Artifact: EdCamp

Performance:  3(c) Collaborates with learners and colleagues to develop shared values and expectations for respectful interactions, rigorous academic discussions, and individual and group responsibility for quality work.
3 (g) Promotes responsible learner use of interactive technologies to extend the possibilities for learning locally and globally. 

Essential Knowledge: 3(i) Understands the relationship between motivation and engagement and knows how to design learning experiences using strategies that build learner self direction and ownership of learning.
3(m) Knows how to use technologies and how to guide learners to apply them in appropriate, safe, and effective ways.

Critical Dispositions: 3(n) Is committed to working with learners, colleagues, families, and communities to establish positive and supportive learning environments. 
3(q) Seeks to foster respectful communication among all members of the learning community.

Description: EdCamp was a six hour professional development event held at Mt. Blue High School that brought together educators from all around the state to learn new skills in a variety of areas. EdCamp is a collaborative event where the schedule is determined the day of the session based on what people want to learn and what experts and professionals are present. Technology and assessment are two of the largest training areas that were present during this session of EdCamp. After attending EdCamp I wrote a reflection about my experience and received a certificate of completion from the organizers of the professional development day.

Rationale: I attended EdCamp with my fellow student teachers placed at Mt. Blue High School along with many of the staff who work at the Mt. Blue Campus and actively participated in the six hour event by attending several sessions focused on formative feedback apps, organizing standards and PBE, and middle level mathematics. From this event I learned new technologies that I integrated into my classroom including Plcikers (a QR code, teacher founded app). Each session was discussion based; I met and networked with educators from around the state and shared what I knew, and learned from what others were willing to share. The entire day was a way to become a more competent professional and to find ways to make my classroom more engaging and to create a positive and supportive learning environment. 

Artifact: Congratulations Poster

Performance: 3(a) Collaborates with learners, families, and colleagues to build a safe, positive learning climate of openness, mutual respect, support, and inquiry.
3 (e) Uses a variety of methods to engage learners in evaluating the learning environment and collaborates with learners to make appropriate adjustments. 

Essential Knowledge: 3(k) Knows how to collaborate with learners to establish and monitor elements of a safe and productive learning environment including norms, expectations, routines, and organizational structures. 

Critical Dispositions: 3(o) Values the role of learners in promoting each others learning and recognizing the importance of peer relationship in establishing a climate of learning.
3(r) Is a thoughtful and responsive listener and observer.

Description: This artifact is a poster that my students made after they found out I had received a job offer from York High School for the following school year. While I was out from school the students spent time putting together a large poster with individual notes and memes to tell me how they felt about me and to congratulate me on my new position.

Rationale: This artifact demonstrates the bond I have created with my students over the past 16 weeks. I have taken the time to learn their names, their hobbies, and their lives; I created a learning environment that is positive and they feel safe. I have cheered their successes and demonstrated the importance of supporting those we care about and celebrating when we experience success. This artifact is a reflection of my relationship with the students, my students ranging from 9th - 12th grade took time out of their day to make, print, write, and collage together a poster of congratulations celebrating my new position beginning in August. With out a positive learning environment this artifact would not exist, it is a testimate to the way I acknowledged their differences and celebrated their strengths. 

Artifact: Department Meetings

Performance: 3(d) Manages the learning environment to actively and equitably engage learners by organizing, allocating, and coordinating the resources of time, space, and learners’ attention.
3(h) Intentionally builds learner capacity to collaborate in face-to-face and virtual environments through applying effective interpersonal communication skills.

Essential Knowledge: 3(l) Understands how learner diversity can affect communication and knows how to communicate effectively in differing environments.

Critical Dispositions: 3(q) Seeks to foster respectful communication among all members of the learning community.

Description: At least monthly I met with my fellow math department colleagues to discuss a variety of topics including PBE and determining standards, current student struggles and needs, and a variety of other topics. We collaborated as a team to meet different issues head on and as a united front. We took the time to go over all of the MCCL (Maine Cohort for Customized Learning) standards and aligned those standards to what we currently teach to make sure it was relevant to us, and that we were meeting all of our goals. 

Rationale: With over 700 students, Mt. Blue High School has to meet the needs of a diverse student population. As a student teacher I was able to learn a large amount of interpersonal and collaboration skills at each department meeting as a variety of teaching styles and opinions came together to find ways to best serve our student population. Each meeting we tackled difficult issues and came together to a joint decision that met our students’ needs and that we felt ensured our curriculum was rigorous and tied to standards that were meaningful and relevant to our students. Being able to communicate effectively with my colleagues helps me to better communicate with my students and helps me to foster respect in all aspects of our learning community.