SMART Goals, Vision Statements and Mission Statements

One of the things we did this week was to talk about creating SMART goals.  Specifically, this means that we need to start with our planning for activities with the end results in mind.  SMART is an acronym that stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.  If a teacher is keeping these key words in mind while planning lessons or activities he/she would be able to make sure that the activities don't attempt to do too many things in too short of a time.

Vision and Mission Statements are important in order to keep the teacher remembering what is important to them.  In the day to day running of a classroom, sometimes the big picture is lost among the plethora of concerns that come up or are places upon us.  On the whole, a vision statement states what the major goals of the teacher are.  For example, my main goal as a teacher is to do whatever I need to do in order to help my students find success while still be an ethical and moral person.  A mission statement is something that gives a brief explanations of some of the steps that he/she is going to do in order to get closer to reaching or to reach the major goals he/she has within the next three to five years.

I have a feeling that creating the Vision and Mission Statements will be something I can do since I know what my goals are.  I just need to put them down "on paper".  Being able to modify a Google Site in order to be able to present my ideas effectively.  For the most part, the Google Sites are nicely customize-able, but sometimes they need tons of work to look good.

The standards that I am using as a basis for my portfolio are the National Educational Technology Standards. I chose these partially due to the fact that they are straightforward, and they align with my goals.  I took a look at the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Science, but gauged them as too unwieldy and bulky to use as the basis for my portfolio.  My portfolio (such as it is so far) can be found here.

Beginnings of a Professional Portfolio

This week we were assigned to start looking at what we would need to consider and have in a professional portfolio.  This seems like an immense challenge that I hope to be able to be worthy of.  With the limitations that teaching, coaching, attempting to raise two kids and take care of a disabled wife, while dealing with some new health problems that have sneaked up on me, I am finding that even the best time management plans are not worth the paper they are diagrammed upon.  Something is going to have to give, but I am hoping that it is not going to negatively effect my family or my schooling or my ability to perform my jobs.  However, I have a feeling that I will be able to direct my professional development to best meet my goals if I place these goals someplace visible where I can remind myself of what I want to achieve.