OCPS Induction & Mentoring
2018 EDITION: Volume 7 April Issue
Reflecting on Growth
During our March session, we focused on reflective practices on instruction, but this month, the reflection is really about your school year as a whole. The Confucious quote above captures some of the core pieces to professional growth. Having the opportunity to observe your mentor or someone on your campus provides the opportunity to imitate effective instructional practices. This is fairly easy to do, especially if you have conversations about the desired effect as well as the background pieces that go into utilizing that strategy. Every day you show up to work as a teacher, we are experiencing learning. Sometimes things go well and other times, not the way intended. No matter the outcome, the experience really puts into perspective the art and science involved with teaching. Imitation and experience provide some learning, but reflection, a hard look at the actions of the self, really pushes that learning. Reflection also transforms it into wisdom that you can share with others as current mentors continue to support new teachers, and new teachers who will one day become mentors themselves.
Think about your most important accomplishment this year. What was your student's academic growth or lack thereof? What will you do differently? Elena Aguilar shared in her article, Transformation Begins With Reflection: How Was Your Year? the various feelings that may arise as you begin to close out the school year. Are you going to focus on what didn't work and what negative things happened, or will you focus your energy on telling a story of learning, growth, and empowerment?
As our 2018-2019 school creeps to a close, start thinking about the story you want to tell. The story is how you are reflecting on the learning, discomfort, experiences, and various instructional practices you may have engaged in this school year. In the 21st Century mentor's Handbook, there is a Reflection and Goal Setting form that you can work through to guide your reflection on the story of your school year.
As you continue to develop as a professional educator, take the time to change the way you reflect and celebrate how much you have grown and learned.
Think about these questions in preparation for our Live Virtual Support Session:
- Revisit the goal you set for the school year. How have you reached the goal you set this year? Include any barriers you encountered that you did not anticipate and how you overcame them.
- How have you impacted students?
- What did you learn this year about the first few days of school (no matter when you started) that you want to remember for next year? Mentors, think about this in terms of supporting your mentee.
Spotlights
Cooperative Learning
Chona Madatu, a beginning teacher, has been using cooperative learning strategies with students. These strategies helped to make students more accountable for their own learning. With this success, cooperative learning strategies, have been used in all lessons on a daily basis, helping the student become more engaged in the lesson. Chona looks forward to continual use of these high yield strategies with students.
Chona Madatu, Beginning Teacher
Ventura ES
Data Collection
Michelle Shave, Mentor
Southwest MS
April Virtual Session I
Thursday, Apr 4, 2019, 07:30 AM
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March Virtual Session II
Thursday, Apr 4, 2019, 04:30 PM
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Instructional Strategies Spotlight!
Resources
Transformation Begins With Reflection: How Was Your Year?
Florida Educator Accomplished Practices
Exemplary Practices for Mentoring
STEPHANIE BIVINS MCCORMICK
Email: Stephanie.BivinsMcCormick@ocps.net
Website: www.ocps.net
Location: 445 West Amelia Street, Orlando, FL, USA
Phone: (407) 317-3200
Twitter: @Stephanie_BMcCo