Domain 4: Professional Responsibility Known as the expectations and responsibilities an educator will face in the profession of teaching. Educators are responsible for making sure each element is being met and are continuously building a professional reputation.
4a Reflection on Teaching
Reflection on teaching an educators way of planning and eventually revising a lesson. Teachers will reflect on the students responses to the lesson and actively seek ways to improve their teaching strategies. Teachers can reflect on their teaching by keeping a reflection journal, looking through students work, having conversations with students about the day, and conversations with colleagues. As teachers continuously practice reflection and looking at lesson through the eyes of a student, this practice will become a daily habit. Teachers must actively use reflection to grow as a teacher and change lesson planning to fit students needs. Teachers will reflect on past lessons to see where they improve in teaching the curriculum. Teachers can check in with students to see how the lesson went by implementing an exit ticket or collecting daily reflection journals from the students.
4b Maintaining Accurate Records
A professional educator will first test how much the students know about the future curriculum before beginning the new unit. A great way to see how much the students know is by implementing an exit ticket. Another way to check in with students is by implementing a daily subject notebook. This way the teacher knows where each student stands in the basics of the curriculum and how to help them more forward in understanding what is being taught. Maintaining accurate records as an educator shows the teacher is organized and responsible. A professional educator means also keeping track of records that are noninstructional. Examples of noninstructional record maintaining such as keeping track of permissions slips for school field trips, medical records, and parent contact. Teachers can keep track of this information by have a specific folder on their computer containing parent information, or use spreadsheets.
4c Communicating with Families
It is the teachers responsibility to try to allow the families of their students play a role in their child's learning progress. However this may prove to be difficult due to what may be happening that child's family life or the parents job obligations. Family participation may also depend on what grade the student is in. Family participation is usually highest when their student is in elementary or younger. Teachers will communicate with the students family about their child's progress and the instructional program. Teachers can invite families to be apart of their child's learning process by sending letters home about upcoming events they can volunteer for, what may be coming up in class, or assigning homework that may include talking to a family member for an assignment. Teachers can inform parents of assignment coming up within the week with a homework chart.
4d Participating in a Professional Community
Teachers will work with their colleagues to share classroom strategies, create plans together, and discuss how to make their students successful. A professional community can be distinguished by respect and mutual support of peers along with being responsible. Elements of being in a professional community include service to the school, taking part of in school and community projects, relationships with colleagues, and participate in culture of professional inquiry, Teachers are looking for ways to improve their practice and improve their classroom environment, teachers also understand their duties extend to the school or district as a whole. These duties can include being a member of the district curriculum committee or engaging in a parent-teacher community. Ways educators can show their participation in a professional community is by participating in professional courses such as seminars. Educators can also participate in school initiatives and be apart of community initiatives as well.
4e Growing and Developing Professionally
Being a future educator means you are constantly growing and staying up to date in the curriculum. Teachers are continuously implementing new technology tools, content, curriculum, and pedagogy in their students lives. Teachers will pursue ways to receive feedback from colleagues and join organizations to improve their professional practice of the content. Growing as an educator can include being apart of school initiatives, attending conferences, working along with colleagues, and reading new curriculum. Teachers can implement these practices by using beneficial tools learned at conferences in their students learning, being participants in school activities such as clubs, and working with colleagues to create hand-on activities for students.
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4f Showing Professionalism
Professionalism is seen in service with colleagues, students, and to the profession. Teachers showing professionalism with often advocate for their students in ways that may challenge traditional views. Teachers will have a strong moral compass and take the students best interest in mind when making decisions. Educators may follow rules and expectations of the work place, but will work towards fixing standards that may be outdated. Elements of a teacher showing professionalism include decision making, advocacy, integrity and ethical conduct, and service to the students. Teachers can implement these elements in their daily lives by fulfilling policies that are mandated by the district. The teacher may also challenge any existing practices to advocate for their students and constantly reminding colleagues during planning that students are of the highest priority. Finally, teachers will have a reputation of being trustworthy and responsible.