As a grade level we (just the general ed teachers) also try to meet at least once a week to discuss and go over what we are planning on covering the following week. This really helps because many times we will decide to stay on a subject for longer then planned because students seem to be struggling with the concepts. We try to stay together and help each other out as much as possible.
While common planning and weekly PLC's seem to be helping a great deal I still feel as if we are lacking in several areas. For one, new teachers need to have mentors that are from their grade level. I for one had a title teacher as my mentor. While I absolutely loved her, I feel I would have benefited more from someone within my grade. I also feel that while I really like the PLC's we should have them some time other then our planning.
My school works with WVU to help educate new and upcoming teachers. We have several student teachers and interns this year. I do not have much experience with this because even though I have been asked I have never had one in my class. This is because I feel that I am still learning how to do things and am not confident enough in myself yet, to help lead another teacher.
As I mentioned earlier one of the things my school is lacking is the use of mentors and coaches. Before this assignment I would not have even considered them to be different. As previously stated I work at a large elementary school is which only one person is in charge of technology support. If she can not help them we must call IT. This is frustrating because she teaches second grade and many times uses her planning to help set up different things in our classrooms. We have to wait several days sometimes to get help because of this. I feel that if there we mentors and coaches then things could run more smoothly. For example, the school just had new interactive projectors installed into the rooms without smart boards. No one was there to show us how to set them up and program so we are still trying to read and figure them out.
Brand-ed:
In my opinion the word brand-ed is used to imply that we need to look at our personal teaching and then the school and come up with our own brand for how we want to be seen. Everyone is familiar with name brands such as Nike and Adidas, this brand-ed is a way to get people more familiar with schools and education.
PLC:
As I stated earlier in this post, my school implemented weekly PLC's just this year. I feel as if they are beneficial to not only myself but all teachers because it gives us a chance to learn from each other. We can discuss what seems to be working with our students and what is not working. We can even change classes to help each other. What I mean by this is if during a PLC meeting I tell my peers that I am having trouble getting my students to understand fractions and another teacher says that her students seem to get it. Maybe she could come to my class and go over fractions with my students and show me how she taught them. She might have a better way to implement them in which the students can relate. These meetings are about growing and helping each other.
3 comments:
The mentoring program used to be a big deal at my school, but I think the County's emphasis changed over time. Perhaps that comes with changing leadership, etc. I think the idea of the mentorship is great. It was great for me. I sometimes wish teachers would just have it mind to share more about themselves with new teachers. If that were the case, I think mentoring would happen on its own.
I don't remember when I first decided to have a student teacher. I think I agreed to it because someone really needed an extra placement. At the time I didn't feel "wise." I still don't, but this year I have a student teacher, and honestly, I am more interested in seeing what she has to bring to the table. I expect to learn from her.
Weekly meetings to keep on the same page in any field seems to easy to stay on track but we all forget or miss a week here or there. I feel this is beneficial and I hope it is for you in your setting as well. Do you anticipate it continuing in the future? How do you think it has benefited you most?
Kristina,
I’m sure you notice a huge difference since common planning time has been established in your school. I cannot imagine coaching at a school without common planning in place. Teachers are already stretched to the limit with meetings, and when a grade level can collaborate at the same time, then communication, questions, answers and expectations are transparent. PLN – Teachers modeling for each other is so powerful! Modeling “tears down the walls” and promotes collaboration.
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