Reflection
Participation in professional development activities has deepened my understanding of pedagogy and student needs. Through participation in workshops, classroom observations, and reflective practice, I have become more intentional in designing inclusive and engaging learning experiences. I recognize the importance of adapting instructional strategies based on student feedback and learning performance, and continue to seek opportunities to enhance my skills in culturally responsive teaching and interdisciplinary course design. These experiences have strengthened my confidence as a teacher and my commitment to continued growth and student success.
Standard 7 emphasizes continuous professional learning for teachers. During my practicum, I continued to reflect on and adjust my teaching strategies based on classroom observations and student responses. For example, I found that group activities and gamification tools like Kahoot boosted student engagement but did not always promote deeper understanding. For this reason, I try to introduce structured note-taking methods and post-game quizzes to help students consolidate their knowledge. These practices motivate me to continually improve my teaching through reflection and ongoing research.
Standard 8 emphasizes that teachers should contribute to the profession of education. By conducting research on motivation to learn and classroom engagement and sharing my findings with colleagues and mentors, I have actively participated in professional conversations. I hope to continue to engage with my peers in the future and contribute to professional development, especially in the area of how to support diverse students through blended or differentiated instruction.
Standard 9 requires teachers to understand the broader education system. During my internship at BC Schools, I gained a deeper understanding of how factors such as policy, assessment standards, and the advancement of inclusive education impact teaching and learning. I also began to think about how culturally responsive teaching fits into the BC curriculum system and the diversity needs of students. These understandings helped me to better support students and align instructional decisions with provincial goals.
Pro-D Day Experience
During my practicum, I was actively involved in a variety of professional development activities, including a Pro-D workshop on “Meditation and Teacher Mental Health.” This experience made me realize that teachers’ self-care and emotional regulation skills have a significant impact on teaching effectiveness and student-teacher relationships. Through the practice of meditation, I learned how to stay focused and balanced in the midst of teaching stress, and how to better understand the emotional changes of students during the learning process. In addition, through classroom observation and reflection, I have learned how to adjust my teaching strategies based on student feedback and design more inclusive and engaging learning experiences. These experiences have strengthened my confidence in education and motivated me to pursue professional growth and teaching innovation.
Future PD Plan
PD-Plan