Actions speak louder than words
By cindy kaump
Upon beginning my Master’s program at Michigan State I was just starting to find my place in the educational world. I had an idea of what my strengths were, being flexible, and open-minded, but I wasn’t sure what to do with them. I had three main goals for myself in the program. I made it a goal for myself to be viewed as a teacher leader, to strengthen my skills as an educator of reading and writing and to incorporate more technology into my practice. As I look back on those goals now they seem much more intertwined than I had expected.
‘Actions speak louder than words’ is a phrase I remind myself of when I feel my voice isn’t being heard. By strengthening my own teaching practice I’ve been seen as a leader and put in leadership positions. One role I play as being a part of our district’s ELA Leadership team is serving as a host for teacher labs. Teachers come to my room to observe my teaching of reading and writing and discuss as part of their learning process. As my district moved to the workshop model of teaching reading and writing, the teacher labs were our main form of professional development. I hosted several labs of teachers from our district, teachers from other districts and I hosted an administrator lab in my classroom as well. I really enjoy discussing teaching practices around reading and writing and I hope to continue leading others and having the opportunity to share ideas and try new things.
In the same way I became a teacher leader for reading and writing, I continue to strengthen my use of technology in a meaningful way in the classroom. The opportunities to integrate technology haven’t been as plentiful as I would hope, but my new understanding of TPACK gives me a solid foundation to build upon as more technology becomes available.
My education through MSU is coming to a close but my learning will never end. My desire to try new things and share with others drives me to continue learning and growing my teaching practice. If anything, this is the most important lesson I learned though my master’s program. As I try new things and feel new successes I want to try more new things and keep learning.
‘Actions speak louder than words’ is a phrase I remind myself of when I feel my voice isn’t being heard. By strengthening my own teaching practice I’ve been seen as a leader and put in leadership positions. One role I play as being a part of our district’s ELA Leadership team is serving as a host for teacher labs. Teachers come to my room to observe my teaching of reading and writing and discuss as part of their learning process. As my district moved to the workshop model of teaching reading and writing, the teacher labs were our main form of professional development. I hosted several labs of teachers from our district, teachers from other districts and I hosted an administrator lab in my classroom as well. I really enjoy discussing teaching practices around reading and writing and I hope to continue leading others and having the opportunity to share ideas and try new things.
In the same way I became a teacher leader for reading and writing, I continue to strengthen my use of technology in a meaningful way in the classroom. The opportunities to integrate technology haven’t been as plentiful as I would hope, but my new understanding of TPACK gives me a solid foundation to build upon as more technology becomes available.
My education through MSU is coming to a close but my learning will never end. My desire to try new things and share with others drives me to continue learning and growing my teaching practice. If anything, this is the most important lesson I learned though my master’s program. As I try new things and feel new successes I want to try more new things and keep learning.