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Growth Assessment: The Mustache Math Teacher

Noah Petrich

Department of Advanced Studies, Azusa Pacific University

EDUC549: Capstone Experience in Learning and Technology

Dr. Kathleen Bacer

March 15, 2023

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Growth Assessment: The Mustache Math Teacher

History of Coursework

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History of Coursework

Course Term/Yr Prof/Instructor Key Learnings

Art of Teaching 1 Spring 1/2019 Rick Barsh -Importance of

classroom
management and
discipline plans

Science of Teaching 1 Spring 1/2019 Alicia Watkins -Students learn

different
-Personal and student
development
planning

Art of Teaching 2 Spring 2/2020 Alicia Watkins -Reflecting on

pedagogical styles,
differentiated
instruction, and
comparing
pedagogical choices
between SPED and
Gen Ed

Methods of Teaching Spring 2/2019 Regula Schmid -Importance of

Reading teaching/incorporatin
g reading in a math
class

Essentials in Spring 2/2019 Kathleen Bacer -The role of

Learning & technology in the
Technology classroom
-implementations
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Science of Teaching 2 Fall 1/2019 Rick Barsh -How to use different

types of assessment.
-How assessments
inform instruction
-Most difficult class I
have taken

The Differentiated Fall 2/2019 Mary Isaacs -Learned to look at

Classroom the whole student
including SEL,
culture,
demographics

Digital Fall 1/2019 Kristi Hernandez -How to use different

Communications digital platforms to
enhance student
learning and
engagement

Assistive Technology Fall 2/2019 Jennifer Courduff -Levels of assistive

in Classroom technology low to
high tech

Soul of Teaching Summer/2019 Rick Barsh -Linking philosophers

teaching styles to
mine

Schools and Summer/2019 Ie May Freeman -Importance of

Educational Systems collaboration with
administration and
colleges

Secondary Pedagogy Spring 1/2023 Rick Barsh -Importance of

1 getting to know your
students
-How needs and
assets form planning

Emerging Trends in Spring 1/2023 Tim Holder -Up and coming tech
Technology trends in education
-How tech in
classrooms has
changed

Secondary Pedagogy Spring 2/2023 Rick Barsh In Progress

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Capstone Experience Spring 2/2023 Kathleen Bacer In Progress

Learning & Tech

Personal Growth

Introduction

My journey through Azusa Pacific University’s Master of Arts in Education: Learning

and Technology with a Single Subject Credential (APU) (LRNT) has been a long time coming.

It has taken me four years to finish an eighteen month program. In that time, I have personally

grown leaps and bounds spiritually. Taking the long way to completing the program has also

built up my resilience in ways that few know. As I worked as a substitute teacher and an intern

through the program I have found a new importance for my scheduling.

Spiritual

With every class I took at APU, I felt closer to the Lord. The faith centered focus of APU

and how it is integrated into the LRNT program forced me to look at my walk with Jesus and

how I am showing the love of the Lord daily in my teachings. “Jesus said. “Let your light shine

before others'' (NLT Matthew 5:16a). In this scripture Jesus explains how a light should not be

hidden from others under a basket, but revealed for all to see. In my daily life and especially in

my teaching I let Jesus shine through with how I lesson plan and how I interact with students

and colleges. My spiritual life has grown at home as well. My own children have seen a

difference in their dad and my wife has seen my spiritual life grow with her too. I pray with my
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family more, all decisions are filtered through a prayerful lens, and my overall behavior lets

God’s light shine for all.

Building Resilience

Every turn in my pursuit to be a teacher has been met with obstacles. It took me seven

times in each subtest to pass the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) subtests

for mathematics, that is why the eighteen month program has taken me four years. Teaching is

what I have always wanted to do, since I was in elementary school. My grit and determination

outside of APU carried into the classroom. I try to engage in every lesson. Science of Teaching

2 with Dr. Barsh was by far the most challenging class for me (Barsh, 2019). I questioned if I

had made the right decision in becoming a teacher. In the end I have persevered through and I am

ecstatic to be at the end of the program, because I know this is what God made me.

Scheduling

Since teaching is my second career, I understand the importance of work life balance. In

my last career I put all my focus on my work and ignored my family and my health, eating

poorly, not in God’s word, and being selfish with my time. Now I plan out my weeks with my

wife scheduling time to workout, plan meals, and schedule time for fun. Keeping these

schedules has transferred over to my internship and my work at APU.

Conclusion

Throughout my entire education, I have never been good at scheduling. I remember early

in life I did not have resilience to finish things that I started. My spiritual life was definitely not

what it is today. The LRNT program at APU has helped me grow in ways I never expected, I am

a better husband, father, and teacher. For that I will always be grateful.
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Professional Growth

Introduction

As an intern, the LRNT program has equipped me with the ability to not only grow

professionally but to reflect on my professional practices and apply skills learned at APU and

transfer those skills to my classroom. One area I feel I have grown in is in the area of classroom

management. Another area I feel I have grown professionally in is with my communication

skills not just with colleges, but with parents and most importantly my students. I feel like these

two areas of professional growth have laid the foundation for my success as an intern in the

LRNT program.

