Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities
4a. Reflecting on teaching
4a of the Danielson Framework addresses reflecting on teaching. Teaching is not a static profession. To be an effective teacher an individual must constaly reflect upon the lessons they teach and improve. Attached to this section are two video reflection analysis assignments I completed for my intern seminar course. For each one I recorded myself teaching a lesson to one of my class periods, than watched it a number of times so I could better reflect on my strenghts and weaknesses. Whenever I teach a lesson I take a minute at the end of the period to reflect on what I thought went well and what I can work on, so my instruction is more effective and bad habits are not allowed to take root.
4b. Maintaining accurate records
4b of the Danielson Framework addresses maintaining accurate records. It is important a teacher maintains accurate records of student progress, in this case in teh form of student grades. The document attached to this section is a copy of a grading rubric I kept during my second placement. Because technology can be so fickle and unreliable at times, I maintain both a digital copy of grades on Infinite Campus, as well as a physical paper copy that I can access at any time. There have been times when a grade disappeared from the system, even though I knew I had graded the paper itself, and my paper records proved that I had in fact graded it. They also allow me to check student progress when things such as the wireless internet are not working or the grading program is down for maintenance. The records are updated as late work is turned in, and used to update the digital records as well.
4d. Participating in the Professional Community
4d of the Danielson Framework addresses participating in the professional community. Teaching and educating students is not a single person operation. It requires collaboration and assistance. The document attached to this page are a collection of emails between myself and a member of the special education team at my placement school. In them I am seeking help in making sure the special education students in my classroom are having all their needs met, with the appropriate accomodations and interactions. I worked closely with the special education teacher to help one student work on raising his/her grade and to help me better connect with another student so he/she felt more welcome in my classroom. Fortunately, the one student's grade did rise and the other student started seeking me out to tell me stories about his/her weekend and to talk about football and cartoons. I am grateful to the special education department for helping educate me on the needs of my students so I can be best teacher I can be for all of my students.