Program Standard 8: Professional Practice. This program standard ensures that teaching candidates are actively working to improve their own practice, both through collaborating with colleagues and using professional development opportunities. Part of growing professionally is when first year teachers create a teacher persona. In Brown (2012), the author shares with the readers that the first year of teaching can be difficult. Individually, a teacher must create their own teacher persona in order to show students that (s)he is warm and organized. Beginning our Professional Issues class with common teacher problem areas was really helpful, because it showed the need for professional development so clearly. A new teacher is much more likely to feel and be successful with collaboration from a team of strong teachers and administration.
In my own experience, I am learning what my teacher persona looks like from collaborating with experienced teachers. As we meet to discuss assessments, analyze student work, and even meet casually, I am asking questions and learning from their own experiences and strategies. I am beginning to develop my own teaching style and persona. One example is with the technique of positive framing. I was struggling to have students cooperate with seating arrangements and participation. One day, when my mentor teacher was sick, I did not use positive framing with a student. The entire class period, we played a game where the student was in control because I was creating extreme consequences. I let my mentor teacher know the next day, but I ended up speaking with a colleague about the situation. He gave me some insights into positive framing, and reminded me that giving students realistic options in high school is oftentimes the best move. Rather than making a dramatic consequence, I was reminded to empower students to choose wisely for themselves, framing the conversation with my ultimate purpose, that their success in class is important to me.
As a result, I learned two things. First, I used a practical tip that has stuck with me since that day back in October. I learned that positive framing and giving students options solves a lot of the problems I encounter in the classroom. But I also learned how important collaboration is to solving classroom management issues and common problem areas for first year teachers. Without asking my colleague for help, I would have attempted to solve the issue in a similar manner, and the problem would have continued.
The implications of collaboration on student learning is huge. Our school already collaborates frequently on creating or giving feedback to teacher assessment, curriculum, and even objectives. When this is happens, students receive the best possible instruction and evaluation. And when collaboration happens with classroom management strategies, it can completely change a student's success in that class. For the student that I was struggling with, when I was giving extreme consequences, his class time was spent fighting with me to avoid the consequences. When I switched my method and told him why I needed him in a specific seat, he responded to me with an "Ok, Ms. Wing," moved his seat, and spent the entire class period participating. By explaining to the student why it was important for him to move, by expressing my interest in his success, I was showing I was kind and organized. And he responded well, so much better than when I created an extreme consequence.
For my own practice, I would like to expand my network of support. I love the teachers in my school; they are experienced, supportive, and are typically available to answer my questions. Yet I know that the more variety of voices I can collaborate with and get ideas from, the better my practice will become. Even in my year of student teaching, I have already encountered a few common problem areas. I know this will continue as I begin my first year of teaching. I want to be rooted and supported in a solid network of experienced teachers so that as I encounter problems, I know where to look for support. While my own colleagues will be available to help me, I also want to seek support from outside resources.
