tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7075405416945902.post7822525307198674807..comments2009-05-13T07:45:10.989-07:00Comments on Professional Certification Cohort: Assignment #1- Christina SpencerJulianahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01832782987548818349noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7075405416945902.post-77013295479200520022009-03-05T10:18:00.000-08:002009-03-05T10:18:00.000-08:00Dear Christina,I loved how you worded your time in...Dear Christina,<BR/>I loved how you worded your time in the professional phase as nesting. Not only did it make me smile, but the truth in your word choice resonated with me; once we get past the struggles and exhaustion of the first two phases, it feels good to be comfortable. It is easy to relax, put our proverbial feet up and take it easy. Unfortunately, we, like our students, only really grow and learn when we sit on the edge of comfortable and work towards our next big leap. I commend you for recognizing your nesting and for taking the first steps toward dangling your feet over the edge. <BR/> <BR/>I think my favorite line in your response was, "It is my goal to increase my students’ confidence so that they understand that there is more than one “correct” way to approach learning and that they learn to choose tasks that reflect their unique way of mastering all levels of content." This seems to be the golden ring for our students. We have to teach them to be independent of us; we need to be sure that our students possess within them the independent ability to continue lines of inquiry long after directed instruction has ended. The most valuable gift we can give students is independence; greater than their need for subject area content, is their need for a repertoire of strategies to help them navigate their learning.<BR/> <BR/>Cheers,<BR/>NatalieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7075405416945902.post-74050083181917260142009-03-05T10:12:00.000-08:002009-03-05T10:12:00.000-08:00Dear Christina,Congratulations on your move toward...Dear Christina,<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on your move toward an expert teacher!<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed reading your post and impressed by your motivation to end your "nesting" period and move onto the next phase in your career. It helped me realize that as teachers, reflection is so important and necessary. It keeps us moving and improving, away from withdrawal, and helps us avoid getting stuck the same way year after year. <BR/><BR/>As we share in two of the professional growth goals (technology and assessment), I look forward to learning from your experience, especially in assessment. I also wonder if you have ideas on how to best share student assessment data with parents in a frequent and systematic way...beyond report cards and parent teacher conferences. <BR/><BR/>I look forward to learning from you. <BR/><BR/>Thank you,<BR/>KateAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com