Teaching Philosophy

I am passionate about Music Education.

Observations & Feedback

This is a Teacher Reflection form for students. At the end of the year, students filled out this form to evaluate myself as a teacher. Questions included fairness of marking assessment, teacher context knowledge, teacher caring, teaching methods, etc. This helped me understand more about what I am doing right, and what I can improve on for the next year.

MYP Coordinator Observation by Ernald Boyd. Our follow-up meeting was effective as Mr. Boyd was able to highlight certain things that I did well. For example, as students were working independently on a task, one student said they didn’t understand what to do. My response was “Awesome - I can help you!”. Mr. Boyd said this was a great way to encourage students to ask for help.

How effective is your leadership?

Feedback from team members:

You are organized, meetings are efficient and productive, things are followed-up with quickly. You are doing a great job! Our department is definitely more organized, meets more frequently, and follows up with HOD tasks more efficiently than other departments from what I gather, so that credit goes to you!

I think you are a good leader. You are open to new ideas and allow the teachers in the department to be creative and work towards their strengths. Your leadership is effective especially in working towards events and dealing with staff during this time. You are a reflective leader, always striving to improve yourself providing a good model for the department. You don't assume to know all the answers.
Always ready to help. Gives clear expectations in a timely manner.

As a leader, what should I keep doing?

Feedback from team members:

Keep allowing us to work to our strengths. You always assume good intentions from people....don't stop doing that.

I think the way our meetings are run now is effective
Keep running the programs, they are awesome!

As a leader, what should I stop doing?

This past year I have learned that there is so much more to leadership than just organizational skills and putting together a concert. The one area that I would like to develop would be how to handle conflict. I understand it to a degree, but this is one area that I am not confident in practicing when the time comes.

Feedback from team members:

It would be good for you to not shy away from having potentially difficult conversations with staff and just "say it as it is".

Might need to ask the other music teachers or assistants how they need helps from you

As a leader, what should I try doing?

Feedback from team members:

You could be more proactive by getting involved in situations sooner instead of waiting until you absolutely need to get involved. Be more assertive in your role when the situation requires it.

Maybe looking at more EOTC opportunities for students such as field trips.
Try to communicate with the music teachers as often as you can.

Evidence of IB Standards & Practices

Screen Shot 2021-06-29 at 8.03.16 AM.png — Approaches to assessment 1: Students and teachers use feedback to improve learning, teaching and assessment. (0404-01)

Students complete a unit overview at the end of each unit which informs me of the efficacy of the completed unit, from the student perspective. Here is an example of the Grade 6 Classify the World unit overview completed by one of the students. The information received informs me of changes that should be made to the unit.
***(Image 0404-01)***

Screen Shot 2021-06-29 at 8.06.11 AM.png — Approaches to assessment 3: The school administrates assessment consistently, fairly, inclusively and transparently. (0404-03)

Here is an example of standardization for the Grade 6 unit, Classify the World Criteria Ai assessment completed with another colleague. Standardization is important so as to make sure that the assessment procedure is accurate and use of criteria is not subjective. Feedback from this will be used to improve this assessment going forward.
***(image of 0404-03)***

0101-03(a).jpeg — Purpose 3: The school community fosters internationally minded people who embody all attributes of the IB Learner Profile
**(0101-03)**

*In the classroom I promote the IB Learner Profile attributes by referring to them throughout the class as well as reward students with the badges when they have demonstrated significant attributes.*
(***IB Learner Profile Learner Posters (0101-03(a)***

Teacher Support 2: The school ensures that leadership and teachers participate in appropriate and timely professional learning to inform their practice.
**(0203-02)**

*The school provides the teachers sufficient IB training to each year.*
***(IB Training Certificate 0203-02)***

The school implements, communicate and regularly reviews an academic integrity policy that creates cultures of ethical academic practice
(0301-03-0500)

*The school keeps track of the Academic Integrity skills by completing the tracking document by grade and subject.* ***(Image 0301-03)***

Approaches to assessment 1: Students and teachers use feedback to improve learning, teaching and assessment. (0404-01)

Each MYP Arts student has an Arts Process Journal in which they document their understanding and reflect on how they learn and what they learn. Through this students are able to track their progress. The ultimate goal is transfer of ways of learning to other subjects.
***(Images of 0404-01b)***

0403-04(b).jpg — Approaches to teaching 4: Teachers promote effective relationships and purposeful collaboration to create a positive and dynamic learning community.
(0403-04)

During the unit for Grade 7, students are given multiple, varied opportunities to give feedback to each other and learn from each other. This particular example shows the students sharing their created motifs and melodies and providing effective feedback to each other.
***(Image of 0403-04)***

mirandagodkin@gmail.com

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