Classroom Management

In the Art of Teaching 1 class (Barsh 2019) we are introduced to classroom management,

but do not have a real opportunity to practice the skills learned until clinical practice. Now that I

am in clinical practice and have an internship I have the opportunity to try and test different

classroom policies and procedures. “The number one problem in the classroom is not discipline;

it is the lack of procedures and routines." (Wong, 2009, p165) I have now seen why this

statement by Wong is so important. The first week of school we practice routines and review

procedures. When the class gets back from breaks we review and practice as needed. Growing

in this area has made my life as a teacher easier, but I know I am far from perfect.

Communication

With my past in business management, I am used to responding to emails in certain

timeframes and explaining rationale for decisions to my boss. Communication with my students

is the area I focused on most. Students want to know the Why? behind a lesson or content,

especially in math. I recall when a student asked me, “Why do we use m for slope in a linear
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equation?” I was honest and told the student I didn’t know, but we can ask Google.” I turned the

students question into a webquest where the students had to find out the why. I have also chosen

to share life moments with my students, like the passing of my dog or my kids sporting events.

What this has done is built a classroom culture around empathy, trust, and a pursuit of finding

out the why. Communicating effectively with students about expectations in the classroom, on

assignments, and due dates helps limit stress and anxiety in the classroom.

Conclusion

In my opinion, classroom management and communication set a firm foundation for

daily life in the classroom. Once these two topics have been mastered different pedagogical

strategies can be explored. Without amazing communication and classroom management daily

life in the classroom can be chaotic for both students and the teacher. I know that I have not

mastered these skills yet, but I feel like the growth I have made in these areas has helped my

overall teaching skills be well received by the students.

Technical Growth

Introduction

During my time in the LRNT program I have learned a lot about technology and its

implementation in the classroom. The biggest area of growth is the use of high to low

technology in the classroom. With anything new, manytimes, there can be fear attached to

technology and the LRNT program has provided many opportunities to develop different skills

to help remove the fears related to technology.

High to Low Tech in the Classroom

I remember when I first heard about the LRNT program I immediately thought that

technology had to be high tech. I felt that smart boards, virtual reality (VR), and virtual
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assistants were what defined technology. The idea of low to high tech was really brought home

for me in the Assistive Technology in the Classroom course (Courduff 2019). Here I learned that

something like a pencil grip is technology. Many of the low tech items I thought were simply

NOT tech really were. There is an unlimited amount of technology resources to help students in

the classroom and it is my job as an educator to discover what will best help my students reach

their goals.

Removing Fear

As I have progressed through the LRNT program I have found a new love for trying out

new techniques in the classroom, whether it be a piece of technology or a new pedagogy style.

The fear has been lifted, I have the ability to research and figure out how the technology works.

In the Digital Communications class we built a website and that was a first for me on my own

(Hernandez 2019). I remember having anxiety and fear about building a website and the class

helped me overcome that fear and thrive.

Conclusion

I feel like my technical skills have improved and continue to grow with what is available

to me in the classroom. The skills that the LRNT program has equipped me with have helped

me remove barriers and fears that I have put on myself. With the removal of fears and what I

may not know is the understanding that technology is not limited to something with a battery or a

computer board. There are tons of tech to help students reach their full potential.

Lifelong Learning Plan

· In today's rapidly evolving world, embracing a life-long learning plan is essential to

personal growth, career development, and the pursuit of fulfilling aspirations. Here is what I will

do to continue to be a lifelong learner:

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● Become a member of one national math association

● Signup for all available PD/training opportunities about tech and math

● Continue to further my education

● Attend one conference per year

● Collaborate and contribute to my professional learning community

Overall Conclusion

Throughout the last four years I feel like I have grown immensely in all areas of life,

everything from my spiritual life to my professional life and all areas in between. I see how all

of the stated areas of growth, personal, professional, and technical, are intertwined so intricately.

The personal growth I have made in scheduling, resilience, and in my spiritual life spills over

into my professional life. The skills developed in my professional life are linked with my growth

in my technical abilities. The web of growth between personal, professional, and technical

development is one that I will monitor and reflect upon for the rest of my educational career if

not the rest of my life.

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References

Bacer, K., Barsh, R., Courduff, J., Freeman, I., Hernandez, K., Holder, T., Issacs, M., Schmid,

R.,Watkins, A.. (2019-2023). Master of Arts in Education: Learning and Technology.

School of Education. Azusa Pacific University. http://canvas.apu.edu.

Bacer, K. (2021). EDUC549:Capstone Experience in Learning and Technology. Master of Arts

in Education:Learning and Technology.. School of Education, Azusa Pacific University.

http://canvas.apu.edu.

Barsh, R (2019) TEP512:Science of Teaching 2.Master of Arts in Education:Learning and

Technology.. School of Education, Azusa Pacific University. http://canvas.apu.edu.

Courduff, J. (2019) EDUC547:Assistive Technology in the Classroom. Master of Arts in

Education:Learning and Technology.. School of Education, Azusa Pacific University.

http://canvas.apu.edu.

Harry K. Wong, Rosemary Tripi Wong, Chelonnda Seroyer (2009). “The First Days of School:

How to be an Effective Teacher”, Harry K Wong Publication

Hernandez, K. (2019) EDUC 546:Digital Communications. Master of Arts in

Education:Learning and Technology.. School of Education, Azusa Pacific University.

http://canvas.apu.edu.