Find Your Path to Teaching Well

Our school is filled with student/teacher high achievers, and that kind of environment often presents the problem and opportunity of more to do than time to do it. For example there are more committees, learning events, and activities than any one person can take part in. That means that prioritization is essential.

This positive problem demands continual review in order to make sure that the many, many opportunities available are positive and enriching, and the time we give to those events is well planned, organized, and implemented. As an educator it's important to sign on to the events where you will be able to contribute, collaborate, and develop too.

As I work to go deeper with my work this year, I'm also prioritizing more with less objectives so that I can meet those objectives with greater strength. I know that if I stretch myself too thin, I will not be able to achieve the depth of teaching or student care and attention that I am focused on this year.

Student care and attention will include the following activities:

• focused, detailed attention to formal and informal data to lead good teaching forward
• extra help times to provide individual children with the support they need
• tailored learning experiences and events that are mostly engaging and empowering
• attention to growth mindset, learning-to-learn behaviors/attitudes, social-emotional learning, and academic strategies/supports
• culturally proficient teaching/learning with sensitive regard to every child's individual traits, interests, cultures, and traditions. 

Curriculum growth and development in math and science also demands considerable time this year. There is great opportunity to develop the work I do in both areas to meet new research and standards. 

The third area of greatest commitment is the work I do with the broader grade-level team to develop our team approach to teaching all fifth graders with care. We have a great team and our teamwork is successful. Our continued collective attention to this teamwork will continue to have a positive effect. 

I will judge success this year with the following criteria:

• happy, invested, kind and developing students
• an engaging, empowering, and successful math program
• a hands-on, engaging, empowering science program
• successful grade-level teamwork to serve all students and families well
• culturally proficient teaching/learning

This is a good set of goals--a set that continues to pave the way to betterment with teaching and learning.