Schools buildings should first and foremost be environments for student learning. In order to best accomplish this, teachers must work together in order to share strategies, plan joint activities, and plan for the most success for individual students. Therefore, a school building can also be described as a professional organization for teachers. The full potential of schools cannot be reached until all of the teachers regard themselves as members of a professional community. These communities should demonstrate the characteristics of mutual support and respect and the recognition that all teachers need to be constantly seeking ways to improve their practice and the school environment. In order to be a teacher of impact, it is necessary for teachers to recognize that their duties extend beyond the four walls of their classroom and include school-wide and district-wide duties. Some examples of these kinds of duties include curriculum committees or engagement with the parent-teacher organization. As the teacher's experience grows, they should begin taking leadership roles in these kinds of activities. Elements of this include:
Relationships with Colleagues
It is crucial for the professional community that the teachers within it maintain professional relationships with all colleagues. These relationships should lead to sharing, planning, and working together to improve pedagogical skills and student success.
Involvement in a Culture of Professional Inquiry
All teachers should regularly contribute to and participate in a learning community that supports them in improving their practice.
Service to the School
Teachers should be participating in school-wide projects and activities that reach beyond the walls of their individual classroom.
Participation in School and District Projects
In order to improve the professional community, teachers should contribute to and support larger school and district projects.
Implementing in the Classroom/Artifacts Demonstrating Competency
Relationships with Colleagues
It is crucial for the professional community that the teachers within it maintain professional relationships with all colleagues. These relationships should lead to sharing, planning, and working together to improve pedagogical skills and student success.
Involvement in a Culture of Professional Inquiry
All teachers should regularly contribute to and participate in a learning community that supports them in improving their practice.
Service to the School
Teachers should be participating in school-wide projects and activities that reach beyond the walls of their individual classroom.
Participation in School and District Projects
In order to improve the professional community, teachers should contribute to and support larger school and district projects.
Implementing in the Classroom/Artifacts Demonstrating Competency
- Have weekly meetings with other teachers who teach the same students as you
- Host an edcamp
- If you teach science and someone else teaches math, work with that person so that they are teaching graphs in math while you have students practice graphing in science
- When just beginning to teach, find a mentor teacher
- After experience has grown, become a mentor teacher
- Use Twitter to communicate with your PLN
- Lead the school in cultural celebration day
- Lead the school in activities for World Down Syndrome Day activities
- Photo labeled for reuse
- (2018). Static.pdesas.org. Retrieved 24 April 2018, from http://static.pdesas.org/content/documens/danielson_rubric_32.pdf