While pre-professional field experiences usually require student journaling, supervisors often find that journal entries become just a tedious litany of classroom activities in which the student teacher has engaged. The innovative format that I have designed for journal entries has revolutionized my field experience supervision practices and vastly improved the quality of the teacher-candidate’s experiences and reflections. Now, journal entries are distinguished, thoughtful, and sharply focused on the themes and domains involved in becoming a leading teacher.
During this highly interactive session, participants will discuss the continuous challenges of learning that teaching poses in the areas of leadership, diversity and technology. It is recognized that pre-service teachers must demonstrate necessary competencies within these themes if they are to become exemplary teachers.
The presenter will share a journaling format that is also driven by identified domains such as becoming an instructional leader and expert in a school context, a learning theorist, a curriculum designer as well as a master practitioner. Work samples of authentic electronic journal entries and an accompanying rubric will be reviewed for participants to reflect upon how the innovative format enhances the quality of pre-service teacher journals and empowers pre-professionals as they purposefully journey towards becoming exemplary teachers.
