ms. Morrison. This video was produced by In-service Works. In the video, Ms. Morrison emphasized the importance of sending continuous communication home so that the parents are aware of what is happening in class. She suggested calling early to start positive communication. Also, student check lists that can be given to parents are a good way of connecting to parents about both positive and negative behavior. This is so there are no surprises come report card times.
4d Participating in a professional community
Some professional communities that have been made available are ISTE and ASCD. Both of these organizations are good organizations. These sites offer opportunities to teachers to collaborate and learn from one another. I have plans to join them both. Besides my school as a professional organization another organization that I am a member of is Friends of the Inyo. This refers to the Inyo Valley. As an Environmental Science teacher, I think it is very important to be apart of environmental organizations.
4e Growing and developing professionally
Then also, being a continuous learner is a way for teachers to grow. This can be done by taking refresher courses in your subject area to better understand your classroom material. These can be done with a local university or community college, online courses or online self study. Self study is the path that I chose mostly because of the cost. It is free. There are many online classes that are free to the public, but they have to sought out.
Another way to grow professionally is to increase your skill set; by doing this, you as a professional can look good while being a better teacher. Skill sets can be improved through peer observation, teacher to teacher communication and research on specific skills which teachers want to improve on. I practice all three of these activities in order to grow as a teacher to be seen as more desirable not only to my administration but to future employers as well
4f Showing professionalism
Following the rules set in place by the school is an easy aspect to fulfill. I think this comes straight from the idea that teachers are role models, teacher need to be examples, and teachers need to show that following directions and policies is the acceptable mode of behavior. When students see teachers acting accordingly, students may follow suit. My school does not have many rules, but those that are in place encompass many aspects that should be assumed to follow.
Action steps in order to better fulfill the domains
One aspect that I want to improve on is my parent teacher communication. What I learned from the video viewed with Ms. Morrison is that I need to send all syllabuses and policy forms home to parents so they are aware of the expectations of their students, just as the students are aware of the expectations of themselves. Early communication is important
Another aspect to improve is growth. Teachers can always grow. I plan on doing this through more peer observations. By seeing other teachers in action, I can pull out activities or tactics used that I can apply in my own classes.
Then, by joining more professional networks, whether they be educational or environmental, I can improve my networking capabilities. If I connect myself with more professionals, more opportunities will com and more doors will open for me.
Conclusion
Professional responsibilities are important for teachers. Not just because teachers need to keep their jobs, but they are also in charge of shaping the minds of young learners. Teachers need to realize their part in the lives of the students and of the student’s families. By involving families through communication, the classroom becomes a community, parents take more interest in their student’s academic work, and also in the teacher that is teaching the class. It adds to a teachers personal network as well because you never know who’s dad is who’s and what doors that can open for you.