InTASC #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
InTASC Standard #9 emphasizes the importance of continuous growth as a teacher. Teachers should stay committed to learning new strategies, ideas, and tools—both inside and outside the classroom. Professional learning helps teachers improve their practice, understand the impact they have on their students and colleagues, and maintain ethical behavior in all aspects of their work.
As educators, reflecting on our teaching and seeking ways to improve is vital. This practice allows us to better meet the needs of our students and keep growing in our profession. Teachers also have a responsibility to stay informed about changes in education and best practices to create the best learning environment possible.
Below are three examples of how I focused on professional learning and ethical practice during my student teaching.
Artifact #1: Online Journaling and Self-Reflection
One way I made sure I was growing as an educator was through regular self-reflection. I used online journaling to reflect on my lessons, strategies, and interactions with students. This helped me to process my teaching practices, understand what worked well, and identify areas for improvement. Through this reflection, I was able to adjust my lessons and better meet my students’ needs. It also helped me consider how I was impacting my classroom environment and the overall learning experience.
Artifact #2: Seeking Feedback and Collaboration with Colleagues
While I didn’t formally enroll in professional development courses, I took the opportunity to learn from my colleagues and mentor teachers. I sought feedback on my teaching and discussed various strategies with other educators. Collaborating with others helped me refine my approach and gave me new perspectives on how to handle classroom challenges. I also made it a point to observe my colleagues’ teaching practices, which gave me valuable insights into their methods and how I could incorporate some of their ideas into my own teaching.
Artifact #3: Reading Education Blogs and Articles
I regularly read blogs like Cult of Pedagogy to stay updated on the latest educational trends and ideas. This helped me discover fresh strategies, gain insights on classroom management, and learn about new tools for student engagement. Reading articles and blogs allowed me to stay current in my field and provided ideas I could try in my own lessons. I also appreciated the opportunity to connect with a larger community of educators online and collaborate by discussing various teaching strategies and challenges.
