Evidence of Professional Development Activities & Resources
Professional development is improving yourself through learning and training to advance your career. Some examples of professional development include the following: taking classes, going to workshops or teaching oneself new skills. Professional development can also refer to staying up-to-date on new trends within your field and applying new practices to your current methods.
Writing Your Teaching Philosophy
NYU 2024
In this seminar, we were taught how to write our teaching philosophy narrative statement: a personal vision for teaching and learning. We started by considering questions like:
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What are our core values? (Understanding your core values will help you develop into the type of teacher you want to be.)
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What attitudes do you feel you must hold (or avoid) to be a successful teacher?
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How have these attitudes impacted your teaching?
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What are your beliefs about learning?
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How do you think people learn best?
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What teachers/educators have inspired you?
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What is your approach when a student or employee is struggling?
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We also peer-reviewed our narratives to both receive feedback on and improve them.
Community Walk
NYU 2024
For class, we had to complete a 10-minute community walk around our student teaching placement. We observed what we noticed and how it was similar and different to the community that we were educated in. This was helpful to note what students have access to around their school community.
Identifying Student Regulation Practices in Schools
NYU 2024
Based on our own experiences, prior knowledge, and current student teaching placements, our class was asked to reflect on student regulation practices in schools, both past and present. We talked about the changes or suggestions we would implement that would best support our future students. This was helpful to consider how we would shape student regulation practice in our future classrooms.
Workshopping Restorative Justice Circles in Elementary Classrooms
NYU 2024
In this workshop, I learned more about restorative justice practices in schools. We were given guidance on how to facilitate a restorative justice circle by going through the process of hosting a circle in our classrooms and workshopping challenges that may come up in implementing this work.
DOE and Unions 101
NYU 2024
In this workshop seminar, we asked questions about post-graduate plans, including the NYC DOE as well as teacher unions. We learned how to apply for our teacher certification exams and how to apply for a teaching job in NYC. We also did some role-play of teaching interviews.
Science of Reading Virtual Workshop
Really Great Reading 2024
In this workshop, we had three contact hours of professional development focused on the science of reading. RGR is a company that excels in its foundational literacy and reading curriculum, based on the science of reading, which involves teaching phonics, decoding and segmenting phonemes, the alphabetic principle, as well as fluency and comprehension. In the first half of this seminar, we learned of the science behind how young children learn to read. In the second part, we were given practical strategies to implement the science of reading with emerging readers (Pre-K-1st grade).
NYC Department of Education Information and Certificate Session
NYU 2025
In this session, we learned about the application and job search processes and the benefits of teaching in NYC public schools. I learned that the Early Commitment gives you incentives to apply early to the TEACH website. They include the following: invitations to in-person and virtual networking events for early commitment schools, opportunities to participate in school tours, access to vacancy lists for early commitment schools, and a potential for earning a $1000 early commitment stipend. During this seminar, we also went over the initial certification process.
Demo Lesson Workshop
NYU 2025
This workshop provided concrete steps to master a demo(demonstration) lesson at any school. Through small group structures, we learned what to expect, and what to keep in mind when planning and facilitating the demo lesson. We discussed things we already knew and any questions or concerns we had about the demo lesson. We were given many opportunities to practice getting to know the students in the audience while also connecting every aspect of the lesson to the content.