Professional Growth Plan Final Report (EDUC 429)

PART 1 –

Professional Growth Plan – Part 1

1a. What data did you review to guide the development of your professional learning goal (e.g.
reflections on teaching, teaching observations, mid-program evaluations, student feedback)?

- The data that I am using to guide the development of my professional learning goal is personal
reflections on teachings, Danielson C assessments from Dr. Parks, Dr. Ankeny, and my CT. I am also
using feedback given to me in “conference” form or verbally from Dr. Parks and my CT.

1b. What do the data tell you? Describe your areas of strengths and weaknesses based on the data collected
above.

- The data tells me that I struggle in Danielson 3b- The data shows that I have a few HOTs questions but
tend to ask questions at a lower level and that I need to figure out how to introduce more higher-level
questioning. This is based off of based on feedback from Dr. Parks and my CT. The data tells me that
my strength is Danielson 2b and 3d- The data tells me that I have positive, interactions with students and
that I encourage student participation in a positive manner. It also shows that I give rubrics and
communicate assessment expectations in an effective way and that I give feedback in a timely manner.
This is based off of based on feedback given to me on Danielson form C and verbal feedback from Dr.
Parks and my CT.

2. Using the information from question 1, what is your focus area (write both the Danielson domain and the
component that you have identified as having the greatest potential for increasing student learning below)?
Remember to choose from Domains 2 and 3.

Domain:3- Instruction

Component: B- Using questioning and discussion techniques

3. What goal will enable you to strengthen your practice (write your goal statement using the Danielson
Framework language)?

- My goal is to enhance my ability to use more effective questioning and discussion techniques to support
critical thinking and reasoning.

4. Describe what will you do to build professional background knowledge related to the domain and
component that you have selected in order for you to achieve your goal (e.g. what articles/books will you
read, what Internet resources will you use, what workshops will you attend, will you interview or observe
teachers)? Describe four specific professional development activities.

1. In order to build knowledge, I will attend any workshops provided to enhance my ability to help
students learn in a deeper and more meaningful way.
 2. I will read books about Social Emotional Learning and being Culturally aware in order to provide a
safe and welcoming environment. For example, the book “Teaching with a Social Emotional and Cultural
Lens” by Nancy Lourié Markowitz.

3. I will interview/observe my CTs that I am placed with to get a better understanding of effective
practices that they use in the classroom.

4. I will also continue to practice my teaching and using any feedback given in order to adjust and grow
as a teacher.

5. What activities/actions will you implement to help attain your goal (e.g. administer a student interest
inventory, develop lessons that include multiple project options for students, include the use of formative
assessments during instruction, video tape and critique one’s practice, establish procedures for the
distribution and collection of materials and supplies)? How will these help you attain your goal? Describe
three specific activities based on current professional background knowledge related to your goal (this
section will be updated during student teaching as you continue to build your professional background
knowledge described in question 4).

In order to attain my goal

1. I will make sure that I am knowledgeable in my content so that I am able to come up with higher
level questioning and activities with ease. I will provide at least 3 higher order questions in each
lesson plan.
2. I will ask my cooperating teacher for tips and advice on my questioning and discussion techniques in
order to improve in the future.
3. I will also be sure to ask my cooperating teacher my students’ levels on the topic that I am teaching
so I know which students need what questions. I will ask open ended questions to allow for student
thinking.

6. How will you collaborate with other professionals to meet your goal?

To meet my goal, I will keep in contact with my current cooperating teacher. I will use my professors as
resources when I am unsure or unaware and need to ask questions. I will communicate with my peers to
hear their ideas and take any advice they would be willing to give me.

7. What evidence/artifacts will you collect to demonstrate that your goal is being met? List three specific
evidence/artifacts you will collect.

In order to show that my goal is being met,

1. I will discuss with my CT about where I am at in my journey of success with this goal and use my
Assessment C’s from my cooperating teacher/
2. I will also discuss with my supervising professor where they believe I am at on this journey for reach
this goal and use my Assessment C’s from my supervisor.
3. I will also use personal reflection based on my previous and future teachings to compare where I am at
in reaching this goal.
PART 2

1. What did you do to build your professional background knowledge related to the domain and component
you selected? Did you add any new professional learning opportunities during your internship?
Describe four specific articles, books, webinars, podcasts, etc. that helped build your professional
background knowledge.

a. I read “How to Increase Higher Order Thinking” by Alice Thomas and Glenda Thorne to help enhance
my knowledge of higher order thinking questions.
b. I read the article “Discussion Techniques” by Washington University in St. Louis Center for Teaching
and Learning which gives different discussion technique ideas to implement in the classroom.
c. I have been listening to “Hack Learning” podcast which gives teachers solutions and tips to implement
in their classroom.
d. The Cult of Pedagogy has a podcast episode specifically for discussion techniques for teachers. It is
called “The Big List of Class Discussion Techniques”. This podcast gave high prep discussion
techniques and low prep techniques.

