Comprehensive Professional Development Plan

2

Development Needs Interview, Reflection

Briana Jenkins

Wednesday, 21, 2022

Development Needs Interview, Reflection

During my survey, I interacted with two teachers and collected their views on the best topics that interest them. The survey had six questions that every teacher had to choose from. Each teacher had a different perspective on the topic that interested them most- one of the teachers was interested in “accommodations/considerations for students who are English language learners, students with gifted abilities, students with attendance or truancy concerns, etc. during literacy development” and the other “individual student growth in literacy skills.” Every teacher explained their reasoning behind the selection pretty well. Through my interactions, I realized that the literary development need differs from teacher to teacher.

First teachers need to accommodate all the students regardless of their differences during literacy development. This strategy is important is essential in ensuring that all students are at the pace and level of literary skill acquisition. Some of the students learn faster while others learn slowly, and as teachers, all students should acquire the skills at the end of the class. Through a discussion with a teacher who is interested in accommodation/ consideration for English learners’ students, I realized that most teachers have not been taught what the students face in the learning journey which affects their literary skill acquisition. Thus, the teacher needs to understand every student needs to understand the best way he/she can use to help. In so doing a teacher will put different strategies that target each student's learning process.

The second teacher is interested in student individual growth in literacy skills. A close analysis of the reason for this particular teacher’s reasoning and the first teacher’s reasoning shows that both had an interest in ensuring the success of an individual student. The difference in literacy skill acquisition comes from the students varying skill levels. Knowing each of the students’ capabilities is thus important in strengthening specific skills that each student has. However, the process of identifying the student literacy issues and identifying the best strategy to use to strengthen those competencies is time-consuming. Therefore, a teacher needs to be creative in coming up with ways that he/she can use to meet students’ individual needs.

The discussion held with the two teachers centered on improving the literacy skills of individual students at individual levels because of the students’ differences. One of the methods that were discussed by one teacher is the creation of effective reading and writing workshops that will allow the teachers and students to explore skills and knowledge that will be critical in teaching each student at and individual level. This is the best strategy in which professional development can be used to foster a literacy skills culture in learning institutions.