Implementing Florida Educator Accomplished Practices in classroom management and teacher development

FEAP

The Florida Educator Accomplished Practices are techniques implemented by teachers to ensure classroom success for all students. When implemented, students respond positively and thrive. The professional practices include assessment, communication, continuous improvement, critical thinking, diversity, ethics, human development and learning, and knowledge of subject matter.

The first professional practice is assessment. In order for a teacher to be professional, he/she must continually assess the student's progress in all developmental areas, not only academics but also behavior and social skills. Ways to implement this practice area in the classroom include recognizing a student's readiness to learn (this is especially important in the younger grades) and recognizing potentially disruptive students. As learned in the Psychological Foundation in Education course, more assessments are conducted through observation than on paper and all assessments should be journaled to ensure a proper follow-up when necessary.

Communication is the next professional practice. This practice is achieved by running a professional but friendly classroom that remains on task and focused. For exceptional students, this environment is especially important in order to ensure all children are taught and challenged at their learning level.

Continuous improvement means strengthening ones own teaching practices through self-reflection and continued education. For continuous improvement to be properly implemented teachers should accepted and embrace change, making the most of every learning opportunity to further their student's educational experience. One such area where this is crucial is in classroom development. While many teachers are creative, it helps to have the feedback of others to make the classroom outstanding.

Critical or higher level thinking is the goal of every teacher, as is taught in the Curriculum and Special Material for Exceptional Students course. It is a teacher's greatest challenge to get their students thinking outside of the box, and to do so requires using multiple techniques and creative ways of instructing.

Diversity is the widow by which students see outside of their own lives and is achieved within the classroom through allowing students to take risks and inquire about other cultures. As is taught in the Teaching Social and Personal Skills course, this must be mastered while also teaching children about respect for others.

Teachers must always act with the utmost ethics, in accordance with the Florida state board. No area requires more attention than disciplining students. A teacher must be patient, honest and use professional techniques for restraining student behavior. These principles are emphasized in the Behavior Management course.

In order to meet the goals of Human Development and Learning a professional teacher provides learning opportunities in agreement with a student's learning style. Learning styles can be easily defined when conducting a physiological assessment of the student and should be honored and utilized throughout the school year.

There is no greater topic of importance than a strong knowledge of the teacher's subject matter. A professional teacher must be able to not only teach the subject, but make it come to life so that students understand the real life application of what is being taught. This comes in creating proper Instructional Strategies and thinking outside of the textbook whenever possible.