1. Induction
NICOLE STEWART

2. resume
See Portfolio for Updated Copy of Resume.

3. Reading Across content areas
This online course gave me so many instructional strategies to use in order to emphasize literacy in all content areas. This is easy to do in many content areas, but I struggled a bit to connect literacy and math. One of the tools from the course that I used over and over in math classes was word mapping new vocabulary and helping students to make connections to the words so they would remember the vocabulary.
This course gave more resources for vocabulary and comprehension than I was able to use in a school year, but I am sure that I will keep coming back to these resources over and over again.
Standards: 1a, 1b, 1d, 1e, 1f, 3e

4. Gifted education 101
This was a full day training that was offered by the Colorado League of Charter Schools. The training took place at the Academy for Advanced and Creative Learning in Colorado Springs. This is a school for students who are gifted and talented and it looks a lot different than most schools.
One of my responsibilities this year, in addition to teaching special education, was to work with our Gifted and Talented students.
This training gave me extensive background information on this population of students, what we must do in working with them, and how teachers need to differentiate instruction for them.
I was able to train the staff at my school on their role in working with this population and I saw some positive things come from it.
Standards: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3e

5. Siop training
SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) is a way of teaching that really focuses on English Learners, however, I found it to be extremely helpful for my special education students also.
SIOP focuses on vocabulary and helping students connect to and internalize unfamiliar vocabulary.
Some of the strategies that I found most helpful were building background, word walls, pictures, audio versions of text, highlighting/underlining, predicting, rereading, mapping information, cooperative learning, using wait time to allow students to figure out answers, and making the delivery of lessons relevant.
Standards: 2c, 2d, 3c, 3e, 1c, 2b, 3g, 6a

6. Avid training
AVID Training focused on using inquiry based instruction to increase rigor in the classroom.
Students should be asking questions, interacting with the material, and thinking on higher-order levels.
Questions teachers can ask include: What do you think? Why do you think that? How do you know this? Can you tell me more? What questions do you still have?
Some ways to engage students in higher-order thinking are: philosophical chairs, critical reading, marking the text, Socratic seminars, and WICOR (writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, reading).
Standards: 2g, 2h, 2c, 2d, 3c, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 1c, 1d, 6a

7. Enet course: creativity in the mobile classroom
This online course gave me so many valuable resources for using technology in the classroom.
One of the challenges that I faced this year was a lack of technology in the school that I worked in. Previously, I taught with a full set of iPads and ran a paperless classroom, so it was an adjustment being without technology.
The course provided lists of applications for organization, collaboration and communication, education, game-based learning, different subjects, and teacher productivity. I was so excited to try some of them that I ended up buying a second personal iPad to use in my classroom. The use of technology really enhanced my teaching.
Standards: 3d, 2d, 3e, 1c

8. Unc course: leadership development through inquiry
This course was taken as a requirement for my Educational Leadership/Special Education Administration degree.
The foundation of this course was reflection on leadership. We were able to reflect on our past experiences and how they shaped us as a leader. We were able to observe other leaders and evaluate the good and the bad in their styles of leadership.
While this course was aimed at those entering administration, I believe it is important for everyone in education to reflect on these things. Teachers must be involved in the leadership of the school and this course gave me more confidence to step up and lead as a teacher.
Standards: 3f, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 2e

9. Books read “First Year Teachers Survival Guide” by Julia G. Thompson
“Tools for Teaching” by Fred Jones
“Teach Like A Champion” by Doug Lemov
“Quantum Teaching: Orchestrating Student Success” by Bobbi DePorter, Sarah Singer-Nourie, and Mark Reardon
“The Jossey-Bass Reader on Educational Leadership”- various authors
“Leadership Theory and Practice” by Peter G. Northouse
Standards: 2a, 2f, 3g, 3h, 2e, 4a, 4b, 4c, 6a, 6b, 1d, 2b

10. Self-reflection Quality Standard 1
Element A: Reading Across Content Areas; District Professional Development
Element B: Reading Across Content Areas
Element C: SIOP Training; AVID Training; ENet Course
Element D: AVID Training; Reading Across Content Areas; Books Read
Element E: Reading Across Content Areas
Element F: Reading Across Content Areas; Books Read

11. Self-Reflection Quality Standard II
Element A: Gifted Education 101; Books Read
Element B: Gifted Education 101; Books Read; SIOP Training
Element C: Gifted Education 101; SIOP Training; AVID Training
Element D: ENet Course; Gifted Education 101; SIOP Training; AVID Training
Element E: UNC Course; Books Read
Element F: Books Read

12. Self-Reflection Quality Standard III
Element A: Gifted Education 101; Books Read
Element B: Gifted Education 101; Books Read
Element C: SIOP Training; AVID Training
Element D: ENet Course
Element E: Reading Across Content Areas; Gifted Education 101; SIOP; AVID; ENet Course
Element F: AVID Training; UNC Course
Element G: AVID Training; Books Read; SIOP Training
Element H: AVID Training; Books Read

13. Self-Reflection Quality Standard IV Element A: Books Read
Element B: Books Read
Element C: Books Read

14. Self-reflection Quality Standard V Element A: UNC Course
Element B: UNC Course
Element C: UNC Course
Element D: UNC Course

15. Self-reflection Quality Standard VI
Element A: Books Read; SIOP Training; AVID Training
Element B: Books Read

16. Professional Development plan
I want to create a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for the special education students that I teach (Quality Standard II). I want to deliver effective, differentiated instruction (Quality Standards I & III). I want to reflect on what I am doing and have done, demonstrate leadership, and take responsibility for student growth and achievement (Quality Standards IV, V, & VI).

17. Artifacts
See Portfolio for Artifacts.

18. Mentor log See Portfolio for Mentor Log. Logged 81 hours this year.
Mentor was instrumental in the completion of this program.
I was able to bounce ideas off of her, share my frustrations with her, ask her questions and for advice, and celebrate my victories with her. She was encouraging and supportive and always honest even when it wasn’t easy to be. Having a mentor to help me through this program was extremely helpful.

19. Performance evaluations
See Portfolio for Performance Evaluations.