Courtney Eichhorn
Educator - Leader - Learner
Professional Standards
When I graduated from Northern Michigan University, I was asked to consider my beliefs of the qualities necessary to uphold educator status. This page displays my knowledge of six professional standards and domains that I strive to follow.
Please click on an image below to view specific examples of my work and further explanations.
Communication
Communication skills lay the foundation for building positive and functional teacher-student relationships as well as colleague and parent-teacher relationships. Maintaining consistent contact with students and their families is highly important for student success in the classroom and school. I contact parents for both positive and negative feedback to ensure a comfortable relationship and to avoid only confronting parents in negative situations.
Management of Student Behavior
Managing student behavior is a vital aspect of education as teachers cannot effectively deliver instruction without controlling the actions of the pupils. Center to the management of students' behavior is the notion to encourage positive and desired interactions between all individuals in the classroom. As the teacher, I am responsible for creating a comfortable and safe learning environment for all. I am able to do so through a variety of classroom management techniques.
Management of Learning Progress/Assessment
Management of learning progress is the process of assessing students and adapting instruction to meet students' needs. Through assessment I am able to evaluate students' knowledge and comprehension of content as well as reflect upon the effectiveness of my teaching. I can then determine whether or not the material should be re-taught in a different manner or to include the incorporation of more appropriate modifications into my lesson plans to enhance student understanding.
Lesson Plans
Lesson planning is one of the most important duties of a teacher as the plans outline the teacher's instructional and curriculum goals for every day of the school year. The lesson plans not only organize and guide the teacher, but also inform the school district and department heads of the material the teacher covers in the classroom. I have much experience designing lesson plans in accordance with the Common Core State Standards curriculum and indivdiual state objectives as well as ensuring the integration of technology.
Lesson Presentation
Lesson presentation determines the extent to which students are engaged in a lesson as well as how effectively the teacher uses the instructional time. For every class period, I organize class time to begin promptly and to maximize teaching opportunities. I present lessons in a way that allows for a change of activities throughout and encourages active learning on the part of each student whether the material is delivered individually, in small groups, or during whole class instruction.
Evaluation of Self, Students, and Teaching
Evaluation is a necessary component of education. As a teacher it is important to not only conduct evaluations on students, but also myself and my teaching. Assessment of students allows for the measuring of academic progress, while assessment of myself helps me to remain effective in the classroom. By reflecting and adjusting instruction accordingly, I improve my methods for delivering instruction and enhance my quality as an educator.