Standard+9

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The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
 * Standard 9: // Reflection and Professional Development. // **


 * Evidence**

Teachers reflect on a daily, even hourly basis because the job requires it. In order to improve, reflection is necessary. The action research I completed simply required that I formally write it down. After completing the research I learned many things, both good and bad, about what I did with online discussion and literature circles. I used the information from the control groups to adjust how other groups were moving forward. I will make sure the schedule works better and make other small changes regarding student expectations and how I assess online discussion. Based on student surveys, literature circles went well and most didn’t think changes were needed but after reflecting on those results I’ll still tweak things to make it even better for the next go around. Besides using my reflections to immediately improve the experience for students, I shared my results with colleagues and asked for their feedback. Now, because of the reflections from my research I often seek out information regarding literature circles or online discussion. I hope to continually improve on the literature circle model I currently use and know that with continual reflection I’ll optimize learning for students.
 * Rationale**


 * KSD:**

Action research has led me to better understand how using multiple methods of inquiry and data can provide for reflecting that is more meaningful and purposeful. Direct information from student surveys along with my own observations notes give me a general feel for how students are doing academically, socially, and emotionally. This is then combined with the hard data of scores and percentages which can confirm, reject, or confuse me even more.
 * 9.K.1 The teacher understands methods of inquiry that provide him/her with a variety of self-assessment and problem-solving strategies for reflecting on his/her practice, its influences on students’ growth and learning, and the complex interactions between them.**

As part of the action research I conducted a literature review on literature circles, online discussion, and how they were used together. Seeking out professional literature allowed me to eliminate possible changes I wanted to make before trying them out. The literature gave me direction for how I wanted to best try literature circles with online discussion.
 * 9.S.3 The teacher seeks out professional literature, and other resources to support his/her own development as a learner and a teacher.**

After reflecting on the results of my research I realize that even though I can read literature before, take notes during, and analyze data after, that the results will always lead to more reflection. My results were pretty much what I thought they were going to be but I know there is always room for improvement. I know the next time I use literature circles that more reflection is needed because not only can I always improve but I will have a new group of students next year who might require different modifications to what I previously thought was needed
 * 9.D.4 The teacher is committed to seeking out, developing, and continually refining practices that address the individual needs of students.**