2. What specific activities/actions did you implement to help attain your goal? Describe at least four
specific activities. Connect each activity to a reading, webinar, podcast, etc. listed in question 1.

Activity 1: An example of an activity I have done is called a picture is worth a thousand words. This is where I
have my students create a visual representation of what we are learning. For example, making a visual
representation of a plant life cycle.

Activity 2: An example from my second article is think-pair-share which is when I ask students a
question, then direct them to first think and write notes on their own for 30 seconds to a minute, then discuss
their answers with a partner for 3-5 minutes, then present their ideas to group.

Activity 3: Something that I have been working on is understanding why students answer I don’t know and
trying to find the root cause of the I don’t know. Do they really not now or is there something bigger.

Activity 4: An activity I have done from the Cult of Pedagogy is the Hot Seat. We did this in small groups when
reading Goldilocks on Trial. A way we used this was one student in the small group took the role of Goldilocks
and the other students asked her questions that would help them develop understanding of the story. Goldilocks
had to stay in character. It made it so both the student in the role had to think deeper about the character but the
students asking had to think deep to come up with the questions.

3. Did you meet your intended goal? Why or why not?

I believe I met my intended goal. I developed my questioning and discussion techniques. There is room
to continue to improve and grow but I have made growth. I tried new techniques and found out what
worked for my group of students and myself.
 Describe the evidence and artifacts that demonstrate the professional learning goal was met (include at
least 5 descriptions of evidence). Two pieces of evidence must be the focused observations by your
cooperating teacher in your selected area of growth (attach the feedback provided by your cooperating
teacher). Label and describe each piece of evidence and explain why each piece helps meet your
intended goal. Attach the artifacts to the end of the report.

Artifact 1: Professional Growth Plan Teacher Observation 1- My first PGP observation was a
ELA whole group lesson. I used a discussion technique where I posted questions around the
room and partnered the students up prior to the lesson. They found their partner and went to a
question with 4 or less people and discussed the answer to each question together. To make sure
students were on task I monitored students as they went around the room and joined in on
conversations. This helped me meet my goal because it was a new discussion and questioning
techniques.

Artifact 2: Professional Growth Plan Teacher Observation 2- My second PGP observation was in
science lesson. I used discussion techniques like think pair share and pulling sticks to choose
who got to share. I also used open ended questioning, asking students to predict and drawing and
labeling the parts of the lima bean.

Artifact 3: Danielson assessment C (CT) #2- On my second Danielson done by my cooperating

teacher I scored a 3 under using questioning and discussion techniques. My cooperating teacher
pointed out that I used higher order thinking questions and partner discussions. This shows that I
am working towards my intended goal because it is showing growth from my first Danielson
assessment C done by her. It shows that effort is being made to improve my abilities.

Artifact 4: Danielson assessment C (supervisor) #3- On my third observation done by my

supervisor I scored a 2 in questioning and discussion techniques. The comments showed that
there was an attempt at higher level thinking questions, but I still had room to grow. I think this
shows that I’m working toward my intended goal, and I am attempting to implement higher order
thinking into my lessons.

Artifact 5: Danielson Mid Program Assessment- My mid program assessment was completed by
my cooperating teacher. She scored me an overall 2 in discussion and questioning techniques.
She points out that I attempt to ask higher order thinking questions. She also points out that I
should continue to use popsicle sticks to call on students, so I do not have students dominating
discussion and table talk to promote student collaboration. This shows that I implement
discussion techniques and attempt to promote student thinking.

4. How did you collaborate with other professionals to meet your goal?

I collaborated with other professionals like my current and past cooperating teachers. I still stay in
contact with my past CT and contact her often for new ideas for discussion techniques. I have asked for
resources from my supervisors of higher order thinking stems and question starters. I came together with
my current cooperating teacher to come up with new ideas for discussion techniques and questions that
would work for our specific group of students.

5. What new learning did you acquire as a result of the professional learning opportunities in which you
engaged?
 I learned new discussion and questioning techniques. I learned that it’s important to find the root behind
students’ answers or when they say they don’t know and to offer them high support. It is also important
to dig deeper into students’ knowledge and try new things to keep students engaged and wanting to
learn.

6. What impact did the changes in instructional practice have on you as a professional?

This impacted my confidence in the classroom. It helped me better understand my group of students and
teach with patience. It helped me have better techniques so that I have more accurate data to help drive
my instruction,

7. What impact did the changes in instructional practice have on your students’ learning?

My changes impacted my students learning in a positive way. We started doing more collaborative
learning. We started doing more hands on and up and moving techniques to discuss what we have
learned. For my group of students this was super important because they learn better and are more
engaged when they can be up and moving around during the lessons.

8. How will you continue to develop in this area?

I will continue to develop in this area by asking questions to my mentor teacher that I am assigned to in
my future job. I will attend professional development that involves questioning and discussion
techniques. I will continue to reach out to past cooperating teachers and professors when I need help or
ideas. I will also utilize the research of others and what worked for their students.