Goal Reflections
It doesn't seem that long ago that I started my masters program here at MSU. Over the past year I have gone through a lot of stress and hard work to get to the point where I am finishing my last semester. It almost doesn't seem real. I want to reflect a bit to look at some of the goals I set for myself and check in on how those are going.
One goal that I had when I started this program was to be more efficient with my use of technology in the classroom. I Think that I now have the tools to do that. I really don't like seeing resources get wasted. This is the case with a lot of the technology that our district is providing us. I want to be able to help out so that we are making the most out of our resources and getting technology that will benefit our students. I have already been talking with my administrators about potential solutions to help us cut costs by not buying extra technology we won't use.
Another goal that I had for this program was to push my boundaries as to what I was comfortable with as far as using different technologies. I have learned about so many new programs, some of which I am now using in the classroom to increase classroom engagement. An example is flipgrid. I love using that to get authentic student responses to questions. This also helps with overall engagement during class discussions as well.
One goal that I am still working towards is expanding my network. I have met a number of other teachers through this program but because of my schedule, it has been hard to really get involved in some of these classroom communities. I say this as I am writing from the AP reader conference. It is always appreciated to connect with others who share similar passions and interests in education. As I finish up this program and continue to move forward, I really want to make an effort to meet more people to help me perfect what I do in my classroom.
Overall, I am happy with the progress that I have made. I am still not done yet, I never will be done learning. I am proud of the work that I have put in this year and I know that it is going to only set me up to be that much better as I continue on in my career. If you can't tell I am a bit of an idealist, but the point still stands. As I finish up the last few months of this program I just want to focus on finishing strong and making sure that I get the most out of this great opportunity.