My Goals Then and Now…

 

Before I began my Graduate Course work at Michigan State University back in January of 2015, I had written an essay containing the goals I had in mind when completing the program. I knew I wanted to further my professional background with studies in literacy, but I hadn’t any clue on how I would do it. I had written out a few goals that I had for myself in hopes that it would lead me in the right direction and keep me on track for enhancing my teaching skills in helping children to succeed in the areas of literacy.

 

Initially a few of my goals were the following:

 

• To reach all learners

• Help students to successfully develop/acquire their language arts skills at the start of their educational experience (Kindergarten)

• To reach my potential and to be the best educator that I can be for the sake of my students in order for them to have the best education that I could offer them

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Currently my goals are to:

 

• Create a learning environment where all students can learn by tweaking my lessons to make sure I cater to all learning styles and learning abilities.

• Be encouraging to the students at all times. Celebrate the small and big successes while they develop different literacy skills and techniques in a safe and learning environment.

• Continue to grow professionally by 1) continuing my teacher education by attending professional developments or always searching for pedagogy practices that are successful in the classroom 2) to embrace change, and 3) to accept that there is more than one way to learn a concept.

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I can say that my goals are pretty much still the same, but with more of a meaning and passion behind it. I still want to be able to reach all learners. I had to really ask myself what does “all learners” mean. When I say that I want to reach all learners, I’m saying that all children can learn. All children whether diagnosed with a learning, emotional, physical, or cognitive disability or those that are completely “normal” can learn something. I can help all my students by making accommodations or modifications to the lessons, by differentiating my teaching style and learning centers include avenues for all visual, auditory, or sensory learners, or maybe just by having some students to receive one on one sessions with the teacher and resource professionals. Whatever the case may be, all students can learn when given the opportunity to succeed. Therefore, my new goal has the same concept as the first initial goal, but I have defined what all learners mean and how I would achieve that.

 

The second initial goal of mine was to help students successfully acquire/develop their language arts skills in Kindergarten. In Kindergarten students are learning a plethora of things, such as, letters and numbers, writing, reading, math, science, social studies, and so much more but all of it surrounding print. Print comes in many forms letter, numbers, words, shapes, pictures, and etc. The acquisition of print is developed in stages. It is my job as a Kindergarten teacher to make sure that most, if not all (depending on a student’s learner profile) knows all there is to know literacy according to state standards for that grade level. Therefore, my new goal states that I will celebrate big and small successes. I changed the second goal to focus more on supporting the student rather than just focusing on successfully acquiring language arts skills. Of course I want them to learn ELA skills and techniques, but first I must gain their trust. I must first make sure to create a safe, learning environment where my students feel confident, valued, and free to express themselves. By celebrating their small and big successes from the start of Kindergarten, I can gain their trust and friendship. Our teacher – student relationship can grow into a healthy one where the student is motivated to learn on their own with the support of their teacher.

 

The last goal I initially had for my Master’s program was to reach my potential and to be the best educator that I could be. To me that meant that I had to do what was necessary to make sure my students learned something everyday. I needed to create lesson plans that allowed students to reach their learning target after every lesson. I needed to create learning centers where students were engaged in active learning. I needed to make sure whatever I taught was being understood by all students and not just a select few. I have to continuously ask myself, “Did students have a clear understanding of what I was saying or understand what I was asking them to do?” If my students understood, I could allow them to go forth and complete the practice on their own. If not, then I would have to make sure to restate the target of the lesson and the directions, and always have a demonstration for my visual learners!!! My new last goal explains how I will grow professionally. I want to be able to embrace changes in the curriculum by using literacy programs that actually work for our new generation of learners. I also need to be able to teach my lessons in more than one way since there is more than one way to learn a concept. Lastly, my move to Texas this summer will help me to grow professionally by embracing new pedagogy practices different from those I learned in Michigan.