Natalie Ct

Professional Growth Plan

Established Date January 17th, 2017
Name Natalie Ct
Review Date April 9th, 2017

Goal #1
To have better awareness in the classroom.
This goal is taken from my reflections at the end of PSI. During that practicum, I found that I
missed certain happenings in the classroom because my focus was too narrow. This semester I
want to learn how to keep the big picture always in mind.
Related KSA(s)
As situations warrant, teachers who hold an Interim Professional Certificate are expected to demonstrate consistently
that they understand:

a) Contextual variables affect teaching and learning. They know how to analyse many variables at one time, and how
to respond by making reasoned decisions about their teaching practice and students learning;

b) The structure of the Alberta education system. They know the different roles in the system, and how
responsibilities and accountabilities are determined, communicated and enforced, including the expectations held of
them under the Certification of Teachers Regulation, A.R. 261/90 as amended and their school authoritys teachers
evaluation policy;

g) Students needs for physical, social, cultural and psychological security. They know how to engage students in
creating effective classroom routines. They know how and when to apply a variety of management strategies that are
in keeping with the situation, and that provide for minimal disruptions to students learning;

Indicator(s) of Success
Students behavior will show their awareness of my presence in the classroom at all times

Action Resource(s) Timeline

Ask for feedback from my T.A. and U.C. about
things I might be missing in the classroom T.A. and university
Throughout practicum
(behaviors, general events when I am focusing consultant
on one thing, etc.)
Put reminders in my lesson plans etc. to remind Throughout practicum,
me to look around and have a more complete especially through the first
view of the classroom. few weeks
Reflection
Just having the experience of a few weeks in a classroom helped me get better at this and pay more attention to
the sidelines. I was especially successful in grades 6-8, but not quite as much in the very busy grade 5 classroom or
in the high school classes where my focus was leaning more towards the content than the management necessary
in younger grades. The biggest thing that helped me in this area was the suggestions I received from my T.A. to
walk through the class as I teach. This method helps me be aware of what the students are doing at any given
point and allows me to see and address anyone who might be trying to go unnoticed on the sidelines.

ED3601 D C & I Music

Instructor Keith Griffioen
Natalie Ct

Goal #2
To make use of the many resources available to me in order to grow and learn as much as
possible.
As a student teacher, I want to make use of the supports in place for me while I am in school
and use those resources to their full extent.
Related KSA(s)
As situations warrant, teachers who hold an Interim Professional Certificate are expected to demonstrate consistently
that they understand:

a) Contextual variables affect teaching and learning. They know how to analyse many variables at one time, and how
to respond by making reasoned decisions about their teaching practice and students learning;

i) There are many approaches to teaching and learning. They know a broad range of instructional strategies
appropriate to their area of specialization and the subject discipline they teach, and know which strategies are
appropriate to help different students achieve different outcomes;

m) Student learning is enhanced through the use of home and community resources. They know how to identify
resources relevant to teaching and learning objectives, and how to incorporate these resources into their teaching
and students learning.

Indicator(s) of Success
I will have reviewed and put into practice the knowledge given to me through university classes.
I will have tried multiple different approaches to teaching certain aspects of music and/or other subjects I
teach.
Action Resource(s) Timeline
Review and put into practice what I learned in Conducting notes and
Throughout practicum
conducting class. textbook
Review and put into practice what I learned in Methods class notes and
Throughout practicum
brass and percussion methods. textbooks
Keith Griffioen
Ask advice and practical suggestions of at least
Rhonda Bourn
two of my music educators or other music Throughout practicum
Lisa Ward
mentors.
My T.A.
Find at least two resources in the cur lab for
Between orientation and the
music teachers, specified to the U of L Cur Lab
start of practicum
ensembles/subjects I am teaching.
Ask an administrator at my school to come Inquire and organize by March
watch one of my lessons and give me feedback 31st, 2017.
Reflection
This practicum really showed me how important connections are with other music educators. Although I didnt use
my classroom notes as much as I could have, I was constantly asking for advice and suggestions from Keith, Lisa
Ward, another choir director I worked with named Scott Leithead, and both of my T.A.s. Along with this regular
contact, I was also able to teach a few lessons with administrators present and go view other teachers in their
classrooms to see things from different perspectives. I ended up running a ukulele and guitar session for any of the
students interested on Tuesdays and Thursdays over lunch. For this, I borrowed some resources from the
curriculum lab but barely used them. I should have done more with finding resources through the school, but I did
consult teacher-pay-teacher as well as a few resources recommended to me by my T.A. especially for teaching
English. Getting the staff emails showed me how some teachers regularly search for new resources and would
share them among their co-workers; I look forward to exploring the resources available to us even further, building
up my own toolkit, and sharing in these professional development strategies with teachers from all areas.
ED3601 D C & I Music
Instructor Keith Griffioen
Natalie Ct

