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Teachers demonstrate professionalism through ethical conduct, reflection, and leadership.
I rate myself as proficient in this standard. Students recognize me as the authority figure, but I aim to set higher expectations to inspire greater accountability. Strengthening my professional presence and clarity in expectations will enhance my leadership skills.
Artifacts & Rationale
The teacher response to a student work submission demonstrates my professionalism and commitment to fostering a respectful and supportive learning environment. When a student submitted work where only one image uploaded correctly, I promptly reached out to ask for a resubmission, ensuring that the student had an opportunity to meet the expectations of the assignment. Additionally, I provided quick, positive feedback such as "cool shots" and "nice work" to acknowledge their efforts and encourage engagement. While this was a mini-lesson with less detailed critique, my responses were timely and constructive, reflecting my ability to balance professional standards with approachable and motivating communication.
Substitute Teaching Experience
The reflection on subbing for Mr. Chisholm provides insight into my first hands-on teaching experience, where I applied the skills and strategies developed during my training at CSU. Having the opportunity to independently manage the classroom for a week allowed me to step into a leadership role, giving me valuable experience in guiding students and maintaining the flow of learning. While the overall environment was relaxed, especially as students focused on ongoing projects, managing the large and energetic last-period Photo 1 class presented challenges. This required me to adapt my classroom management strategies, emphasizing clear communication and consistency to keep students on task.
This experience underscored the importance of being flexible and proactive in addressing varying class dynamics. It also demonstrated my ability to balance professionalism with responsiveness, ensuring that students remained engaged and productive despite the challenges of different energy levels and schedules. Moving forward, I aim to refine my classroom management techniques further, tailoring my approach to accommodate diverse groups effectively.