Learning Outcome Thirteen
Learning Outcome Thirteen: Continue to develop professionally as reflective practitioners who are committed to on-going scholarly inquiry.
While studying at SUNY Cortland, I have striven to develop professionally and plan to continuously to do so throughout my growth as a teacher. I can prove my past development as well as plans for future development through information on a D.A.T.E. Conference I attended in Fall of 2009, my involvement in a Staff Development Day at Grant Middle School in Fall of 2010, my current NCTE membership, various blogs and journals I frequently read such as the English Journal and Jim Burke’s Blog, and the graduate school program in which I hope to be attending in the Fall of 2011.
My attendance at the D.A.T.E. Conference held at SUNY Cortland in the Fall of 2009 helped me to discover new things about the profession of teaching English as well as make professional connections for the future. One presentation, titled “Why Literacy Really Matters: Using Fiction and Nonfiction to Explore Human Rights, Social Justice and the Global Community” altered and inspired how I thought of teaching English and gave me many ideas to incorporate into my own future classroom. I also had the privilege of meeting Young Adult Literature author, Ned Vizzini, which not only introduced me to his books but gave me an interesting story to tell my future students when I suggest his work to them. The entire conference helped me to both reflect on my views of teaching as well as gain new and helpful ideas for the future.
I also attended a Staff Development Day at Grant Middle School that discussed PBIS practices for the classroom. The day included listening to speakers as well as working in teams to discuss various topics such as managing student behavior. Speakers shared effective practices with us, such as the creation of a matrix, that I feel will benefit me in my own classroom. The day also gave me an opportunity to meet and make connections with various teachers and administrative figures from the Syracuse City School District.
My NCTE membership is something that has helped me to develop professionally and will continue to help me as I continuously grow as a teacher. Being a member of the National Council of Teachers of English gives me access to a variety of teaching English resources that can add to my professional development. My membership also allows me to receive new information about what is occurring in the field of English education, a benefit which I believe to be extremely important to both myself and my students. I am also a member of the SUNY Cortland NCTE Affiliate which allows me to work with other pre-service teachers who share my passion for teaching English.
Not only do I plan to further my professional development through my NCTE membership but through various other sources as well. Two examples include the “English Journal” and the blog of Jim Burke, the author of various books including The English Companion. Both of these resources allow me to review and discover new things about the teaching of English. While the “English Journal” includes various articles about teaching styles, the types of literature to incorporate into the classroom, improving student learning, and more, Jim Burke’s blog gives me an insightful perspective on one English teacher and his day to day experiences. I find it extremely important to always be reading and learning more about my profession and therefore plan to always take advantage of helpful resources such as these.
Finally, I intend to further support my professional development by attending graduate school in the fall of 2011. My hope is to attend Syracuse University for their Masters Program in English. I am interested in the programs strength in early modern Literature, film, and American studies. From there, I would hope to some day enroll in a Ph. D program to further my education and expertise. I think that by following my passion for English while continuously reading resources about education, I can continue to develop professionally and reflect upon myself both as a person and an educator.
While studying at SUNY Cortland, I have striven to develop professionally and plan to continuously to do so throughout my growth as a teacher. I can prove my past development as well as plans for future development through information on a D.A.T.E. Conference I attended in Fall of 2009, my involvement in a Staff Development Day at Grant Middle School in Fall of 2010, my current NCTE membership, various blogs and journals I frequently read such as the English Journal and Jim Burke’s Blog, and the graduate school program in which I hope to be attending in the Fall of 2011.
My attendance at the D.A.T.E. Conference held at SUNY Cortland in the Fall of 2009 helped me to discover new things about the profession of teaching English as well as make professional connections for the future. One presentation, titled “Why Literacy Really Matters: Using Fiction and Nonfiction to Explore Human Rights, Social Justice and the Global Community” altered and inspired how I thought of teaching English and gave me many ideas to incorporate into my own future classroom. I also had the privilege of meeting Young Adult Literature author, Ned Vizzini, which not only introduced me to his books but gave me an interesting story to tell my future students when I suggest his work to them. The entire conference helped me to both reflect on my views of teaching as well as gain new and helpful ideas for the future.
I also attended a Staff Development Day at Grant Middle School that discussed PBIS practices for the classroom. The day included listening to speakers as well as working in teams to discuss various topics such as managing student behavior. Speakers shared effective practices with us, such as the creation of a matrix, that I feel will benefit me in my own classroom. The day also gave me an opportunity to meet and make connections with various teachers and administrative figures from the Syracuse City School District.
My NCTE membership is something that has helped me to develop professionally and will continue to help me as I continuously grow as a teacher. Being a member of the National Council of Teachers of English gives me access to a variety of teaching English resources that can add to my professional development. My membership also allows me to receive new information about what is occurring in the field of English education, a benefit which I believe to be extremely important to both myself and my students. I am also a member of the SUNY Cortland NCTE Affiliate which allows me to work with other pre-service teachers who share my passion for teaching English.
Not only do I plan to further my professional development through my NCTE membership but through various other sources as well. Two examples include the “English Journal” and the blog of Jim Burke, the author of various books including The English Companion. Both of these resources allow me to review and discover new things about the teaching of English. While the “English Journal” includes various articles about teaching styles, the types of literature to incorporate into the classroom, improving student learning, and more, Jim Burke’s blog gives me an insightful perspective on one English teacher and his day to day experiences. I find it extremely important to always be reading and learning more about my profession and therefore plan to always take advantage of helpful resources such as these.
Finally, I intend to further support my professional development by attending graduate school in the fall of 2011. My hope is to attend Syracuse University for their Masters Program in English. I am interested in the programs strength in early modern Literature, film, and American studies. From there, I would hope to some day enroll in a Ph. D program to further my education and expertise. I think that by following my passion for English while continuously reading resources about education, I can continue to develop professionally and reflect upon myself both as a person and an educator.
