Professional Goals, Hopes and Dreams


In the current school year, I used to work at the American International School in Israel. Teacher’s qualifications were high in terms of expectations, education, and experience. Most of the teachers have a Master’s degree and vast experience in working with ELL students. Every week we had a team meeting where we all had time to reflect upon the past week, about student’s growth, and about assessments. We talked about our inquiry-based teaching. Also, about relationships with the children and their families, and mainly how to view our students as capable and independents.  Also, once a month, the school offered four hours of professional growth opportunities in different areas. Our team Read a professional book about the Regio approach, and each of us had to present a chapter to the group. This provided us with the opportunity to be exposed to different teaching styles and to look outside the box. Besides, every few months, we had the chance to share our own projects, and teaching approaches for inquiry-based teaching with a Regio inspired specialist who guided our work and served as a mentor to us. The meetings were conducted as a group and on one on one, and it was an excellent opportunity to learn some new skills and refine others.


I feel that my short term professional goal is to focus on my studies and to excel. My long term professional goal is to focus on activism. I would like to see myself getting outside of my comfort zone and becoming an active participant in an early childhood organization that supports and promotes the rights of children with special needs. I feel that my current class provided me with in-depth insights into issues of social equity in our field. It stirred in me the drive to act on behalf of children with special needs.  I feel that joining a professional group that advocates for children will serve as an opportunity for professional growth. Also, I would like to refine my public speaking competencies.  My biggest dream for the future is to work closely with children with special needs and their families.

 

 

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