Developing My Personal GAME Plan

Upon looking at the NETS-T standards there are two that really jump out to me as something that I would like to focus on during my game plan.  Both are within the category of modeling digital-age work and learning.  I feel that it is important to model for our students what we would like them to be completing themselves.  Because of the fact that my students are learning support students, I often feel more strongly about this process then others in my building.  The first goal that I would like to work on strengthening is the concept of collaborating “with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation” (NETS-T Standards).  It is important to have a strong support system when you are working with students they need to know that there are many people on their side.  The second standard that I choose to focus on is “communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents and peers using a variety of digital-age media formats” (NETS-T Standards).  Again by giving students models and support you are showing them how valuable it is to collaborate digitally. 

            I feel that these goals are grand and are not something that a teacher can easily tackle in the next four weeks that I have of school.  However, I would really like to start this transition as soon as I can.  I feel that one of the most important ways that I am going to grasp these goals is to make sure that the communication lines are open and flowing with my peers and the parents of my students.  These next few weeks I am going to work on strengthening the relationships that I have with each.  When it comes to the peers that is going to be rather easy.  I currently feel that I get along well with my peers and because I work with many of my students from grade 6 to 8 I have a relatively good relationship with my parents as well.  One way that I could improve both is through sending home good/positive emails and communications.  I feel that all too often I have to contact parents and peers when my students are not doing what is asked, but if I start to contact them with good information we will be able to form stronger bonds.  From there into the next year I will work with my parents and peers closely to ensure that we are on the same page.  I will also create a wiki for communication between all of us.  I think that these are valuable sites because they allow all the members to contribute to the conversation.   You are also able to make things private so that you may talk to just one parent or one teacher at a time.  Through this steps I will be able to better serve my peers and parents while aiding my students along the way. 

            I will monitor the progress with the others through the amount of transactions that I have a day.  I would like to make sure that I have conversations with at least two parents and with two peers through the wiki a week.  I will make sure that I am starting worthwhile conversations with each group.  I feel that it will be easy to track the progress as I look at the conversations that I am having.  

            I plan on evaluating the extent of my learning through the progress that my students are making in their own media conversations with each other and their parents.  I know that far too often students and parents are not talking about school at night and through helping them communicate on the wiki they will start working together and talking about the things that are happening at school.  Through my students progress I will learn the progress of my learning.