For me, professionally speaking, summer has always been a time for three things- reflection, growth, and commitment.
Each year, I ask myself a few basic questions.
Reflection
What went well in the previous school year? How can I at least continue those successes and ultimately improve upon them?
What didn't go well? How can I eliminate mistakes that I made in certain areas?
Professional Growth
What can I do to improve my craft? Who/what can help me (personal learning network, mentors, professional reading/conferences, etc.)?
Commitment
How will I move from knowledge and beliefs to behaviors that:
- Model our CORE (Communication, Observation, Relationships, and Expectations) values this year?
- Support The Wildcat Way (which is to strive for excellence beyond standardized test scores to develop students that are Welcoming, Involved, Leading, Dependable, Cooperative, Ambitious, Teachable, and Serving)?
Are you asking yourself similar questions? Feel free to leave comments, observations, or suggestions below.
I really like the Wildcat Way...
ReplyDeleteW.I.L.D.C.A.T.S.
...."to develop students that are Welcoming, Involved, Leading, Dependable, Cooperative, Ambitious, Teachable, and Serving."
The only idea I have to share is to have the "S" represent.. "Service to others."
Providing acts of energy and time to the community (school and outside the school walls) in order to enrich those served. Students need to see "serving" as the act of working for others.
“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”
― Booker T. Washington