INTASC+Standard+09

__INTASC Standard 09__

The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.

__Specific Category of Standard 09__

INTASC.9.B. The teacher is aware of major areas of research on teaching and of resources available for professional learning (e.g. professional literature, colleagagues, professional associations, professional development activities).

INTASC.9.D The teacher is committed to reflection, assessment, and learning as an ongoing process.

__Understanding Sentence__

The teacher is able to look back and critique her work and how she affects others, as well as taking the initiative to improve and become a better teacher.

__Artifacts__
 * Special education and challenges for Latino families: A research-based article
 * Chapter 9 Reflection (Diaz-Rico, A Course for Teaching English Learners)

__Reflect__

The first artifact is an essay that I wrote in the fall of 2008 in which I was used 5 research-based articles to support my ideas about challenges for Latino families in the field of special education. Writing this essay directly relates to INTASC.9.B. in that I used research-based articles to support my ideas about a specific area of research. This artifact also shows that I know how to find and access resources available to use as evidence in my thinking and writing. The second artifact (Chapter 9 Reflection) is a paper that I wrote after reading Diaz-Rico's ninth chapter in //A Course for Teaching English Learners.// This directly relates to INTASC.9.D. in that it represents the countless chapter and activity reflections that I have completed over the course of my college education. If I could list all the reflections that I had ever had to do for all my projects and chapter readings, it would be evident to see that I am a teacher committed to reflection and learning as I progress as a future teacher. However, this chapter reflection (second artifact) is one of the best that I have written, contains in-text citations, and expresses what I believe about culture and its role in the classroom.

__Project__ If these artifacts could talk, they would say that I surprise myself often as a learner. When I am working on dreaded assignments, I never feel like I am going to produce anything impressive. However, every time I see the finished project, I beam with pride. As a high school student, I would never have imagined that I could complete the projects that I now do on a regular basis. It has been important for me to see and realize this because it reflects on the kind of teacher I am becoming. If it is so easy to underestimate myself, then it will be even easier to underestimate my students. I am going to have to carefully evaluate what my students will be able to do (commitment to assessment) and then set high standards that are reasonably attainable. For my future practice, it has become clear how important it is to have research-based evidence to support what I teach, believe, and how I think students learn and develop. These artifacts have been pivotal in reaching this conclusion and shown me how to support what I believe and know.