Elisabeth Dachniwskyj Phone: 608-215-2526 Email: oasene@uwplatt.edu Educator profile: PDP term: 5 years Years of educational experience: 2 License File Number: 123456 License Expiration Date: 6/30/2020 School district: Current educational assignment: Elementary Teacher ‘Years in current assignment: 2 7 oe Present Licensure Stage: Pre-Service Licensure stage sought: Initial Professional Licensure Categories: Teacher Professional Development Plan Step I: Self-reflection John Dewey once said that “Arriving at one goal is the starting point of another.” I believe this is true of education. Once one has laid the groundwork for knowledge through reading, writing, and mathematics, it opens a new world of opportunities to learn. The following are my beliefs about education. believe the purpose of education is to: inspire a love of learning. if a child is excited to learn, he or she will approach each task with enthusiasm. Encourage creativity. Children have a natural creativity which, | believe, should be allowed to blossom through a variety of activities which allow them to demonstrate their uniqueness. Help children discover who they are. Every child is a unique individual and through education they can learn what makes them one ofa kind. Prepare children for the future. | believe itis important to prepare children for what will lie ahead. This is done by laying the groundwork in their younger years for a broader range of education. With a strong base of knowledge, they are able to learn almost anything. I believe the role of the student in education is:A investigator: | believe children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. They must apply this curiosity to school in order to give them the drive to investigate and find solutions for any problem posed. #” excited Participant: While there may be certain topics that do not directly spark the child’s interest, itis the role of a student to always strive to understand and participate in the subject. at hand. While the student may not see the importance at the moment, it is important for him/her to keep the bigger picture in mind. What may seem trivial today may tie in to something important in the future. 2 Teacher: There will be many occasions where some children in the class have a strong understanding of the material and others do not. If the students excelling are given the chance to teach or tutor others, not only will this help the struggling student gain an understanding of the topic, but it may also help the tutor see the subject in a different way. Team Member: When children are placed into small groups | believe it is very important for children to have an understanding of what it means to be a tearm member. They must be able to lead and stand on their own within the group as well as follow and collaborate with other students. I believe the role of the teacher in education is: # Role model: The teacher must understand that it but also what he/she does. is not just what he/she says that will educate, # Educator: The teacher must convey the information in an exciting and constructive way in order to foster learning # Facilitator: itis important for the teacher to not just lecture. He/she must allow the children to explore and learn by facilitating broad-range discussions and projects & Eternal Student: Teachers must strive to better their abilities as educators and a big part of that is furthering their own education as times change. I believe the role of the teacher in the community is # To be involved: A teacher cannot simply come to class and then leave without interacting with the community in some way. Most teachers will live in that community and should be seen as being involved in the community. # To be a role model: | believe that a teacher's job does not end one he/she leaves the classroom. Teachers instruct in everything they do from where they go to dinner to their political involvement; they are being watched and should keep that in mind. # To be informed: It is important for an educator to be informed about various events happening in the community. These events are going to impact the students they teach so the teachers ‘must stay up-to-date on what is going on. Ihave decided to become a teacher because: # \love to aid in the learning process: Whether through tutoring or training others in a workplace, have always loved guiding others in their pursuit for information.# |want to help children grow as individuals: When it comes to children learning does not simply involve expanding their academic knowledge. It also involves growing their social skills and enriching the basis of the type of people they will become. A teacher must not only instruct, but also guide children in their pursuit of becoming young adults. # Iwant to pass on my love of learning: | have always enjoyed school and learning. | feel that this love of discovery and achievement is something | would like to pass on to other young learners. My philosophy best aligns with: # Essentialism: | believe that it very important to focus on the basics of education. My curriculum will involve an emphasis on subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics. These can be used as the base on which to build knowledge. # Progressivism: Like John Dewey who stated, “The child's own instincts and powers... give the starting point for all education,” | believe that much of education is in the hands of the students. ‘While | believe that there must be a basis of education learned through reading, writing, and mathematics, | know that children learn very differently and often itis helpful to take amore hands-on approach to education. # Social interaction: |, as Dewey did, believe that social interaction is an important part of many children’s learning processes. | know many individuals, myself included, who learn best by conferring with peers. Of course there is a time and place for such interactions, but | believe that these times should be provided so the children are not simply learning the material to pass a test but to store it as knowledge to build upon. As many other prospective educators, I believe that we need to incorporate basic reading, writing, mathematics, and other core subjects which lay the groundwork for knowledge. However, | also