I have a lot on my plate for the 2010-2011 school year. I really wish that my professional goal could be
"Try not to lose my mind!!" Before I write my SMARTER goal for the year I have to think about all that I have already agreed to do.... Here are some of the things that I'll be working on this year:
1. I'll be mentoring a new teacher, Courtney Paul. She is great. She has a lot of good ideas, and knows that it is better not to reinvent the wheel. This should help our department work efficiently yet explore new things. I'm also lucky to have Shauna back from the HS, she is very organized and has a great teaching style. Together I think that we can really update and grow our FACS program. Readers: Any advice on how to help a new teacher? Anything that your Mentor did that was just awesome? Feel free to post comments below.
2. Once again this year I'll be FACS Department Head. Not that daunting, because it's a HUGE department myself and two other people! Yet there is a lot to do. Department goal setting, meeting agendas, MATERIAL organization, keeping track of a budget. So it gets to be a lot on top of my other daily responsibilities. I'm happy to do this because it gives me the opportunity to make FACS much more than "cooking and sewing". I really want to make our FACS classes relevant to what kids will be doing in the future. I also want to reinforce those important life skills. Yeah I get it, few 8th graders are going to go home and sew a new outfit. But, they will need to utilize the skills of technical reading to, reroute their emails to their cell phones, set up a new piece of Ikea furniture, and start to construct that model for GTT or Science class. Our classes start to give students that struggle with reading, math, and social skills the confidence and beginning know how to explore and apply their new passions. Readers: What are some of the best things that your classes teach kids? What should kids really understand after taking, Science, English, PE, Music, and other special courses?
3. Building Leadership Team Member (BLT) / PLC Leader, I'm new to this role this year. I think that it will be a good experience to see how some of the building goals are set and achieved. With this responsibility we are also asked to lead a PLC. Our PLC meets bi-weekly, and focuses on the school goals: Relationships and Increasing Test Scores. We plan to increase both of these through Saber Pause (main ideas: character ed, academic monitoring, relationships, and service learning.) I'm excited to lead a PLC, my goal is to make meeting time meaningful and productive. Thankfully, Mandy Gaugler will be helping me lead our PLC. She has great ideas about grading and does good work with her Saber Pause. Molly Evans, will also be a great leader, she has lots of knowledge to share about incorporating literacy across the academic areas. I'm really nervous about this endeavor. I just need to remind myself that I'm a facilitator and I don't have all the answers. Readers: Any ideas on how to make PLC meetings meaningful? What kind of things are overlooked during small group meetings?
4. FACS Vertical Team Member: This is a team that has made a lot of improvement since my first year in Shakopee. FACS is taught 7-12 thoughout the district so it's important that we communicate together. Since joining VT, I think that I have played an important role in encouraging communication between the three schools. It's important that we share new ideas, and make sure not to repeat the same things. I wrote a new course about cultural foods and helped to encourage student enrollment at the HS. This year we will continue to work on Literacy increasing literacy in FACS. I think that if it's an expectation that student's practice reading and writing even in the "fun" classes, they will see the importance of learning to be excellent readers and writers. Readers: Any reading or writing strategies that you have used or tried in your classroom? Any good classroom resources or best practice books on reading and writing?
5. More School!!!!!: That's right on top of all these things above and planning a wedding :) I've decided to go back for my Masters in Education. I'm participating in a St. Mary's co-hort in Shakopee. I'm excited to learn more about the education system and APPLY it in my classroom. I feel I didn't take a lot of my undergrad classes seriously. I wasn't sure if those ideas or principles would work. This time I can try to apply these new ideas and best practices into my classroom, how cool is that? Readers: Any ideas on how to survive Grad School?
Yikes! Are you sure my goal can't be "Try not to lose your Mind?!" Okay I've thought about it and this will be my SMARTER goal for the 2010-2011 school year: Incorporate unit literacy strategies that encourage learner engagement, increase reading and vocabulary comprehension in FACS throughout the 2010-2011 school year. Readers: Is this goal SMARTER?
Specific: Unit literacy strategy that is engaging and used to increase reading and vocabulary use in FACS. Measurable: Completed each unit, increase use of vocabulary and reading comprehension present in unit tests.
Attainable: I think that finding 1 strategy per unit is realistic and manageable.
Results: Unit tests will track the effectiveness of the reading strategy. (comprehension and vocabulary assessment.)
Time Bound: By Unit for the entire 2010-2011 school year.
Expect Set Backs: I have a lot on my plate, I think that making unit goals instead of weekly goals is a lot more manageable. This goal also is present in my building, VT, and department. Making it easier to stay on track.
Reward: This is the best part of a SMARTER Goal! I'll have a Quarter reward, of shopping and an end of the year award of a pedicure. :)
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Welcome to our Blog!!!!
Hey guys! I know you are all SUPER excited about blogging about our upcoming year! I think that this will be a good way to keep up with our professional goals as well as a way to share resources. Remember to keep it positive and professional!
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