Just like their students, it is important that teachers are learning and growing as well. That is why it is important for every teacher to be aware of their own professional learning goals that they aim to achieve. As an English teacher, one of my primary goals is to improve communication. To be able to do this effectively, I need to be aware of the diverse population of students who occupy my classroom. It is essential that I provide lessons and environments that promote learning for all students. With this in mind, my professional learning goals are to learn a second language, continue to incorporate new technologies in my lessons, and promote inclusivity through my presentation.

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In the English classroom, being able to communicate effectively is key. I currently work in a community that has a significant Spanish speaking population. Occasionally, I experience a language barrier that inhibits my ability to fully reach these students. Emergent bilingual students (EBS) are hard working individuals who are attempting to master the content of their classrooms while simultaneously working to perfect another language. I currently practice techniques to improve lessons for EBS by creating multi-modal presentations and offering varied lexile levels of text; however, by learning how to speak Spanish, I will be able to better reach these students even when those previous techniques are ineffective. Resources I plan on using to learn Spanish is to enroll in courses at a local community college and use language learning apps such as Duolingo.

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Through my experiences in the Masters of Art in Educational Technology (MAET) program at Michigan State University, I have worked with numerous types of technology that can be used in the classroom. My professors have made this convenient for me by providing different literature and resources that promote this sort of development. As I near graduation in this program, it is essential that I identify a network that I can rely on to encourage me to grow with the ever evolving technology. Growing and tapping into my current existent Professional Learning Network will ensure that I receive the resources I need. I have found that social media such as Pinterest and Twitter are excellent online spaces where educational technology tools can be shared. Following blogs such as EdTech RoundUp and The Innovative Educator are also ways I plan to learn ways to incorporate new technology into my lesson plans.

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A major responsibility of educators is being mindful of the diverse populations in the classroom. Two ways to improve inclusivity for all are to be aware of intersectionality and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Intersectionality is a more complex look at social discrimination, as it points out that discrimination might involve more than one factor. By staying aware of this and working to obstruct discrimination it will help to redress some of the systemic inequalities our nation faces. Students enter my classroom with all sorts of different barriers to learning. By actively incorporating UDL and its frameworks for varying engagement, representation, and action/expression into my lesson plan, I aim to provide an environment that promotes learning for all.