Journal of Progress
September 2014
Goals: Communicate with parents more frequently on what's going on at school.
Action Steps:
1. Monthly Newsletter - on the first of the month email my monthly newsletter letting parents know what's going on in their students classes, school reminders and important dates. A hard copy of the newsletter will also go home on the first Thursday of each month and post my newsletter on my school website page.
2. Remind 101 - create a Remind 101 account for my 6th grade parents. Have parents sign up to receive quick reminder texts.
Reflection:
"Awesome newsletter! Love knowing all that the kids are working on and wanted to provide positive feedback about the homeschool projects too. I liked the many choices, and advanced noticed to plan. Thank you!" (quote from Jane Smith, parent email) I am so happy that my monthly newsletter and communication is receiving great feedback. This months goal was to work on Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process and Model the Way. I definitely feel that I am challenging myself to these frequent communication tools, setting a high standard for my peer teachers and demonstrating a shared vision for a positive partnership with parents.
October 2014
Goals: Create a simple way to organize 6th grade camp that is easier for myself and JCS.
Action Steps:
1. Create a camp spreadsheet that site secretaries and I can record student documents and medical information for 6th grade camp.
2. Distribute important 6th grade camp emails and documents to JCS sites and home study families.
3. Collect all documents and create cabins, study groups, and table assignments including chaperones.
4. Attend camp November 5-7th with no stress.
Reflection:
Camp went well. I had a record of students attending, 74 students and 11 chaperones. I definitely Challenged The Process with (3) seeking out challenging opportunities that test my own skills and abilities, (8) challenged people to try out new and innovative ways to do their job, (13) searched outside the formal boundaries of my organization for innovative ways to improve what we do. I also believed I Enabled Others to Act with (29) ensuring that people grow in their jobs by learning new skills and developing themselves. By creating a new online document that all sites, secretaries, teachers, home study EF's, and administrators could access and document important 6th grade camp information helped me succeed and work with others in gathering student documents and data from multiple sources.
November 2014
Goals: Parent Conferences
Action Steps:
1. Meet with team and collaborate which students we have concerns for.
2. Separate meeting days: Nov.19th conference day will be to meet with parents of students that are doing well, meeting standards. Nov. 20th conference day will be to meet with parents of students that we are concerned about and meet as a team. (all teachers with parents)
3. Provide parents data for Math and Language Arts.
Reflection:
Conferences went well. Conferences on November 19th were great to check in with parents and let them know how their child is doing. Conferences on November 20th were FANTASTIC. Each parent that we meet with collectively appreciated the time, effort, suggestions, and support. I believe I Inspired a Shared Vision (22) painting the "big picture" of what we aspire to accomplish for parents and their child as we discussed their child, Challenged the Process (23) we set achievable goals, made concrete plans and established measurable milestones for the project and programs that we work on - in our conferences we set goals with the parents of what we and them would do to help support their child that is struggling.
December 2014
Goals: Implement interventions that were discussed during parent/teacher conferences for students we are concerned about.
Action Steps:
1. Implement strategies for parents to do at home with their students. Have a weekly communication with parents if the strategies are working or not.
2. Begin reading intervention group at school with selected identified students every Wednesday.
3. During daily SSR (silent sustained reading) work with identified students that need extra assistance and intervention.
Reflection:
The first of December interventions and added teaching strategies were implemented for students that were identified during conferences that were struggling and/or below grade level. Interventions and strategies were supported by parents and school staff. I Challenged the Process (23) set achievable goals, made concrete plans and established measurable milestones for the project and programs that we work on - in our conferences we set goals with the parents of what we and them would do to help support their child that is struggling, (28) experiments and takes risks, even when there is a chance of failure, and (13) searched outside formal boundaries of his/her organization for innovative ways to improve what we do.
January 2015
Goal: Team meetings are useful and organized to be important for everyone's busy schedules.
Action Steps:
1. Team meetings schedule 3-4:30pm on Tuesdays.
2. Agenda is clear and given to members the morning of.
3. Email team and ask if there is anything specific they need on agenda to be discussed.
4. Want all team members to participate in all agenda items being discussed.
Reflection:
Following the above action steps has helped in our team meetings stay consistent with member attendance, member participation and meeting by- in. I really believe I have Enabled Others to Act in this Journal of Progress. I have noticed my team, including myself (4) develop cooperative relationships among the people we work with, (9) actively listen to diverse points of view, (14) treat each other with dignity and respect, and (19) support the decisions that people make on their own. Our meetings went from jumping all over the place to sticking to an agenda and getting things accomplished. It actually has also helped us get to know each other personally with friendships, not just colleagues.
February 2015
Goal: Appreciate my team members.
Action Steps:
1. Friendship Day February 12th
2. Email, text, give cards to my team members throughout the whole month of February.
Reflection:
I truly work with the best group of 5 teachers ever. They are not only my colleagues, but my friends. Throughout this year we have had to hire a new math teacher, had a former colleague step into the site coordinator position, and had other obstacles with new students attending our school that have extended IEP's. This has made it difficult for some of us to truly enjoy what we do and feel we are "losing our minds", but our support system is each other and that has definitely shined through this month.