believe that it is important for children to not only learn about the subjects, but, apply them through hands-on activities. Every child learns differently and teachers need to determine how to reach each child best. Step II A. Deseription of School and Teaching, Administrative, or Pupil Services Situation Description of Position: 1am currently teaching first grade at Mineral Point Elementary School. Number of Years in Position: 1 YearSchool Location/Setting: Mineral Point is a city located in southern Wisconsin between Towa and Lafayette county. There is one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. Demographics: As of the 2011-2012 school year, there were 358 students enrolled at Mineral Point Elementary School. Of these students, 96.4% were Caucasian, 2% were Hispanic, 0.6% were African American, 0.3% were Native American, 0.3% were Asian, and 0.6% were students of more than one racial background. In addition, 23.5% of students qualified for the Free Lunch Program and 3.6% were eligible for the Reduced-Price Lunch Program. Distriet Goals: ‘The following are current Mineral Point District goals: ‘+ Improve reading achievement ‘+ Increase students’ involvement and skills in the areas of analysis, computer science, and problem solving + Increase students® skills in the areas of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity Step II B. Description of Goal to be Addressed Goal: | will research and develop a variety of activities that can be used in the classroom to promote students’ involvement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities. Step II C. Rationale for the Goal: Links to Professional Situation and Wisconsin Educator Standards Goal: 1 will research and develop a variety of activities that can be used in the classroom to promote students’ involvement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities.Rationale for the Goal and Link to Educational Situation: Mineral Point School District has idemtified the need for work with computer science, technology, and applied analytical skills within the classroom. In the past, these investigations have been saved for end-of-the-year projects. However, I have witnessed the potential of integrating STEM projects with the established curriculum and feel that this would be an asset in my and other first grade classrooms. 1 feel that developing and integrating STEM projects into the established curriculum not only creates an innovative, hands-on way to provide instruction, but also helps students to better understand and be able to apply what they are learning. The idea behind STEM projects is that students will have the opportunity to actively solve real-world problems using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, However, there are also many ways that language arts instruction, as well as social studies, can be integrated into the projects. In addition, STEM projects also allow students to explore what they are learning in a very deep and natural way that, will allow for both creative and critical thinking. STEM projects are also a perfect way for students with a variety of abilities to be able to put forth their best work, regardless of earning style, because it offers so many different outlets through which students can learn. Licensure standard(s) addressed in your plan: + Teacher:(1) The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the disciplines he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for pupils. + Teacher:(3) The teacher understands how pupils differ in their approaches to leaming and the barriers that impede learning and can adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities. + Teacher:(4) The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology to encourage children's development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills. + Teacher:(6) The teacher uses effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as instruetional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration and support interaction in the classroom. + Teacher:(8) The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social and physical development of the pupil.Step II E. Plan to Meet the Goal: Objectives, Activities, Timeline, and Plan for Collaboration Goal: I will research and develop a variety of activities that can be used in the classroom to promote students’ involvement in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities. Objective: Objective: | will learn more about how to implement STEM activities. Activities Timelines | Collaboration | Completed Develop STEM projects with my First Grade Team of Teachers utilizing a variety of resources (Engineering is | 2015- | First Grade Team | September Elementary (EiE), STEM Wisconsin, etc.) 2021 2015 Observe teachers and students from STEM academy to get an understanding of their day-to-day 2018 | Educators from | 5/18/2017 learninglteaching. 2017 | STEM Academy Recruit an expert in the field of STEM (through Ei€) to come and work with myself and my team on preparation | pring | Facilitator and | Spring 2015 ‘and implementation of STEM projects. 2018 Team Objective: | will develop and implement STEM programs in the classroom. Activities Timelines | Collaboration | Completed Collaborate with my team to determine the best way to implement STEM activities, along with assessment tools. | 2015. | First Grade Team | Ongoing 2021 Utilize the Engineering: Go For It (@GF!) materials to find lesson plans, activities, and outreach programs. 2015- First Grade Spring 2021 Colleagues 2017 ‘Attend STEMfest at Northern Illinois University (workshop relating to STEM) Fall2016 | Faoilitator Fall 2016Objective: | will develop and implement forms of assessment for STEM projects within the classroom Activities Timelines | Collaboration Completed Collaborate with my team to determine the best way to Connect STEM projects and the standards within the 2015- | FirstGrade | Ongoing ‘Common Core 2024 rear Utilize the Compendium of Best Practice K-12 STEM Education Programs provided by Engineering is 201s. | First Grade Spring Elementary (Eié) 2024 Colleagues 2017 Participate in online workshops through EiE to further my Understanding of and ability to work with STEM 2016 Facilitator | Fall2020 2021