Teacher:

McCarthy

Grade/Conten
Date:
t:
March 2015
Math 6
Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities Evaluation Period 3
Please respond and provide specific examples and details to support your
response. Since this is the final evaluation, your responses should reflect the
entire year.

4a. Explain how you reflect on your teaching. How does it improve your
instruction?
I like to reflect on my methodology and personal pedagogy and I try to do so every day
on certain aspects of my teaching. I am extremely hard on myself, so often I think
about things that went wrong and what I can do better. I feel I also have to stop and
think about what I do well, and not only while writing a portfolio, but daily. Positive
thinking like that would help my confidence and my instruction.
While I work on my personal development, I can say that I often professionally reflect
on my teaching and how it affects the students. I must constantly assess whether
lessons, activities, projects, and assessments are meeting the objectives of the CCSS
and the ones I have set out to cover with that particular assignment.
Some activities and lessons will go well, some will not. The important thing is that I am
constantly reevaluating their effectiveness and how I can make them better.
For example, I had the students create songs, skits, or poems about Integer basics. The
guidelines were pretty much poem for interpretation. The only rules to follow was that
the entire performance must be a minute or less. The students then came up with
other requirements, such as the piece needed to be school appropriate, it must teach
about integers, and it must be creative. The entire project went really well. The only
thing I would change next time is I may do it as an actual post assessment to check
their complete understanding. The activity was fun and successful overall, but I
definitely would change how I keep track of time. I used my voice and a time keeper,
but next time I will use a sound effect (maybe bells) and have a time keeper for each
group.
4b. Explain how your grading practices follow school-wide grading
procedures. Explain how you provide feedback on completed assignments.
Are grades posted on our online gradebook in a timely manner? How do you
record non-instructional information for students?
As a former Instructional Coach, something that I would reinforce with new and veteran
teachers alike was to keep organized and accurate records.
Not only does precise bookkeeping help with daily success, it allows me to retain

proof of activities.
For example, using Infinite Campus to record attendance and grades in a timely and
accurate manner allows parents and students to check on grades and helps school
administration with their record keeping, too.
Although I do not have many IEP or 504 students, I do keep an organized file for each,
as well as a section in my cabinet for students with health needs. This way, if I am
called to a meeting, I have all of the paperwork and artifacts easily accessible.
I used to be a pen & paper type of person. I would keep paper copies of everything.
However, I have moved to storing my documents, lesson plans, and other instructional
resources on my computer and in my Dropbox. This makes it easier to keep track of
and to share with colleagues.
I follow school wide grading procedures by entering grades into IC in a timely manner
and according to school policy.
I communicate with students on their work directly (notes), through conversations, and
sometimes emails. Non instructional information is communicated through bulk emails
to parents and also classroom announcements.
For example, I will appreciate good work with a smiley face and a positive note, but I
will also give constructive feedback so the student can apply it in the future.
I have a lot of informal conversations with students that I hope help them to grow
academically and personally. I like to give one on one attention, My philosophy is that
they are people, too, and one day will be my peers; I want them to be the best they
can be!
Parents hear from me often and I feel I have a good relationship with them. I respond to
emails as soon as I receive them. Often parents will thank me for getting that back to
them in a timely and efficient manner.
For example, a parent communicated with me about her sons unwillingness to
complete assignments. We were able to plan an intervention and behavior plan entirely
through email. The whole process was very positive and the parent was extremely
appreciative of the support and the results of the plan. Later, when we met, because
we had already established a rapport, the conference was that more productive as was
my relationship with the family and student.
4c. Explain how you communicate with families about your instructional
program and about individual student progress:

The two methods I primarily use to communicate with families is through my classroom
website and by email. Other methods include phone calls and progress reports.
The classroom website has everything parents and students need to ensure proper
communication with me, including classroom assignments, notes, daily HW, online
resources, test correction forms and other tools, and my email address for instant
contact.
www.mrsmccarthymathy.weebly.com

4d. Explain your participation in Dorals professional community. What

school-wide events have you participated in during this school year? (i.e.
Committees, Clubs, leadership roles, school activities, etc.):
Building and maintaining relationships with colleagues is just as important and
facilitating community building among students in the classroom.
I am a very friendly person and love to make friends and meet new people. I can
always be counted on for a smile and to be a team player.
I try to be involved in as many things as I can help with. However, because I am parttime and have 2 other jobs, I cannot always participate in everything that I normally
would have in the past.
I attend elementary school meetings instead of the upper school because they are
scheduled when I am on campus. However, I make sure that I read through the upper
school meeting minutes and collaborate with my colleagues on events, projects, and
other happenings.
Some events I have helped with:
Pink Day for Breast Cancer Awareness
APEX Fun Run
Mentor Teacher to a Second Grade Teacher
Math Parties
Help with Arts Integration Planning
Presented at 3 Staff Development Days

Presented at Curriculum Night

4e. What actions are you taking to grow and develop professionally? What
classes or trainings have you participated in during this evaluation period?
I have developed and presented a lot of Professional Development sessions throughout
the year. Each time I do, I learn something about the topic that I presented, both from
reflecting on whether the presentation was effective and from the participants
themselves. I love learning from other teachers.
In September, I trained the ES Teachers on The Standards of Mathematical Practices. In
December, I trained the entire Doral (Cactus & Saddle) Upper School teachers on
Kagan Cooperative Structures. I also presented two sessions during the All- Academia
Staff Development Day. One session was on Kagan and the other on Math Interactive
Notebooks and Foldables. In addition, I co-presented about Math CCSS in a session to
parents during Curriculum Night
I also have attended three arts integration sessions that Doral has provided for us. The
Kennedy Center trainings have been integral in my understanding of arts integration
and also prepared me to help teachers next year in my role of math coach.
Another way I am facilitating my professional growth is by taking classes through RPDP.
Right now, I am almost through with a course focusing on 3-5 Grade Operations &
Algebra in the Common Core.

4f. Explain how you take a proactive approach in serving students, taking a
leadership role in team or department decisions, and complying fully with
school regulations.

Showing professionalism is much more than dressing appropriately and being polite to
people.
Professionalism is working with others to create the most effective learning
environment for the students, the most collaborative environment with colleagues, and
comfortable relationships with other members of the community, such as families.
When listening to presentation of ideas, I feel that I am open-minded to others and will
always try to take everyones perspective into account. I do have strong opinions and
am not afraid to make them heard, however, I would never jeopardize the sense of
community, nor the good of the whole, by being hard headed or inflexible.
Another characteristic of professionalism that I deem important is to have integrity in
all of my actions. I know that I will do the right thing even when no one is watching.