Professional Learning Plan

Parent/Family Engagement
Date/Time

Topic

Reflection (What did you take away from the session?)

10/16/15
Time: 4:00
pm
Google
Hangouts

Personality types

10/22/15
Time: 7:00
pm
OBB 4th floor

How to really listen

to parents, how to
use our
personalities to talk
to parents, ways to
help convey bad
news, and what not
to do.

This meeting taught me the many different types of personalities we all have and
how they affect our meetings with our students parents. I learned that my
personality type is ESTJ, which is called the executor. She went through each of
our personality types and told us our weaknesses and strengths and I was
surprised when she got most of mine right. According to my personality type I
have trouble relaxing and I feel uncomfortable in situations where Im not in
control or when things are unorganized. This couldnt have described me better; I
had no idea my personality had a name. I also learned about the other personality
types there are, which most are complete opposite of mine. I thought it was really
interesting how these personalities types affect how we interact with people and
how we view people, which ultimately affects our teaching. Im looking forward to
hearing more about how understanding my personality type can actually aid me in
my parent/teacher conferences.
This meeting covered several different topics within a very short amount of time.
We first began with learning how to use our personalities to benefit our
parent/teacher meetings. I learned that I need to be specific, confident, provide
examples, and use visual aids. I know I have a problem with specificity so this
really reaffirmed that problem and how I need to work on it when talking to others.
The part of this meeting that really benefitted me the most was when we
discussed how to convey bad news to parents. There were several things I learned
that I never thought would make a difference in parent/teacher conferences, but
now I see how they could, for example choosing an appropriate time and place to
meet with the parents, sharing something positive about the child first, ending
with something positive about the child, and begin by asking the parents about
their concerns. These were great tips that are easy to remember for when I have
to do my own parents/teacher conferences. Another beneficial part of this meting

10/23/15
Time: 4:00
pm
OBB 4th floor

Parenting styles,
behavior of child
based on parenting
styles, and goals
for discipline.

was when we learned about what not to do. I learned that it is not effective in
anyway to hold a meeting that is too long, be intimidating or even timid or shy,
comparing the children to others, focusing only on the childs grades, and trying to
correct the parents. This advice I have taken away from this meeting will benefit
me not only in speaking with parents, but speaking with others as well.
I was not able to attend this meeting because I had strep throat, but I did get a
recording of the meeting and was able to learn all necessary information taught.
Katie first began with all the different parenting styles that children can be raised
with. I was very surprised with how many different parenting styles there are
instead of just laid back and strict. The parenting style that was unfamiliar to me
was authoritative. This is the ideal parenting style, but I didnt know it had a
category. This style involves a demanding but supportive set of parents who have
an open line of communication with children. This may be the ideal parenting
situation, but I also think it is the most uncommon. This style of parenting raises
children who have high self esteem, good behavior, and decent academic success.
I identified the most with the permissive parenting style and the outcomes of the
childs behavior because this is how my parents were and still are. My parents
were very undemanding, but extremely supportive in anything I wanted to do. I
had a hard time at school because I didnt understand why I got in trouble for
talking out loud, eating off others plates, getting up whenever I wanted, and etc. I
didnt understand because at home I never got in trouble. Its amazing to me how
much these parenting styles affect student behavior and how accurate they are.
Another topic we discussed was the goals for discipline for the parents regarding
their children. I learned that parents need to guide children to internalize rules,
values, and beliefs, be consistent and flexible, be developmentally appropriate,
provide structure, and many other things. I wasnt surprised when I learned that
each parenting style is better at these things than the other. It just proves why all
children are different and why they are all raised differently. I have learned so
much thus far in these meetings and Im looking forward to learning even more.

Date: 10/30
Time: 4:00
pm
4th floor OBB

Different types of
teachers, identified
which ones we
were.

During this meeting we discussed the various types of teachers and which ones
we identified with. The first type of teacher we discussed was the guardian, this
type of teacher is very traditional in their instruction, use strict schedules, follow
patters, and plan every detail of their day. Another type of teacher is the artisan,
this teacher is the opposite of the guardian as in they are very flexible and laid
back. They adapt their instruction based on their kids needs for that day and dont
general plan ahead. Another type of teacher we discussed was the the
rationalist, this teacher practices individualism and has more of a desire in their
content area then teaching the students. They try to show their student show
wonderful their content area is and their approach end sup being subject
centered.
After studying these multiple types of teachers I realized that the one I most
closely identify with would be the guardian. Im very traditional in many aspects
of my life and I know that will transfer over into my classroom. Im also very
organized and I always know what the day entails. I plan every minute of my day
and I know I will do the same for my students. I believe that the better you plan
the more successful you will be.