"Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient." - Steve Maraboli "Grit." "Resilience." "Push forward." "It's not about me, it's about my students." These were some of the words and phrases that I told myself, and that I had with my fellow residents through out the year. This program is challenging, demanding, and meticulous in every way imaginable, and a program that I was proud to be a part of. The classroom management techniques and instructional strategies that I learned will help me become a champion teacher that our students deserve. This year though did not come without bumps in the road, there were plenty. It was the relationships I had with other residents and the conversations we had about our successes and challenges that helped me reflect and complete the residency program. It was the heart to heart debriefs that I had with my mentor teacher and mentor coach that encouraged me to "push forward" and helped me see if am made for urban education. It will be the continuous self-reflection and growth that I do outside and inside of the school that will equip me with the tools to educate our students. It was the student's I taught and their stories which shinned a bright light on my fortunate circumstances in life, and reminded me "it's not about me, it's about my students and giving them a champion teacher who cares about them, and educating them to the fullest degree possible." REFLECTION The power of reflection can be underestimated at times. AUSL stressed how important it will be for all the residents to be reflective through out the year. That process started early in the program with our NLU coursework. For my technology class we had to post weekly reflection videos. Below you will see my week 3 reflection video that focuses on the things we did in class and my thoughts for the coming weeks. SELF REFLECTING MY USE OF MULTIPLE CHECKS FOR UNDERSTANDING Below you will see a self-reflection that I did of a 5 minute video of myself conducting checks for understanding (CFU) in my classroom. There were four different checks for understanding that we learned from the Relay modules. They are gestures, ask ask ask, white boards, and over the shoulder. Being a physical education teacher I utilized gestures, ask ask ask, and over the shoulder. The self-reflection asked us to point out specifically when we practice one of the CFUs and describe what was being shown in the video. |
MOVING FORWARD AS A LIFELONG LEARNER
SmartBrief SmartBrief was introduced to me in my Education Policy class at NLU. I subscribed to it and I receive daily emails of educational articles that are from across the country. The articles that SmartBrief shares are very interesting, thought provoking, and informative. |  |
  | Twitter/Blogging I have come to learn how useful Twitter can be. I am following multiple profiles like Chicago Public Schools, PE Friends, Education Nation, and AUSL. I have seen myself becoming much more aware of events happening in CPS and the world of education. Twitter is a great tool that is helping me stay in the loop of education and physical education. At the beginning of this past year I started to follow blogs as well. Currently I get weekly emails from Mr. Robbo, a physical education teacher who posts blogs on apps and other technology physical education teachers can use in their classrooms. |
School Visits One of the most beneficial moments during this past year was being able to visit other physical educators classrooms. I picked up ideas for classroom management, curriculum design, incentive plans, and lessons. I visited both Marquette SOE and Piccolo SOE. Both visits were incredibly valuable and was so grateful to be there. I plan on visiting more schools in the network so that I can continue to grow and learn as a professional. Being uniform within the network is also a great way to get "all hands on deck"! |   |
Physical Education & Coaching Conferences
Actually going to conferences and clinics and observing, talking, and participating in physical education seminars is the best way I can continue my lifelong learning of becoming a strong physical educator. I attend the annual IAHPERD PE Conference and the Football Glazier Clinics. These are going to be two conferences that I will attend for many years to come because they have great speakers, venders, networking opportunities, and information that I can take back to my classroom and athletic teams to help improve my teaching and programs at school. Once I started attending these conferences I learned how much is still out there for me to learn. Every year my goal is to come back with at least one new thing that I will try to implement at my own school with my own students and athletes.
