SCED 4989: Professional Learning Plan (Professional Development) and Leadership Assignment Name: Michael Jurgensmeier Major:English Date:

3/17/2014

Note: This will be placed in your DM6: Teaching Dispositions Section as a Benchmark Assessment. Directions- Write in the information below. Part I: DM4: Reflection: Seek learning experiences (e.g., professional, research, colleagues, community) as sources of reflection to improve teaching. 1. Explain one experience you have used sources (professional, research, colleagues, community, etc.) to help you improve your teaching. I think when it comes to learning experiences I draw mostly from my experience working with at-risk/troubled teenagers at Diamond Ranch Academy where I work as a counselor. That being said the number one lesson I have learned is that you can never underestimate patience; take a deep breath, dont take anything personal and remember that you are there to help and not get personally involved. I think that can easily transfer over to the classroom and I feel if I maintain that genuine sense of humility and focus I will have no problem becoming successful as an educator.

2. List your professional content organization with its website. What resources are available for teaching? What arent? I honestly find it a bit trite to list all the content help out there on the web, but here are a few. National Council of Teachers of English - Homepage Language Arts Teacher Resources (Grades K-12) - TeacherVision ... https://www.teachervision.com Nine Strategies for Reaching All Learners in English Language Arts ... www edutopia org stw-expanded-learning-time-individualize

Part II: DM4: Develop a professional learning plan based on individual needs and the needs of the learners, schools, and educational community.

A. The following components are included in a Development Plan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Description of school and teaching, administrative, or pupil services situation. Description of goal to be addressed. Rationale for the goal. Plan for assessing and documenting the goal. Plan to meet the goal: objectives, activities, timeline, and collaboration. 3-5 pieces of evidence that document professional growth and the effect on student learning.

B. Fill in the information below based on your student teaching experience. 1. Description of your school, faculty teaching, administrative support, and services for students. Hurricane High School is a fairly large school located in the small town of Hurricane, Utah Although the city itself isnt very large the school is very large considering that at least a half a dozen small towns send their children to this public school. I am student-teaching the sophomore class, and we have at least four language arts teachers in this grade alone. The students have all sorts of extracurricular activates ranging from the basic sports to drama, debate and even so off-beat groups such as the Japanese club and the Writers Circle.

2. Identify one area of weakness you have right now you would like to improve and set a goal. a. Weakness: I tend to get sidetracked when I am teaching and I will start talking about things that are irrelevant. b. Goal: I am going to focus and stop doing that. 3. Rationale: Write a short reason why it is important to set and reach this goal. I think I could be much more effective and would waste much less time if I would simply stick with the lesson plan. 4. How will you measure/assess your goal? I will measure my success by the amount of work I will be able to get down in one class.

5. What is the timeline for your goal? I could give it a week Its not a big goal

6. Explain if you met your goal and what was the outcome? I think I have somewhat. I am getting better. The result is that the kids see me as more of a teacher and less as a student-teacher.

Part III: DM6: Participate as part of a learning community, sharing responsibility for each students learning by giving and receiving feedback. 1. Explain your experience with participating in a professional learning committee (PLC) at your school. Write a brief essay that explains how the members on the committee shared of responsibilities for each student's learning?
Sharing the workload is an important aspect of teaching. My personal experience when it comes to sharing the workload among the faculty here at Hurricane High School is a daily occurrence. Here are a few examples. The lesson plans are very similar among the classrooms and as a result the common core is approached in the same manner and time of the school year, which prevents students falling behind in their education. When it comes to common core testing the teachers gather in the Language Arts department and discuss their plan of attack for when the testing time arrives. They meet at least once a week, and while I tend to be silent in those meetings and simply observe, I feel I am learning a lot about what it means to be a part of a team.

2. Explain

how you engage in professional learning to enhance knowledge and skill, to contribute to the knowledge and skill of others and to work collaboratively to advance professional practice.

Whenever I am given the opportunity to experience every aspect of the teaching experience I jump at the chance. I have been to parent-teacher meetings. I have stayed late to speak with parents. I have stayed in the classroom during lunch, before and after school to help other students and I feel I have created an impressive kinship with the other teachers here.