Subject: Curriculum and Instruction
I believe that: all students should have access to research based curriculum and teachers that are engaged and passionate about their craft. Teachers should also deliver instruction based on the 21st century skills that students will need today, tomorrow and in the future.
I believe this because: I’ve observed the positive effect when students are instructed by teachers that are passionate about their craft. It’s not simply about equipping teachers the newest and the latest strategy and/or curriculum, it’s about having the passion to follow through with the curriculum, doing your own research, collaborate with others, analyze data, meet the needs of our particular students, empower students to track their own progress and truly care about their students success. Students will see and feel this authenticity and will want to perform at a high level for us and themselves.
Lots of issues/aspect of: common core standards and technology. For example many teachers have shown frustration with the curriculum aligned with the common core standards. Many of standards are scattered or teachers are required to create their own curriculum. This has been very stressful and time consuming as teachers are not given much time to prepare these lessons. Teachers are required to join multiple committees, after school programs, continuous professional developments during school hours which requires sub plans, and of course-teaching.
I’d like to talk about: the pedagogy behind teaching with technology.
Explain your example: Teaching with technology sounds like a great headline but it represents some challenges. There has to be a shift in the mindset of teachers and there has to be a deep level of understanding of the methods and practice of teaching with technology. Technology cannot be rolled out and expect teachers to utilize it effectively. There has to be a support team that consistently assists with the day to day obstacles such as connectivity, bugs, plugs, software, privacy, digital citizenship, syncing and many other areas that teachers will need support. There also has to be continuous professional developments and observations of how to utilize the technology effectively. There are many teachers that have mastered the art of teaching with technology and they set a great example for the rest of us that we can observe.
Subject: Parent and Community Involvement
I believe that: parents are an essential piece to the success of the student. There has to be support from all stakeholders, teachers, parents, school leaders and the community surrounding them. I’ve seen it first hand, when there is parent involvement, students tend to produce great and continuous improvement in all academic areas. At the elementary school level, students depend on their parents to ensure they eat balanced meals, completion of homework, teacher/parent communication and coming to school prepared. When these essential responsibilities are taken care of, the results are continuous improvement.
I believe this because: I’ve witnessed the negative effects it has on a student when there is a lack of support at home. Students come in hungry, unprepared and academics and behavior decline because there’s no follow up at home.
Lots of issues/aspect of: parent involvement. For example our school is a title 1 school, 100% of our students qualify for free reduced cost lunches and a high percentage of single parent households.
I’d like to talk about: improving our communication as a school and additional effort to assist the families that need additional support and resources.
Explain your example: I believe our school has done a great job in assisting students with high needs, we have hired a school psychologist that is consistently working with students that need to share or voice their difficulties at home. This has helped tremendously and it would be great to take it a step further and assist the families as well with additional support from our community churches, agencies and any other resource that can meet their needs to ensure we are doing all we can to assist in the success of every student.
Subject: Discipline and School Climate/Culture
I believe that: school discipline and school climate and culture are essential to the academic success of each and every student.
I believe this because: a strong and consistent discipline policy also supports the teachers in the classroom. Teachers do not have to worry about how they should handle a certain student or situation, the school discipline policy will be consistent and fair so every student that decides to break the rules will be disciplined accordingly. However, the discipline policy should also ensure that students are not only disciplined but there is room for restoration and the learning from mistakes. I have observed that students respond to praise, instead of constantly hammering their mistakes. It’s all about mutual respect and showing authenticity and we truly care about their success in the classroom.
Lots of issues/aspect of: using choice words. For example, I think that we can do a better job using choice words throughout our teaching day. To ensure students are constantly listening to positivity and that their efforts are noticed. We never know how students are disciplined at home or if they’re disciplined at all, the classroom should be a place where students come to build their self esteem and learn habits that they can utilize today, tomorrow and future.
I’d like to talk about: implementing the 7 habits in my classroom.
Explain your example: We currently have positive expectations as a school where we teach a certain rule or expectation every week such “hallway behavior” or “playground behavior” but I like the idea of mastering 1 principle at a time. We can implement 1 principle and track our progress until we get to the final habit, sharpening the saw.
Subject: Technology
I believe that: technology is an essential tool needed to ensure our students are prepared for the future and that technology is not a replacement of teaching but a way to extend and enrich the learning experience.
I believe this because: technology is all around us and the biggest form of communication. People and businesses are communicating via text, video, email and/or social media. Students must be prepared for this world. Technology will constantly change as there is continuous improvement however the skills to adapt to this continuum is what students need to be equipped with in the classroom.
Lots of issues/aspect of: continuous change and the addition of strategies and programs. For example technology is not constant so there is always something brand new out there. Schools need to be careful of not implementing too much that teachers feel the heaviness of these changes. Teachers need to be supported with what we currently have and allow them to gradually incorporate new strategies and programs at a steady pace.
I’d like to talk about: tracking student progress.
Explain your example: Currently we have several reading programs through scholastic that students utilize on their desktops and coming to the iPads soon. We have had this technology for 2 years but I have never been able to track student progress but this year we will have access. I believe technology is an awesome tool but it serves no purpose when we can’t measure how effective the tool is, share amongst grade level colleagues to utilize for intervention, next steps and share this data with students as well to keep them motivated. It’s extremely important to not only roll out tons of software and technology but to ensure there are ways to track student progress as well.
