Personal Reflection
My goals have not changed much since I last reflected and wrote about them. I am constantly in deep thought and consideration about what my next steps will be. I am in a critical part of my career today, where I am searching for a change that will greatly affect me personally and professionally. I have been a middle school educator for the past twelve years and within those years I have earned a master’s degree to help further my passion as a teacher of mathematics, however, I have taught writing and now science which has very much been a challenge yet a learning experience. And today, I am a MSU STEM student where I have been pushed past limits I never even knew existed within myself. I have learned that I can achieve so much more than I ever even imagined. I am always evolving into the person I am meant to be in life.
I know that my focus will remain on educating students and the community of learners. However, this year has taught me so much about not only who I am already but also who I want to be and this includes how I will affect others and education in general. My PLN is growing thanks to the program at MSU and becoming more involved in STEM specifically with what I have done with science this year. Having been a part of ESP (Energizing Student Potential) and the NEED organization this year, I have met so many other science and STEM educators. I am also now on Twitter which has led me to more resources but I believe that when I am directly connected or even talking to coworkers who might not teach the same curriculum as I do is beneficial. As professionals we have a great deal to offer one another and we really have to be open to reaching out and not only making connections but also staying connected and learning from each other.
If I was to abandon my past, I think that it would not really show a true reflection of who I am or where I should be. Leaving certain aspects of my past such as great hardships or personal struggles in the past will make me a lot stronger and show the great growth that I have made. I would like to focus on my present and future self as that is who I am meant to be. I want to focus on the progress I have made and not necessarily how I got here. There have been so many challenges that I’ve overcome this year alone and just the fact that I have made that leap and succeeded shows what the future will look like for me and the learners that I will affect.
I am more confident now that I will be able to focus on my goals achieving them and also making impacts on those who will really need it.
I know that my focus will remain on educating students and the community of learners. However, this year has taught me so much about not only who I am already but also who I want to be and this includes how I will affect others and education in general. My PLN is growing thanks to the program at MSU and becoming more involved in STEM specifically with what I have done with science this year. Having been a part of ESP (Energizing Student Potential) and the NEED organization this year, I have met so many other science and STEM educators. I am also now on Twitter which has led me to more resources but I believe that when I am directly connected or even talking to coworkers who might not teach the same curriculum as I do is beneficial. As professionals we have a great deal to offer one another and we really have to be open to reaching out and not only making connections but also staying connected and learning from each other.
If I was to abandon my past, I think that it would not really show a true reflection of who I am or where I should be. Leaving certain aspects of my past such as great hardships or personal struggles in the past will make me a lot stronger and show the great growth that I have made. I would like to focus on my present and future self as that is who I am meant to be. I want to focus on the progress I have made and not necessarily how I got here. There have been so many challenges that I’ve overcome this year alone and just the fact that I have made that leap and succeeded shows what the future will look like for me and the learners that I will affect.
I am more confident now that I will be able to focus on my goals achieving them and also making impacts on those who will really need it.
Curating Resources
Funding for Teachers
NEA Foundation- Learning and Leadership Grants
Offers grants to individuals fund participation in high-quality professional development experiences, such as summer institutes, conferences, or action research
http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/grants-to-educators/
NEED grant for teachers (ESP) My school received the NEED grant for 2016-1017 school year and it was a huge impact on the teaching and learning of STEM for students.
NEED.org
STEM education grants from General Motors-Providing grants for educators for specific STEM initiatives
https://www.gm.com/company/giving-back/apply-here.html
Chicago Foundation for Education
Action Research Leadership Institute Fellowships- Provides fellowships for teachers interested in researching for the enhancement of student learning.
http://www.cfegrants.org/
Best Buy Community Grants for 21st Century Learning Programs- Providing funding for more “hands-on access to technology education and tools.”
https://corporate.bestbuy.com/community-grants-page/
PLN Resources
Each of these people will be reliable resources in encouraging, supporting and and also connecting me with others that may enhance me professionally.
Santos Gonzalez-Volt Workforce Solutions Director, Sourcing and Miliary
Casey McLeod- Math Specialist at Josephine C. Locke School (CPS)
Linda Mazziotti- 6th grade ELA teacher at Evergreen Academy Middle School (CPS)
Esther Munguia- Application Analyst Lurie's Children's Hospital
NEED.org - These individuals are focused on STEM education and implementing programs for educators.
Each one of the following videos or articles I chose have or will help me greatly in my planning for students. Many other resources have been helpful in the program, including articles and the books we've read. I will continue use them and learn from them.