Goal #3
To listen to band and choir music for the sake of becoming more familiar with the music
present in the programs I will be working in.
As someone who wants to create meaningful music education, I want to become more familiar
with the music available for band and choir in schools. I know that my experience in band is
especially limited, so I would like to focus in this area. I should also pay attention to composers,
arrangers, and publishing companies that offer quality music at the appropriate levels for
school music programs to start building an understanding of the resources I should be looking
for when choosing music.
Related KSA(s)
As situations warrant, teachers who hold an Interim Professional Certificate are expected to demonstrate consistently
that they understand:

d) The subject disciplines they teach. They have completed a structured program of studies through which they
acquired the knowledge, concepts, methodologies and assumptions in one or more areas of specialization or subject
disciplines taught in Alberta schools;

o) The importance of career-long learning. They know how to assess their own teaching and how to work with others
responsible for supervising and evaluating teachers. They know how to use the findings of assessments, supervision
and evaluations to select, develop and implement their own professional development activities;

Indicator(s) of Success
All students will understand all tasks given and feel confident and capable of doing them
Tasks will have a wide range of success that is encouraged, accommodating all levels of ability
Students will feel adequately challenged in all tasks
Students will be motivated and engaged

Action Resource(s) Timeline

Watch and listen to at least 10 junior/senior
Youtube January-April, 2017
high choir performances.
Watch and listen to at least 10 junior/senior
Youtube January-April, 2017
high band performances.
Find three different videos where I can learn Youtube
Between orientation day and
something from the conductor. These should be Resources from
March 10th, 2017.
of an appropriate level. conducting class
Reflection
This goal was a lot more important that I realized when I was making it. Before practicum began my friend and I
listened to some pieces performed by bands of various levels, sizes, ages, abilities, and preparedness. This
exposure prior to practicum was very important in forming a realistic expectation for what a middle or high school
music ensemble should sound like especially after university and with limited exposure to school ensembles. As
practicum began and my teaching level rose, I relied a lot on recordings of many kinds to learn the music and have
an idea of what the challenges and highlights were for each piece. I found that, once I was more accustomed to
these recordings and my own experience at ICHS, I was able to page through recordings and learn about the
different challenges in the piece by comparing one recording to another and deciphering why one sounded better
than the other. This really helped me to know what to work on in my teaching and gave me a direction in my
planning before I had even heard my band play the piece or my choir sing it. Conducting in these ensembles has
been completely different than my expectation heading into practicum. I did not spend time watching conductors
specifically, but learned more directly through observing my T.A.s and what they did in their conducting patterns.

ED3601 D C & I Music

Instructor Keith Griffioen
Natalie Ct

Goal #4
Wellness Goal:
Intentionally do something that I love, at least five days per week.

I know this practicum will be very busy, so taking time for myself will help me to stay relaxed
and enjoy the experience. Playing piano, playing guitar, going for a walk, taking a nap, and
talking to a friend or family member on the phone are some basic activities I could do to
achieve this goal. The idea is that I dont have to dedicate a specific amount of time to doing
something, but must consciously choose one thing per day (with a few busy days forgiven). This
activity should be something unrelated to teaching and school.
Indicator(s) of Success
I will be able to play music outside of school regularly
I wont drop out of contact with my friends and family
Reflection
After hearing the general consensus that PSII is the hardest practicum by a large margin, my expectations for the
semester were harsher than what I would usually expect of a practicum. I was blessed to be placed at a school
where I felt very supported and was given the freedom to explore and learn through experience and trial-and-
error. Because the practicum was not as stressful as I was expecting, this goal was not hard to accomplish. I was
able to continue attending dance at least once a week, playing piano and guitar in the evenings and on weekends,
and spending time with friends regularly.

ED3601 D C & I Music

Instructor Keith Griffioen