The Importance Of Professional Development In Education

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It is my belief that great teachers result in great students. There are many ways that teachers can have a positive influence on their students and co-workers. In order to be the best educator I can be, I feel that it is my responsibility to take part in continuing education trainings as well as to collaborate with my fellow educators. It is important to remember that technology is always changing. Therefore, I must immerse myself in what is new and current to better the lives and education of my students. Ongoing professional development keeps me up-to-date on the latest findings of how children learn, emerging technology tools for the classroom, and new curriculum resources (Lebeau, 2008). And, I know I need to be proactive in my own continuing …show more content…

I recognize that every child is unique and that children of all abilities deserve quality care and education in a safe and nurturing environment. “To learn, children and adolescents need to feel safe and supported. Without these conditions, the mind reverts to a focus on survival” (Parrett & Budge, 2016, par. 1). Educational psychologists have proposed that educating the whole child helps students be the most that they can be (Olson, 2013). Maslow referred to this as “self-actualization” (Olson, 2013). Every child deserves to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. I strive to follow NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice guidelines so that all of my preschool students will not only be kindergarten ready, but prepared for more challenging content when they enter kindergarten. My developmentally appropriate classroom encourages child-initiated, active learning as children are able to explore their environment and construct knowledge based on their interests. In order for young children to become skilled readers, they need to develop a rich language and conceptual knowledge base, a comprehensive vocabulary, and verbal reasoning abilities which help them understand messages conveyed through print (Neuman & Roskos, 2005). That is why I plan activities

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