Laura Weakland
Professional Commitment and Responsibility
The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally.
Artifact: Professional Development Log
Date: Ongoing (last updated December 2009)
Rationale: It is my belief that teaching is a dynamic profession and that a truly reflective practitioner continually strives to learn new instructional strategies. Learning is a lifelong process! Attached is a list of professional development workshops and classes that I have attended since September 2005.
File: Professional Development Log
Artifact: Professional Reading Log
Date: Ongoing (last updated December 2009)
Rationale: I also believe that teachers need to continually read professional literature to gain new ideas and to learn best practices in teaching. Accordingly, I am constantly reading professional books. Attached is a list of the professional books that I have read over the past several years.
File: Professional Reading Log
Artifact: Memberships in Professional Organizations
Date: Ongoing (last updated December 2009)
Rationale: It is my belief that teaching is not an isolated profession. Teachers need to belong to teacher organizations so that teachers can share ideas with other teachers in order to continually reflect on their teaching practice in order to better serve the needs of the students. Accordingly, I belong to the following organizations and attend their workshops whenever possible, as well as, read their professional journals.