I am my own worst critic, which is either a good or bad thing. I feel like I am someone who is always looking for that opportunity to grow and will always take the feedback to go on with the feedforward. It is very difficult to take it, but it is how we get better for the next time. As for what is working for me is keeping a calendar for myself and staying on top of my assignments. I always make sure to check in on Blackboard every day to make sure I am not missing anything. Also, having the class Group Me and the four member group message is definitely beneficial and helpful to make sure we aren’t missing anything, or to always confirm something we heard differently. 

 

Coming into this program, I knew no one, which can probably be said for everyone else. Dr. Harrison recommended we develop a group of four to hold each other accountable and give advice. This is very helpful and beneficial for a graduate student. The four of us took on leadership responsibilities in the group to where it wasn’t just one person always posting something. I am so glad two other ladies in the group knew what to do and what was being asked of us. I honestly had no idea what to expect, but the three other ladies were helpful, especially the two who were in the program at the start of the semester. There was also a class Group Me, which was also beneficial. In that group they showed examples of their portfolios and how they should look. Group Me was very beneficial when we had quick questions about something quick, which was very helpful for myself and the rest of the class. 

 

Along with feedback from my peers, Dr. Harrison also gave feedback for my feedforward. One example of that was with the Growth Mindset plan. I thought I knew what I was doing, but I finally figured out what to do with the questions I had after the Growth Mindset plan was graded. I edited the proper and appropriate revisions and resubmitted for a better grade. Hearing the feedback and questions I had helped me grow and is where I really had to implement my growth mindset. 

 

Although I did not begin the program at the very beginning of the semester, I began in the second fall session, which was different for me. I did not know what to expect and how different the program would be from what I was used to. I began the ADL with two courses, therefore I’m in the accelerated program. I began the program with 5305 and 5302, simultaneously. I felt a little lost at the beginning trying to figure out how they go together; I was also trying to figure out what growth mindset has anything to do with this program? Halfway through, and now it finally clicks how they go together–as we go on with the program and even after graduation, we are going to plan these projects with a team and collaborate. We might feel like we are getting knocked down, but we can’t let that defeat us. 

 

While I feel like I posted in a timely fashion, I do remember there was a week where I almost forgot to post and posted late on a Thursday. While it was during the day I posted and before the deadline, it was considered late for me. I usually post my discussion on a Sunday at the latest, but that time I do believe time just slipped by me and I completely forgot. I remember when I was at work that morning that I never posted a discussion post for that week. As for the other posts, I would do my best posting either between a Saturday-Monday, and reply by the end of the week, since I know the importance of giving such feedback in a timely fashion. I find it very beneficial to reply to another peers’ discussion post, and to gather ideas from another viewpoint, or the same viewpoint. You learn a lot about your peers from the discussion board. It challenges us to have educational and friendly discussions. 

 

All in all, I would score myself 80-100. I believe I put in a lot of effort and am diligent in my work. However, there is always room for growth and no one is perfect. A great example of this is when I had my 45 minute formal observation a few weeks ago. When I met with my principal she was very fair and I scored proficient in some areas, and accomplished in others. The accomplished part of the rubric is of course what I grew in, but the proficient is where I need to grow. She then proceeded to tell me I am one of the few teachers she can count on to provide the feedback and will proceed to put such practices into place. In other words, I am very open with the feedback for feedforward and will continue with the practice. As someone who wants to continue with the growth it is always important to go in with an open mind and a growth mindset. If I go in with a closed and fixed mindset there will not be enough room for growth, thus no room for feedforward and learning.