A2: Looking Forward My Professional Development Plan

Assignment 2 Looking Forward

My Professional Development Plan
Ashley Baclaan
National University
November 6, 2016

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for

TED 690Capstone Course
Professor Youlin Aissa

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Abstract
In this paper, I will outline my goals as a teacher, for the next five years. With these
goals, I will create a timeline of professional development opportunities that I can use to help
fulfill them. The main goals that I want to achieve, as I move forward with my teaching
profession are: learning strategies in teaching mathematics, effective lesson planning, improving
ways of instruction for English Language Learners (ELL), classroom management skills, and
expanding teaching opportunities.

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My Goals
Having almost a full year of teaching under my belt, there are several things that I want to
focus on early on, so I can be as effective and impacting as possible. My five goals that I would
like to focus on within the next five years are:
1. Learning strategies for teaching mathematics.
2. Effective lesson planning.
3. Improving ways of instructions for ELL students.
4. Classroom management skills.
5. Expanding teaching opportunities.
These goals I have set as a main focus for myself, especially in these beginning years of teaching
because if I can find the best practices to fit my style in the classroom, it will help give me a
good foundation in teaching students effectively.

Rationale and Resources for My Goals

Learning Strategies for Teaching Mathematics
For many students, math is not a favorite subject. Students get easily discouraged for
the fact that math consists of equations and steps while solving for letters (variables). Although
math is its own language in itself, I want to be able to translate the process into something
relatable for the students. I think most students are intimidated of math and its concepts because
they do not see how it will relate to them in their future. I think if I can make a better connection
of how they view math and its concepts to their daily lives, then it can change their mind set on
the course. In order to succeed in mathematic courses, a students mind has to be persistent and
creative.

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As a resource, math development meetings and communication with other teachers are
my top go-to areas for new ideas. I think the best learning comes from experiences, and to learn
from veteran teachers (not just in the subject of math, but all subject teachers) are good resources
in learning teaching strategies. By knowing more of how students react and perform to different
areas of learning, will help in setting up different learning cues of teaching.

Effective Lesson Planning

It would be difficult to go into a new learning day without anything planned. I know that
with math, there are many different skills and approaches in teaching mathematical concepts.
From years in attending math class as a student, I have seen many approaches such as daily
warm-ups, games, direct lecture, word problems only, etc. I would like to find a structure that is
organized and well planned, that I can follow as a basis for teaching math.
Through the years of experience that I have had with students and education (from
coaching, AVID tutoring, substitute teaching, and teaching my own classes) I have found that a
clear outline set for a days lesson is a good approach in creating lessons. By keeping it basic and
to the point (brief intro of content, core lecture, then practice) helps bring routine to the students
as well as space for creativity. As another resource, the math department is taking to a lesson
study approach; in which we will create lessons, practice teaching the lesson, and gather data on
the students knowledge of what they learned. Professional development time is where I can take
note of new and different approaches to learning and teaching.

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Improving Ways of Instruction for ELL Students

The school that I currently teach at has quite an amount of ELL students. In my classes
there are a few students who has English as their second language. Fortunate enough, majority of
the students at the school are of Hispanic decent, and which many of the students know how to
speak Spanish. What I do in helping the ELL students is pairing them near mathematically strong
students who can also speak Spanish. This helps in getting the ELL students someone near to
translate any misunderstandings within lecture or if I am busy attending to another student.
Besides relying on other students to translate information, I would like to find other ways of
teaching and connecting with ELL students.
Currently when teaching math, besides lecture and using the help of other students for
communication, more active learning may help with teaching ELL students. I have seen teachers
using graphic organizers as a tool and implementing technology as a supplement for learning. I
like the idea of technology use because todays generation of students is becoming more
technology savvy at young ages. There are technology professional development sessions that
are offered, this may be an option if time permits.

Classroom Management Skills

The ratio of students to one teacher in a class can be quite overwhelming sometimes. So
far this school year, the most I have in a class is 41 students. This is quite a bit when dealing with
that many different personalities and learning styles. Although it can be overpowering, I manage
by having to separate the strong personalities throughout the room, to help limit possible
distractions. With such class sizes, I would like to learn other ways of managing a room of
students to help the environment be more focused and approachable. I believe most the time, it

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does take the student to be independently cautious of his or her own actions and well-being; but
as the teacher, for the students who have yet to find such a responsible balance in their learning
environments, I would like to learn more ways of positively impacting behavior.
For classroom management, I have read several pieces on strategies in keeping students
in order in their learning environment, throughout my credential courses. A recent website that I
have been introduced to is Lynda.com. This website consists of thousands of video tutorials for
all kinds of subjects and topics. As Ive searched through, there are many tutorial videos for
classroom management that I can refer too; even videos on managing technology in the
classroom. This can be a great, easily accessible resource for this specific goal of classroom
management.

Expanding Teaching Opportunities

Currently, my credential that I have studied toward is for foundational math (Algebra and
Geometry). I like teaching beginning math courses because I think in order to succeed in the
higher-level math classes; a student has to have a good foundation with the basics. I like the
repetition in foundations of math because you learn the meaning I have many interests in the
math and science field, as I did major in engineering for my undergraduate degree. I would like
to look into expanding my certifications in teaching with other subject areas. I recently got
certified in introductory engineering coursework, and hopefully soon, can get certification in
teaching physics.
As I am currently teaching the subjects of math, engineering, and AVID, there are several
certifications that I may look towards in the near future. Physics certification; besides using
study material to learn and review from, I have found the Khan Academy website to have useful

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video tutorials. I have recommended Khan Academy to many of my students as a resource, and
now I found that it could be a resource for myself. Also, summer training opportunities would be
a good resource in expanding my teaching opportunities.

My Goals Timeline
2016-2017 School Year:
Goal Effective Lesson Planning
Resource Professional development time in learning lesson study approach.
This can help me create a basis for daily lectures; a structure that I can use to create
additional learning activities around.
2017-2018 School Year:
Goal Classroom Management Skills
Resource watch and read into different classroom management online resources.
This can help me develop a plan to outline and implement in the new school year with a
new group of students and classes.
2018-2019 School Year:
Goal Learning Strategies for Teaching Mathematics/ELL Students
Resource Through a couple years of experience in the classroom, I would hope to be
able to develop additional learning activities/approaches to benefit all students. Still
utilizing professional development time and trainings.

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2019-2020 School Year:

Goal Learning Strategies for Teaching Mathematics/ELL Students
Resource Learning to perfect my craft in this area, continue attendance in professional
development opportunities and using experience and guidance from other teachers. Also,
using the video references in Lynda.com website.
2020-2021 School Year:
Goal Expanding Teaching Opportunities
Resource Utilizing study materials and online tutorials such as the Khan Academy
website for referencing in preparing for California Subject Exams (CSET) and other
credentialing opportunities.

By the end of my first five full years of teaching, I would hope to be more set in ways of
knowing how to effectively help students learn not just within my subject of teaching, but as an
overall student. I would also hope to keep a learning mind for myself, as I do not want to just
settle in what feels comfortable, but to learn to adapt and find new ways of teaching.