Prompt: Am I a professional? What are my personal actions that demonstrate this? What sets me apart from the peers at my school? Do I hold myself to a higher standard? We can always improve, what can I do to improve my professionalism?
I am a professional. I have to be. The two definitions of 'professional' that I have adopted from the interpretations of others are: "someone who is able to teach their art or skill" and "someone who continues to implement best practices and develop mastery within their own field." Teaching, in my opinion, is the epitome of a profession. As far as my actions are concerned, I've continued to implement different teaching techniques and strategies into my classroom based on their effectiveness from studies and observations. I participate in ongoing professional development and contribute to new programs and ideas at the school.
What sets me apart from the peers at my school is mostly my age. I don't like the idea of setting myself apart from my peers. That mindset breeds partisanship. For an effective professional learning community to occur, teachers should not work in isolation. Rather, we should be working as a team to ensure that all students are receiving adequate support and time to master material. Do I hold myself to a higher standard? All the time. It is the driving force of improvement. What can I do to improve? Always accept opportunities to be observed and take constructive feedback often. I learn most when I receive suggestions and recommendations from others. I feel like collaboration, coupled with self-guided active learning (i.e. testing new techniques in the classroom) will make me a better professional. It's probably the professional thing to do.
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