Amherst County Mentor Program for Professional Growth

1. Amherst County’ Mentor ProgramLinks To The FutureAdministrator’s MeetingApril 24, 2008

2. It’s all about Examining Practice. Set Professional Goals Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Review Progress Toward Professional Goals

3. Setting Goals

4. Goal Setting WHY? • To develop a year-long focus for professional growth, based upon teaching and content standards • To reflect and set appropriate steps for meeting specific goals • To impact the quality of their classroom performance and their professional success

5. Goal Setting TOOLS: • Continuum of Teacher Development • Self-Assessment Summary • Individual Learning Plan • Mid-Year Review • Professional Growth Reflections • Collaborative Assessment Logs

6. Goal Setting PROCESS: • Reflect on instructional practice • Self-assess using VA Professional Teaching Standards • Summarize strengths and areas for growth • Develop an Individual Learning Plan to reach the desired outcomes

9. Reviewing Progress at Mid-Year WHY? • Celebrate accomplishments • Shift focus from management and basic issues, to curriculum and student learning issues • Re-examine and refine the Individual Learning Plan to keep goals current, relevant, and objective

10. Reviewing Progress at Mid-Year PROCESS: • Review Individual Learning Plan • Reflect on general process • Summarize growth, revise goals, and plan next steps

12. Reflecting on Professional Growth WHY? • Reflect on and celebrate progress toward meeting professional goals • Articulate knowledge of teaching profession • Recognize that reflective teaching impacts professional growth and student achievement • Provide evidence to guide planning for the upcoming year

13. Reflecting on Professional Growth Process: • Reassess on the Continuum of Teacher Development • Review Individual Learning Plan and Mid-Year Review • Examine multiple sources of evidence • Celebrate successes, identify significant decisions, plan next steps

15. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

16. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

17. Assembling a Class Profile • Beginning teachers identify the diverse learning needs of their students. • Determine flexible student groups for instructional purposes.

18. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

19. Exploring School and Community Resources Through Exploring school and community resources, beginning teachers new to a site or district will develop a better understanding of the schools and communities in which they teach as well as the specific programs and teaching resources that support their work. • Identify School Resources • Discuss School Designations • Explore Community Resources

20. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

21. Set Professional Goals

22. Through setting professional goals beginning teachers will develop a year-long focus for professional growth based upon teaching and content standards. • Review the district goal-setting requirements: • Reflect on evidence of practice: • Mentors help teachers self-assess on the continuum of teacher development.

23. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

24. Communicate With Parents • Review Student Information • Analyze Academic Progress • Plan the Conversation • Role Play the Conversation • Bring Closure • Follow-up Reflection

25. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

26. Plan Lessons • Identify Desired Outcomes • “unpacking the standards” • KUD • Determine Evidence of Learning • Pre-assessment • Post-assessment • Plan the Lesson • Bring Closure: New teachers often overlook the need to bring closure to a lesson.

27. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

28. Review Progress Toward Professional Goals

29. Observation with building administrator has taken place; this can be an appropriate bridge for mentor assistance. • Mid year we meet with our new teachers again to reflect on their progress • Continuum is brought out again and used to guide the conversation.

30. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

31. Conducting Classroom Observations • Purpose is to Improve Planning and Delivery of Instruction • Provides Data on an Area of Focus • Helps Prepare for Formal Observations • Tools Provided – Both Teachers Keep a Copy • Steps in the Process • Plan Observation- Collaborative Assessment Log • Select Observation tool • Collect Data • Reflect on Lesson and Analyze Data • Identify Implications for Practice

32. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

33. Analyzing Student Work • Helps develop specific assessment criteria • Identifies specific student learning needs • Leads to grouping for differentiation of instruction • Teacher may see progress in the area of differentiation in the Continuum • Tools are provided to make the task easier

34. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons

35. Reflect OnProfessional Growth

36. Self assessment is built into the tools • Tools are correlated with the Virginia Teacher Evaluation Criteria and performance indicators • Provides data for analysis • Provides evidence of teacher’s practice

37. Explore School & Community Resources Understanding Context Set Professional Goals Assemble Class Profile Reflect On Professional Growth Examining Practice Analyze Student Work Communicate With Parents Review Progress Toward Professional Goals Conduct Classroom Observations Plan Lessons