2019-2020 Goals

Hello everyone! I did not realize how long it had been since I posted. I know that since I made the move to ISHCMC I definitely started posting less often than when I was at ISBerne and Ajman Academy. Ironically, I feel like I have so much more to share with everyone! My focus and energy has just been elsewhere. So, one of my goals this year is to blog more. This got me thinking to share my goals for the year with you... maybe you can help with some!

I work at a school owned by Cognita, so I have several "Let's Talk" goals I needed to input onto their website recently. We tied them to our ISHCMC Principals of Learning and ended up with 5 goals each.

Personally, I do feel that 5 is too many. Maybe I would subconsciously end up working on these anyways, but I find it hard to focus on so many goals at one time (well).

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1. To improve student learning through being intentional, using data driven planning and authentic assessment.

This is a school-wide goal for primary. It was written for me and we will all be working collaboratively towards this.

2. To provide balanced opportunities for every learner to flourish.

We have spent a lot of time clarifying our "why" of studio 4. Currently we have settled on "to provide opportunities for every learner to flourish." As a team we wanted to try to focus on the balance of that this year, which is why this is our team goal. Just a reminder that these experiences are an opportunity for our students. If they choose not to take them, or not to act on them in a balanced way, it is our job to help them reflect on that. Our goal is to at least provide a balance of opportunities for them.

3. To provide a variety of learning engagements for individual, collaborative, and small groups, suited to help students meet their learning goals.

I wrote this goal before Studio 4 decided on our team goal. Luckily, it ties in really well. I want to really focus on the variety of engagements I can provide for studio 4 students. What can we put out to "rope them in" to some awesome hands on learning when a teacher is not even there? How do we document this? Do we need to? Are they working solo? in groups? teaching others? My mind goes to math when I think about this, but how can we also do this for literacy? Science? Purposeful passions?

4. To document reflections on Studio 4 structures and practices so opportunities for students improve as needed.

AKA - BLOG MORE!!! As I already said, I am aware that I wrote more blog posts in my previous schools. When I really reflected back on my time in Berne I did find that blog writing helped me reflect on that journey. Even reading them now is helping me improve even further, and improve the environment for my students. I want to get back into this... but I also want to keep balance in my life. Finding that balance may be tricky, but I hope to make some more time to write this year.

5. To use my strengths as an ADE to increase staff and student confidence and creativity in using Apple products.

I was lucky enough to be selected for the ADE Class of 2019 this year. I love the connections I have already made around Asia. ISHCMC has just invested in MacBooks for all teachers, so there is a need for training here. I want to assist our Tech Coach as much as I can with this journey, as well as present at other small, school related upskilling sessions in the area. 

BONUS: personal goal - To try to keep balance while doing all of these goals!

Another thing I am very aware of is my imbalance when I was in Berne. Yes, I was more reflective and ever changing the environment to better support my students.. but I really had no other life! I was new there so friends were limited (though the few I had were amazing), and social life as a whole in Switzerland is not fantastic... especially after coming from the UAE. Vietnam seems like a good balance so far. Keeping that balance is important. Sometimes that is hard with blogging because when the inspiration comes, I need to just get it out.  So keeping the boundaries I set for myself last year here will be important.

Any tips for any of my goals? Please let me know!