Professional Development Reflection and Planning

Reflections
Begin by thinking about your career and making specific statements about it. Use this tool to reflect on
your professional satisfaction and growth.

1. What excites you MOST about your job?

What I love most about my job is teaching. I find it most rewarding when I hear from parents of
previous children and they still talk about me or are still involved with something that I taught them. It
makes me smile to see a child show pride in accomplishing a task that we have been working on or being
about to recite the entire alphabet without help

2. What challenges are you currently facing in your work?

My biggest challenge is finding time to get planning and observations completed. These are
important aspects to maintaining a well-run classroom. Also, being a single teacher classroom can be
challenging because I dont get the help or support from someone.

3. What would you CHANGE about your current position? If more than one, please prioritize.

The biggest thing I struggle with within my classroom, is time. I feel as a teacher we are just
never given enough time to get what we need done, done. I sometimes must bring my work home with me
but as a mom I dont think its fair to take time from my children and try and maintain my house.

4. List three job related areas you would like more information on

1. Observations

2. Management

3. Organization

5. Which Professional Organizations are you currently involved in?

a. _______National Association for the Education of Young Children

b. _______Wisconsin Early Childhood Association

c. _______ Local AEYC Affiliate

d. _______ Wisconsin Family Child Care Association

e. _______ Wisconsin Child Care Administrators Association

f. _______ Local Family Child Care Support Group

 j. ___X___ Other, please specify: Young Star

Of the topics listed below, reflect on the areas that you do well and what areas would like to experience
growth in?

Child-Care Giver Relationships

I think most of my strengths lie within my care giving relationships. I think that its very important that all
children and families are comfortable with their care giver.

Observation and Planning

Observations have always been one of my struggles. I think I just need to find a technique that I can
easily incorporate into my daily routine.

Learning Environment

I take a lot of pride in the learning environment that I provide for the children in my classroom. I love to
rotate toys so that children can learn as much as they can. I also enjoy making different activities for the
children to use as well.

Guiding Children

I know that I do well with guiding children, but this is an area that could always use improvement. There
will always be something new for me to learn or different strategies that I could use when guiding
children.

Parent Relationships

The relationships that I have with my parents is very important. Its important to me that they feel a sense
of security and comfort leaving their child with me for 8+ hours a day. Having a good relationship with
parents is also important so they can feel comfortable being able to come to me with concerns or issues
they might be having.

Health and Safety

I feel as though my knowledge regarding guide lines in health and safety are substantial. I have taken
many continuing education classes and will continue to do so. The health and safety of every child is very
important.

Community Involvement

Within my center, we find that it is very important to host community events for current families and for
new families to see our center.

Advocacy

I think as a teacher I advocate well for the children of my class. I am their voice to those grown
individuals around them.

Planning
Take some time now to look at the previous forms you just competed. Reflect on recurring strengths, area
of improvement, interests, desires, and challenges. Then fill out this worksheet.

Professional Planning

Develop a professional plan with one or two goals and steps to achieve those goals
for:
1 year from now

My goal for 1 year from now is to be enrolled in school where I will be earning my associates degree. I
want to further educate myself so that I can become and assistant director.

I have already enrolled with a program.

I have asked for the help in my classroom so that I can still teach my class but also ensure I
am able to succeed in school.

3 years from now

My goal for 3 years from now is to be in a assistant director position or working towards achieving this
position.

I plan to have completed my associated degree.

I also plan to show my superiors my strengths to achieve this goal.