It was my goal to make sure they knew from "ME" how much they meant. I frequently this month (5) praised them for a job well done and (30) gave lots of appreciation and support for their contributions.
March 2015
Goal: To work on my TLCA Capstone Project
Action Steps:
1. Designate a time to work on Capstone Project Website and Presentation
2. Add to my calendar a two hour window to work on my project the week of April 6-10th. at least 3 days of the week.
3. Step one: Work on the Evidence and Artifacts page
4. Step two: Continue to work on my weebly website and begin presentation assignment.
Reflection:
I definitely "challenged the process" (23) make certain that I set achievable goals, make concrete plans and establish milestones for my project. Setting aside a time on my calendar to notify me when I needed to work on my project was helpful. I was able to accomplish my action steps
#1-3. I will continue accomplish action step 4 next month.
April 2015
Goal: Capstone Project and Presentation
Action Steps:
1. Designate a time to work on Capstone Project Website and Presentation
2. Add to my calendar a two hour window to work on my project at least 2 days a week.
3. Step two (from March 2015 Journal of Progress): continue working on weebly website.
4. Capstone Project Presentation
Reflection:
This month I really wanted to focus on my Capstone Presentation. It was my goal to "challenge the process" (13) to search outside my formal boundaries for an innovative way to do my presentation and represent my data for my project. I "enabled others to act" in the way of ensuring I grew in my job by learning new skills and developing myself to demonstrating my project and data in new ways.
May 2015
Goal: Finish Capstone Project and Presentation
Action Steps:
1. Finish Capstone Project Website
2. Finish Capstone Presentation
3. Present Capstone Project/Presentation to the Capstone Panel on May 21st.
4. June 2015 Celebrate the completion of my Capstone Project and receive my Teacher Leadership Certification from RCOE.
Reflection:
It's hard to reflection on something a month ahead of time, but I look forward to the month of May. I have learned so much in the past 2 years in the TLCA class. I look forward to the future and being able to hold a position of teacher leadership that will demonstrate "Model the Way", "Inspire a Shared Vision", "Challenge the Process", Enable Others to Act", and "Encourage the Heart" to all my colleagues and team members I work with. To have the teacher leadership tools in my back pocket will help ensure the educational environment I am in will be successful and run cohesively with all teachers.
Goals: Communicate with parents more frequently on what's going on at school.
Action Steps:
1. Monthly Newsletter - on the first of the month email my monthly newsletter letting parents know what's going on in their students classes, school reminders and important dates. A hard copy of the newsletter will also go home on the first Thursday of each month and post my newsletter on my school website page.
2. Remind 101 - create a Remind 101 account for my 6th grade parents. Have parents sign up to receive quick reminder texts.
Reflection:
"Awesome newsletter! Love knowing all that the kids are working on and wanted to provide positive feedback about the homeschool projects too. I liked the many choices, and advanced noticed to plan. Thank you!" (quote from Jane Smith, parent email) I am so happy that my monthly newsletter and communication is receiving great feedback. This months goal was to work on Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process and Model the Way. I definitely feel that I am challenging myself to these frequent communication tools, setting a high standard for my peer teachers and demonstrating a shared vision for a positive partnership with parents.
October 2014
Goals: Create a simple way to organize 6th grade camp that is easier for myself and JCS.
Action Steps:
1. Create a camp spreadsheet that site secretaries and I can record student documents and medical information for 6th grade camp.
2. Distribute important 6th grade camp emails and documents to JCS sites and home study families.
3. Collect all documents and create cabins, study groups, and table assignments including chaperones.
4. Attend camp November 5-7th with no stress.
Reflection:
Camp went well. I had a record of students attending, 74 students and 11 chaperones. I definitely Challenged The Process with (3) seeking out challenging opportunities that test my own skills and abilities, (8) challenged people to try out new and innovative ways to do their job, (13) searched outside the formal boundaries of my organization for innovative ways to improve what we do. I also believed I Enabled Others to Act with (29) ensuring that people grow in their jobs by learning new skills and developing themselves. By creating a new online document that all sites, secretaries, teachers, home study EF's, and administrators could access and document important 6th grade camp information helped me succeed and work with others in gathering student documents and data from multiple sources.
November 2014
Goals: Parent Conferences
Action Steps:
1. Meet with team and collaborate which students we have concerns for.
2. Separate meeting days: Nov.19th conference day will be to meet with parents of students that are doing well, meeting standards. Nov. 20th conference day will be to meet with parents of students that we are concerned about and meet as a team. (all teachers with parents)
3. Provide parents data for Math and Language Arts.
Reflection:
Conferences went well. Conferences on November 19th were great to check in with parents and let them know how their child is doing. Conferences on November 20th were FANTASTIC. Each parent that we meet with collectively appreciated the time, effort, suggestions, and support. I believe I Inspired a Shared Vision (22) painting the "big picture" of what we aspire to accomplish for parents and their child as we discussed their child, Challenged the Process (23) we set achievable goals, made concrete plans and established measurable milestones for the project and programs that we work on - in our conferences we set goals with the parents of what we and them would do to help support their child that is struggling.
