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STUDENT GROWTH

In conjunction with analyzing a teacher's effectiveness based on their professional growth, an indicator of a truly transformational educator is a look at the growth of their students. In order to demonstrate student growth in terms of the whole child rather than just academic, it is imperative for educators to not only provide quality instruction, but also a variety of strategic and meaningful practices, resources, and opportunities. Below are the four sections that demonstrate my application of that idea in my classroom. 

Access

 

 

Providing students with access to opportunities that they would not otherwise have been exposed to is a salient difference between a classroom teacher and a truly transformational educator. In providing my students with many opportunities to access  people, activities, and resources throughout their community, I am facilitating academic and individual growth among my students that will inevitably lead to their academic and personal growth into successful members of society. 

Habits & Mindset

Although not seen throughout society as traditionally academic, Habits and Mindsets are imperative in transforming my students from learners within school to learners of life. Where English Language Arts teaches comprehension and fluency; where Mathematics teaches computation and operations; Habits and Mindset instruction teaches students the critical thinking to make connections between these skills and real world problems that they will inevitably face after graduation. If teaching the traditional academic subjects exposes students to the "what" of a problem, a curriculum with a focus on Habits and Mindset provides students with a "why" and "how"  to that problem. Exposing my students to this thinking early and often will ensure their success in solving problems in creative and new ways to impact positive change within our ever changing society.

Advocacy

 

 

Promoting advocacy within the classroom will ensure that my students go forward into their future academic and personal endeavors armed with skills and strategies that will ensure they are successful in whatever definition of success that they strive towards. By exposing my students to discussions about what advocacy is in conjunction with real - world practice in advocating for themselves, I am ensuring that they are able to seek out and grasp any resources that they need throughout their educational career and beyond. 

Dramatic Growth

In conjunction with promoting student progress in terms of their access, self advocacy, and mental and emotional well-being, one of the most important charges of an educator is facilitating dramatic academic growth. By consistently and strategically planning, implementing, and reflecting upon my own instruction in the classroom, I am providing students with the skills, strategies, and understandings that will facilitate their academic success later in life. Just as important as my implementation of those practices, however, is my ability to meaningfully dive into data throughout the course of the year in order to inform my own best practices within the classroom. Recognizing and analyzing dramatic academic growth within my students will provide me with a road map of where my students started, what they've achieved, what I have done to facilitate that progress, and how I can impact further success for all students. 

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By implementing a variety of instructional strategies, resources, and activities, I consistently provide my students with the necessary content knowledge, practice, and relevant real-world understandings that will ensure their success in future academics as well as life beyond school. My students have been exposed to incredible out-of-the-box opportunities that have enhanced their academic experience. They have been exposed to social emotional understandings and practices that will ensure that they are able to meet and overcome any obstacles in their way. I have also facilitated discussions and activities in order for students to practice not only self advocacy, but also advocating for those in one's community who might not be able to advocate for themselves. Finally, I have implemented a plethora of pedagogical practices that will ensure academic success for my students this year and in their future academics. Through utilizing all of these practices in the span of one academic year, I am providing my fifth graders with a holistic, culturally responsive, and rigorous final year in elementary school. 

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