SMART Professional Goal-Setting

Tatiana Julien
Goal 1: Broaden my knowledge of the QEP
My goal is to broaden my knowledge of the QEP (Quebec Education Program). As I intend to
reside in Quebec for my future career as an educator, I feel it is important to develop a deeper
understanding of the province curriculum. Indeed, throughout my practice as an elementary
school teacher, I will need to use the QEP as a framework for assessing children and as a guide
for my lesson planning.
In order to achieve this goal, I will:
1. Read over the Cross-Curricular Competencies, Broad Areas of Learning, as well as the
Academic Subject Areas of the QEP, and take notes.
2. Attend all workshops given by McGill that serve to explain how to incorporate the QEP in
lesson plans.
3. Communicate with teachers residing in Quebec, to ask them how they efficiently integrate the
QEP in their lessons.
4. Find teaching ideas that could be associated with the various QEP Competencies.
I will have read over the Cross-Curricular Competencies, Broad Areas of Learning, as well as the
Academic Subject Areas of the QEP, and taken notes of what I have read by the end of my
Winter 2017 semester, during which I will have a class about kindergarten classroom
pedagogy. I will
I will know I have reached my goal when I can competently link lesson plans and teaching ideas
to the QEP, without needing to refer to the curriculum every time. This means that I will have
attained a thorough comprehension of what the Cross-Curricular Competencies, Broad Areas of
Learning, as well as the Academic Subject Areas of the QEP consist of. By the end of my third
stage (December 2017), I will have acquired sufficient experience in lesson planning that
incorporates the QEP to be able to accurately assess my progress.
In order to accomplish this goal, I will refer to the QEP and online resources, made available by
the MEERS to future teachers looking to create lesson plans. I will also need to maintain and
regularly check my McGill Email, which will inform me of any upcoming workshops that
involve lesson planning that incorporates the QEP. Furthermore, I will contact teachers that work
in Quebec to discuss how they integrate the curriculum in their lessons.
I will find the time to complete this goal by taking two to three hours every month to commit to
it. I will take this time to read and annotate the QEP, and research teaching ideas that can be
linked to it. During those hours, I will also take the opportunity to contact any teacher that can
give me advice about lesson planning that involves the QEP.

Page 1 of 3

For support, I can communicate with teachers that have classes about elementary school
pedagogy, or other teachers that are currently practicing in Quebec.
I want to achieve this goal because as a future teacher that wants to practice in Quebec, I find it
important to know and understand the curriculum that I will be referring to when planning my
lessons. This way, when I graduate, I will already have knowledge of tools and resources that can
be used in my classroom.
I will know that I have achieved my goal by the end of my third field experience, which is by the
end of December 2017. My halfway measurement will be when I have finished my second year
of the Kindergarten and Elementary Education program, by Spring 2017.

Goal 2: Develop a Strong Teacher Voice

My goal is to develop a strong teacher voice, which is essentially communicating clearly and
confidently in the classroom. I want to achieve this goal so that I can create an engaging learning
environment for my students.
In order to achieve my goal, I will:
1. Find tools and tricks that will help me develop vocal variety, which will allow me to have a
wide variety of tonal expressions and other skills to choose from.
2. Discover and incorporate some tone, pitch, and breathing exercises in my daily routine.
3. Ask other teachers advice about how to efficiently use your voice in a classroom.
4. Attend all workshops given by McGill that provide ways to use your voice efficiently, so that
students remain energized, focused and actively listening in the classroom.
I will have developed a stronger teacher voice by the end of May 2018, which is when my last
field experience will end. I will have discovered tools and tricks for vocal improvement that I
can incorporate in my daily routine over my next two field experiences, as this will give me
sufficient time to practice and hone my teacher voice before my last teaching field experience.
I will know I have reached my goal by the end of my last stage (May 2018), after which I will
have self-reflected and assessed my progress over the years.
In order to accomplish this goal, I will refer to online and multimedia resources, made available
to individuals looking to develop stronger and clearer voices. I will also need to maintain and
regularly check my McGill Email, which will inform me of any upcoming workshops that could
aid me in the attainment of my goal.
I will find the time to complete this goal by performing vocal exercises at least biweekly. Once
every two weeks, I will dedicate twenty minutes of my mornings of the week to researching
vocal and tonal exercises, and practicing them. I will also take the time to ask other educators
about any tips and tricks they may have about vocal improvement.
For support, I can communicate with my colleagues that are studying to become teachers, or
elementary and kindergarten educators that are currently teaching.
Page 2 of 3

I want to achieve this goal because I find that as future educators, our voice is our most valuable
asset. We rely on our voices to a great extent, as we transmit mood, atmosphere, emotions and
most importantly, information through it. The way we speak and how our voice sounds have a
great impact on our classroom management. Although I am not shy, I do have a tendency to be
soft-spoken. This is why I would like to take the time to develop a strong teacher voice, so that I
can effective in my future field and teacher experiences.
I will know that I have achieved my goal by the end of my fourth field experience, which is by
the end of May 2019. My halfway measurement will be when I have finished my second field
experience, by May 2017.

Page 3 of 3