December 2014
Goals: Implement interventions that were discussed during parent/teacher conferences for students we are concerned about.
Action Steps:
1. Implement strategies for parents to do at home with their students. Have a weekly communication with parents if the strategies are working or not.
2. Begin reading intervention group at school with selected identified students every Wednesday.
3. During daily SSR (silent sustained reading) work with identified students that need extra assistance and intervention.
Reflection:
The first of December interventions and added teaching strategies were implemented for students that were identified during conferences that were struggling and/or below grade level. Interventions and strategies were supported by parents and school staff. I Challenged the Process (23) set achievable goals, made concrete plans and established measurable milestones for the project and programs that we work on - in our conferences we set goals with the parents of what we and them would do to help support their child that is struggling, (28) experiments and takes risks, even when there is a chance of failure, and (13) searched outside formal boundaries of his/her organization for innovative ways to improve what we do.
January 2015
Goal: Team meetings are useful and organized to be important for everyone's busy schedules.
Action Steps:
1. Team meetings schedule 3-4:30pm on Tuesdays.
2. Agenda is clear and given to members the morning of.
3. Email team and ask if there is anything specific they need on agenda to be discussed.
4. Want all team members to participate in all agenda items being discussed.
Reflection:
Following the above action steps has helped in our team meetings stay consistent with member attendance, member participation and meeting by- in. I really believe I have Enabled Others to Act in this Journal of Progress. I have noticed my team, including myself (4) develop cooperative relationships among the people we work with, (9) actively listen to diverse points of view, (14) treat each other with dignity and respect, and (19) support the decisions that people make on their own. Our meetings went from jumping all over the place to sticking to an agenda and getting things accomplished. It actually has also helped us get to know each other personally with friendships, not just colleagues.
February 2015
Goal: Appreciate my team members.
Action Steps:
1. Friendship Day February 12th
2. Email, text, give cards to my team members throughout the whole month of February.
Reflection:
I truly work with the best group of 5 teachers ever. They are not only my colleagues, but my friends. Throughout this year we have had to hire a new math teacher, had a former colleague step into the site coordinator position, and had other obstacles with new students attending our school that have extended IEP's. This has made it difficult for some of us to truly enjoy what we do and feel we are "losing our minds", but our support system is each other and that has definitely shined through this month.
It was my goal to make sure they knew from "ME" how much they meant. I frequently this month (5) praised them for a job well done and (30) gave lots of appreciation and support for their contributions.
March 2015
Goal: To work on my TLCA Capstone Project
Action Steps:
1. Designate a time to work on Capstone Project Website and Presentation
2. Add to my calendar a two hour window to work on my project the week of April 6-10th. at least 3 days of the week.
3. Step one: Work on the Evidence and Artifacts page
4. Step two: Continue to work on my weebly website and begin presentation assignment.
Reflection:
I definitely "challenged the process" (23) make certain that I set achievable goals, make concrete plans and establish milestones for my project. Setting aside a time on my calendar to notify me when I needed to work on my project was helpful. I was able to accomplish my action steps
#1-3. I will continue accomplish action step 4 next month.
April 2015
Goal: Capstone Project and Presentation
Action Steps:
1. Designate a time to work on Capstone Project Website and Presentation
2. Add to my calendar a two hour window to work on my project at least 2 days a week.
3. Step two (from March 2015 Journal of Progress): continue working on weebly website.
4. Capstone Project Presentation
Reflection:
This month I really wanted to focus on my Capstone Presentation. It was my goal to "challenge the process" (13) to search outside my formal boundaries for an innovative way to do my presentation and represent my data for my project. I "enabled others to act" in the way of ensuring I grew in my job by learning new skills and developing myself to demonstrating my project and data in new ways.
May 2015
Goal: Finish Capstone Project and Presentation
Action Steps:
1. Finish Capstone Project Website
2. Finish Capstone Presentation
3. Present Capstone Project/Presentation to the Capstone Panel on May 21st.
4. June 2015 Celebrate the completion of my Capstone Project and receive my Teacher Leadership Certification from RCOE.
Reflection:
It's hard to reflection on something a month ahead of time, but I look forward to the month of May. I have learned so much in the past 2 years in the TLCA class. I look forward to the future and being able to hold a position of teacher leadership that will demonstrate "Model the Way", "Inspire a Shared Vision", "Challenge the Process", Enable Others to Act", and "Encourage the Heart" to all my colleagues and team members I work with. To have the teacher leadership tools in my back pocket will help ensure the educational environment I am in will be successful and run cohesively with all teachers.