Strengths
Interpersonal:
Applied Skills:
Click through the mini gallery below to see a larger picture of my paintings:
Interpersonal:
- "People literacy." I am able to understand my students and read people as well as situations. Because I can figure out how most people operate, I can tailor plans in order to optimize others' potential.
- Communication skills. The written and verbal skills that I have acquired have benefited people I work with (students, colleagues, friends) as well as myself. Because I am able to see the potential for miscommunication in most exchanges, I can then reduce that chance of miscommunication.
- Open to constructive criticism. I regard constructive criticism as a blessing. How else would we know what to improve on?
- I understand how I operate physically, mentally and emotionally. Because I know what I need and do not need in order for me to maximize my work output, I am able to produce my best work in most situations.
- Able to identify how I could have approached a problem better. Because I catch my mistakes with ease and little embarrassment, I am able to immediately find a way to improve or ameliorate a situation.
- Able to identify what I did right in most situations. As well as knowing what I may have done wrong in any given situation, I also know what I did right, which is important because I can then generalize my positive actions to other situations.
Applied Skills:
- Linguistically/creatively inclined. Sharing my creative writing with my students has been exciting for everyone. It really helps inspire them during creative writing units.
- Painting and sketching. This skill set is useful in art units. My students were so excited about seeing my paintings that they couldn't wait to start their own pictures!
Click through the mini gallery below to see a larger picture of my paintings:
Weaknesses
Academics:
Academics:
- Mathematical thinking. I have always struggled with math; however, that does not stop me from figuring things out for the sake of my students.
- Technology. I sometimes find it challenging when I have to deal with technology that goes awry, but I love figuring technology out.
Growth Plan
Addressing my weaknesses:
- Drama in the Classroom with Graham Lea, University of British Columbia (March, 2013)
- Information Smarts with Danielle Wynn, University of British Columbia (February, 2013)
- Picture Books with Kathie Shoemaker, University of British Columbia (January, 2013)
- Critical Thinking with Roland Case, University of British Columbia (January, 2013)
- Differentiated Learning: Adaptations and Assessment with Ann Copp, Braemar Elementary (November, 2012)
- Outdoor Education with Diane Ehling, Braemar Elementary (November, 2012)
Addressing my weaknesses:
- Math - I plan to read more about math methodologies. Suggested texts: Anything by Marilyn Burns
- Technology - As evidenced by this website itself, though I have not been comfortable with technology in the past, I work with it, and am becoming increasingly at ease with it.
- Speak to educators I trust. Through this program, I have already met a few potential mentors. The sharing of knowledge is a special thing, and often, it is not only we new teachers who learn from our mentors, but our mentors can learn from us too.
- Attend professional development workshops. Needless to say, Pro D. is incredibly important to our growth as educators. Pro D. days that I have attended are:
- Drama in the Classroom with Graham Lea, University of British Columbia (March, 2013)
- Information Smarts with Danielle Wynn, University of British Columbia (February, 2013)
- Picture Books with Kathie Shoemaker, University of British Columbia (January, 2013)
- Critical Thinking with Roland Case, University of British Columbia (January, 2013)
- Differentiated Learning: Adaptations and Assessment with Ann Copp, Braemar Elementary (November, 2012)
- Outdoor Education with Diane Ehling, Braemar Elementary (November, 2012)
- Take every opportunity to learn. Every situation, no matter how inane it may seem, can be learned from. Like I have said before, "A colourful mind projected onto something amorphous and grey renders that something colourful as well."