Sara Womack, AMEA President Summer
Reflection and Planning
As the weather is getting warmer and the to do list is growing longer, summer is right around the corner. For many teachers, summer is a hard-earned reprieve from the day-to-day routine of the school year. Some use the time to prepare for the upcoming school year, while others spend the time working supplementary jobs or volunteering.
I asked my students what they thought teachers do during the summer. They said that teachers
• Sleep a lot. • Go on vacation.
• Spend time with their family.
• Have a big party and then, close the school.
• Make people be quiet. • Learn about next year’s students. • Get ready for the next school year.
While I’m sure that teachers do most of
those things, one activity the students failed to mention was reflecting on the past year’s successes and failures. When I look back over the past year, I ask myself the following questions based on a list posted on Dr. Troy Roddy’s educational leadership blog, The Art of Education:
1. What were my goals for this year? Did I accomplish my goals? If so, how do I know? If not, why?
2. What were my best lessons this year? How do I know?
3. What were the lessons that were the biggest disappointments? Why?
4. Is my classroom set up to facilitate the type of class I want to teach?
5. What feedback did I collect from students about their learning experience?
6. Did I grow as a professional this year? If so, in what areas? If not, why?
7. If I could do one thing over again, what would it be and why?
The answers to these questions naturally lead to thoughts on how I can improve my performance and have a more significant impact on student learning in the upcoming
Whether you sing in the choir, dance in a musical theater production, play an instrument in a band, have a passion for opera, or lead worship for your church, the University of Mobile Center for Performing Arts has the program for you!
school year. I ask myself the following questions when developing my goals and plan for accomplishing those goals:
1. How will I turn this year’s reflections into action? How can I repeat my successes and transform disappointments into celebrations?
2. How will I encourage collaborative problem solving?
3. How will I develop leadership skills in students?
4. How will I further incorporate technology to impact student learning?
5. How will I become a better leader in my school and professional organizations?
6. What areas do I need to focus on for professional development?
7. What resources or support do I need to accomplish my goals?
Just as I reflect and plan as a teacher during the summer, the AMEA leadership reflects and plans on the organization’s successes and disappointments during this time. We reflect on the conference using member evaluations to begin planning for next year’s professional development offerings. We analyze membership surveys to develop our strategic plan with the assistance of personnel and resources from NAfME. We reflect on the goalposts set forth at the beginning of my tenure as President and enable an action plan to complete the unfinished business. We reflect on our needs as leaders and attend the Leadership Assembly in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia to further develop leadership skills and connections with other state and national organizations.
If you desire a university that prepares you to make a difference in today’s culture, UMobile is for you!
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John Dewey said, “We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” Don’t let the summer pass by without reflecting on how you can improve your teaching skills and have a more profound impact on student learning, which will further cement music education’s importance in the school environment.
May/June 2013 What
opportunities are available in those areas?
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