Ms. Allen, the teacher I interviewed, participated in several professional development activities. She had professional development days at the school, as well as workshops, about current education technology, new teaching techniques, and ways to better engage the students and the community. She said some of the more helpful professional developmental days were when she learned in-depth about different cultures some of her students were coming from. However, she also said that professional development days are no good to anyone if teachers don't put what they've learned into practice. Ms. Allen also explained how she self-assessed to continuously improve her teaching. She said she mostly used personalized checklists and worksheets she could …show more content…
Allen said that she hadn't realized how much her personal identity would affect her perceptions in school. She taught in urban and charter schools. She worked with many different Hispanic, African-American, and other minority students. She said she hadn't known much about those backgrounds or cultures when she went in to those environments. Some of her perceptions were off. However, she also said that she learned a lot through those experiences and has gained a lot of respect for said …show more content…
Allen did belong to an instructional team. She has a passive role on the team at the moment, due to family concerns and other issues. The instructional team is trying to help teachers maximize their students' successes in the classroom. She said that one of the most important parts of being active on the team is willing to share ideas and willing to listen to others' ideas or corrections. By respecting others' contributions and building upon them, the team is able to get more done than they would have otherwise. It can be difficult to maintain good relationships with other teachers. Ms. Allen explained that often, she is concerned with her class and her work and doesn't always have time for other fellow teachers. However, she said she has good relationships with most of the other teachers at her school. A group of them often eat lunch and grade homework together, or discuss better strategies to use in the classroom. It helps when they can exchange tips and advice on what worked/didn't work in their