lae.org Instructional Advocacy New Teacher Guide

Professional Development

Personal Growth

Growing as a professional not only makes our job more enjoyable, it also enhances student learning. As students and their world are constantly changing, teachers are challenged to keep pace and develop new strategies and techniques. Therefore, it is essential for you to be aware of and take advantage of professional development opportunities. Some suggestions to help you keep current with these opportunities are:

1. Become aware of professional organizations in your discipline or area of interest. Membership benefits usually include regular publications and staff development conferences. If you are not familiar with these organizations, ask your more experienced colleagues.
2. Familiarize yourself with professional journals.
3. Check your building/district professional library.
4. Begin license renewal immediately.
5. Find out about free or low cost professional development opportunities provided to you by your local association, LAE, NEA, and the Louisiana Department of Education.

Collaboration

Early in your professional career, try to develop the perspective that teaching is a cooperative and collaborative undertaking. Be willing to ask questions and to exchange ideas with other teachers. It is advantageous for you to seek out a professional colleague who has a similar teaching assignment and use this handbook with him or her. This person should be an experienced, effective teacher who communicates well and is willing to share knowledge and insights with you. Your school district has a New Teacher Mentor Program in place. They will assign a mentor teacher in the first few weeks of school. Be sure to utilize this valuable opportunity to work with another teacher. Some topics you might consider addressing are:

1. Behavior Management.
2. Time Management.
3. Working with Parents.
4. Developing Your Own Teaching Style.

Reflection

Teaching is a profession filled with beginnings and endings; teachers begin and end school years, semesters, grading periods, units of study, chapters, and vacation periods. In the lives of teachers, there are opportune moments which can and should be used for both reflection and for planning. Unfortunately, the pressures to plan may frequently outweigh the tendency to reflect on past practice. Yet, appropriate planning can occur with reflection as a backdrop. Reflection can take a variety of forms: personal journal, weekly observation forms, professional dialogue with other teachers. Some suggested questions for reflection are:

1. What has been successful?
2. What would you like to have done differently?
3. What would you like to try?
4. What encourages you?
5. Do students enjoy coming to your classroom to learn?
6. What is your relationship with your students?
7. What is your relationship with your students’ parents?
8. Are students successful in your classroom?