I believe that: all students should have access to research based curriculum and teachers that are engaged and passionate about their craft. Teachers should also deliver instruction based on the 21st century skills that students will need today, tomorrow and in the future.
I believe this because: I’ve observed the positive effect when students are instructed by teachers that are passionate about their craft. It’s not simply about equipping teachers the newest and the latest strategy and/or curriculum, it’s about having the passion to follow through with the curriculum, doing your own research, collaborate with others, analyze data, meet the needs of our particular students, empower students to track their own progress and truly care about their students success. Students will see and feel this authenticity and will want to perform at a high level for us and themselves.
Lots of issues/aspect of: common core standards and technology. For example many teachers have shown frustration with the curriculum aligned with the common core standards. Many of standards are scattered or teachers are required to create their own curriculum. This has been very stressful and time consuming as teachers are not given much time to prepare these lessons. Teachers are required to join multiple committees, after school programs, continuous professional developments during school hours which requires sub plans, and of course-teaching.
I’d like to talk about: the pedagogy behind teaching with technology.
Explain your example: Teaching with technology sounds like a great headline but it represents some challenges. There has to be a shift in the mindset of teachers and there has to be a deep level of understanding of the methods and practice of teaching with technology. Technology cannot be rolled out and expect teachers to utilize it effectively. There has to be a support team that consistently assists with the day to day obstacles such as connectivity, bugs, plugs, software, privacy, digital citizenship, syncing and many other areas that teachers will need support. There also has to be continuous professional developments and observations of how to utilize the technology effectively. There are many teachers that have mastered the art of teaching with technology and they set a great example for the rest of us that we can observe.
Subject: Parent and Community Involvement
I believe that: parents are an essential piece to the success of the student. There has to be support from all stakeholders, teachers, parents, school leaders and the community surrounding them. I’ve seen it first hand, when there is parent involvement, students tend to produce great and continuous improvement in all academic areas. At the elementary school level, students depend on their parents to ensure they eat balanced meals, completion of homework, teacher/parent communication and coming to school prepared. When these essential responsibilities are taken care of, the results are continuous improvement.
I believe this because: I’ve witnessed the negative effects it has on a student when there is a lack of support at home. Students come in hungry, unprepared and academics and behavior decline because there’s no follow up at home.
Lots of issues/aspect of: parent involvement. For example our school is a title 1 school, 100% of our students qualify for free reduced cost lunches and a high percentage of single parent households.
I’d like to talk about: improving our communication as a school and additional effort to assist the families that need additional support and resources.
Explain your example: I believe our school has done a great job in assisting students with high needs, we have hired a school psychologist that is consistently working with students that need to share or voice their difficulties at home. This has helped tremendously and it would be great to take it a step further and assist the families as well with additional support from our community churches, agencies and any other resource that can meet their needs to ensure we are doing all we can to assist in the success of every student.
Subject: Discipline and School Climate/Culture
I believe that: school discipline and school climate and culture are essential to the academic success of each and every student.
I believe this because: a strong and consistent discipline policy also supports the teachers in the classroom. Teachers do not have to worry about how they should handle a certain student or situation, the school discipline policy will be consistent and fair so every student that decides to break the rules will be disciplined accordingly. However, the discipline policy should also ensure that students are not only disciplined but there is room for restoration and the learning from mistakes. I have observed that students respond to praise, instead of constantly hammering their mistakes. It’s all about mutual respect and showing authenticity and we truly care about their success in the classroom.
Lots of issues/aspect of: using choice words. For example, I think that we can do a better job using choice words throughout our teaching day. To ensure students are constantly listening to positivity and that their efforts are noticed. We never know how students are disciplined at home or if they’re disciplined at all, the classroom should be a place where students come to build their self esteem and learn habits that they can utilize today, tomorrow and future.
I’d like to talk about: implementing the 7 habits in my classroom.
Explain your example: We currently have positive expectations as a school where we teach a certain rule or expectation every week such “hallway behavior” or “playground behavior” but I like the idea of mastering 1 principle at a time. We can implement 1 principle and track our progress until we get to the final habit, sharpening the saw.
Subject: Technology
I believe that: technology is an essential tool needed to ensure our students are prepared for the future and that technology is not a replacement of teaching but a way to extend and enrich the learning experience.
I believe this because: technology is all around us and the biggest form of communication. People and businesses are communicating via text, video, email and/or social media. Students must be prepared for this world. Technology will constantly change as there is continuous improvement however the skills to adapt to this continuum is what students need to be equipped with in the classroom.
Lots of issues/aspect of: continuous change and the addition of strategies and programs. For example technology is not constant so there is always something brand new out there. Schools need to be careful of not implementing too much that teachers feel the heaviness of these changes. Teachers need to be supported with what we currently have and allow them to gradually incorporate new strategies and programs at a steady pace.
I’d like to talk about: tracking student progress.
Explain your example: Currently we have several reading programs through scholastic that students utilize on their desktops and coming to the iPads soon. We have had this technology for 2 years but I have never been able to track student progress but this year we will have access. I believe technology is an awesome tool but it serves no purpose when we can’t measure how effective the tool is, share amongst grade level colleagues to utilize for intervention, next steps and share this data with students as well to keep them motivated. It’s extremely important to not only roll out tons of software and technology but to ensure there are ways to track student progress as well.