Learning is Part of My Soul
As a third grade teacher, I talk to my students a lot about the importance of goal setting. We set goals for what we want to achieve in soccer or for what score we hope to get on the next math test. Goals ignite a drive in us to achieve more and to keep pushing forwards when the path gets rough. I set three new goals following the completion of my previous goal; obtaining a masters degree. These goals were selected because of their prevalence in society and importance of recognition. In Michigan State’s education masters program, technology is an area of concentration. The use of technology in a classroom helps build students' capability to take part in the ever changing tech world we live in. It is my duty as their teacher to educate them on technology components and incorporate technology into everyday instruction. Two of my goals are technology focused for this reason. My other goal was chosen due to its importance of higher certification for myself. This next level of certification will demonstrate my abilities as a teacher.
As a teacher, learning is a part of my soul. I strive to better myself through education and learning opportunities at every point in my life. I have a drive to keep pushing myself to higher education and certification with my current and future students giving me my motivation. My next goal after completing my masters degree is to become a National Board Certified Teacher. Becoming a board certified teacher will allow me to better my practice and become a teacher or school leader. The additional certification will open the door for me to make an impact at district or state levels in the realm of education and curriculum. To become certified I will have a committee of certified teachers to help guide me through the process of lesson planning, researching, and recording of my practices. The National Board symbol below will take you to their website explaining the certification. Like the standards I base my lessons on, I will have to meet five teaching standards to receive certification. To meet the standards, I plan on incorporating more technology into math and science.
Technology is a constantly changing medium as to which our students must be able to navigate in order to be successful in the future. My second goal is to incorporate more technology into the classroom, specifically into math and science. While I regularly use Chromebooks, hyper-docs, and google components in literacy and social studies, I don’t often use them in science or math. Moving forward, I plan on using Flipgrid as a resource for students to explain their mathematical thinking and showcase science research projects. Meta-cognition, meaning thinking about thinking, builds student's understanding about concepts while at the same time allows teachers to listen to a students conception or misconception. When a student speaks aloud their thought process of solving a problem, they are building their math skills and allowing the teacher to understand their comprehension. Flipgrid will add technology into math and science through students video recording their work which in result will improve their understanding.
To further enhance the use of technology in the classroom, my third goal is to become a Google Certified Educator. To achieve this certification I would take a training course that would educate me on all the ways I can incorporate and use Google components in the classroom. I would educate my students on these Google components and utilize them in all subject areas. Educating my students on how to use different types of technology will better prepare them for their future careers.
My journey continues after receiving my master’s degree in math and science education. As an educator, learning is part of my soul and I must always strive towards learning more to better myself and my student’s lives. At each education milestone in my life, I write a letter to myself to open once I reach my next journey. My eighth grade English teacher started this tradition for me. He had me write my goals I had achieved in middle school and write my next goals moving into high school. I continued with this pattern and know when I graduate with my masters, I will have achieved my goal I set when I graduated with my bachelors. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and obtain a masters in math and science. And I did just that. In my letter to myself following graduation will be these three goals to carry me into my next chapter of education: Technology in the classroom, Google Educator Certification, and National Board Certified Teacher.
future_goals.pdf | |
File Size: | 41 kb |
File Type: |