Julie+Tee+2012

= My Profile: = I have been a primary teacher of Chinese for over 20 years. Although recently retired from full-time teaching, I am now working with the Chinese Teacher Training Centre at the University of Melbourne, providing professional development for both new and experienced teachers of Chinese.

= Action Research Project Planner:  = Which area/s of your practice would you like to improve? In my role as a mentor, I would like to develop strategies and procedures to enhance my ability to provide support to the teachers under my guidance. What will be your focus for this project in 2012? In order for this to occur, I will ensure that I make regular email contact with Stanley and Jiefei. I will also organise a face-to-face meeting during the Term 2 vacation in which we can discuss a range of issues, in particular those arising from their projects which relate to improving the range and quality of their assessment.
 * = Stage 1 ** – ** ANALYSE =

Which aspects of the Standards does your project relate to? My project relates to the Professional Standards for Languages Educators (draft 2012) that were introduced to us at the MoRe LEAPS professional development in Adelaide in May 2012. || Timeline for 2012 Initial meeting with Stanley and Jiefei. Emails regularly to Stanley and Jiefei. Fave-to-face meeting during Term 2 holidays. Visit to school. Exchange of materials - to send self assessment form to both in order for Stanley and Jiefei to reflect on what they are currently doing in their classroom and to become aware of a range of different strategies that they could try. Will ask them to select a couple of new ones and try them out. || What did you do?
 * = Stage 2 - PLAN =
 * = Stage 2 - PLAN =
 * == Stage 3 – ACT ==
 * == Stage 3 – ACT ==

The first meeting with my mentees occurred on Thursday May 3rd 2012, arranged by the MLTAV. During discussions with both teachers, it was decided that their focus would be on developing a range of assessment tools and strategies that they could use in their classroom. Both teachers felt they were currently using only a very limited number of strategies to assess their students and felt that these did little to not only show what students are learning but also limited their ability to report to parents on their child's progress. Emails to Stanley and Jiefei, with assessment sheet as an attachment. Asked them to have a look and reflect on what they are currently doing and what else they might like to try. Meeting arranged for July 13th, 2012.

Our meeting on the 13th July was very productive. We discussed their reflections on their current use of assessment tools and noted the ones they had decided to trial in their classroom. Stanley shared his excel spreadsheet and we discussed the need to have a range of other ways of noting student achievement other than marks. We discussed the advantage of checklists and other annotation tools that not only record student learning but may also be useful come reporting time.

I am awaiting Stanley's email response with regards to paying a visit to his school and observing him in action. Jiefei, unfortunately, is quite a long distance away so we will continue to stay in contact via email.

Have arranged a visit to Stanley's school on the 30th August. Looking forward to seeing him in action in his classroom and discussing where he is at with regards to his assessment strategies and tools. || What did you notice? ||
 * == Stage 4 - OBSERVE ==
 * == Stage 4 - OBSERVE ==
 * Both are young teachers who are very dedicated to their profession. Stanley and Jiefei were very receptive to ideas and suggestions and were very happy to share what they had done and to also reflect critically on their current practice. Stanley is also very proactive and had spent considerable time developing his own recording tool, incorporating VELS expectations.

As a teacher who participated regularly in professional development, I have found that my experience with the PSP Projects, particularly Stream C, has been of particular benefit in this mentoring project. Focusing on assessment, Stream C required considerable self-reflection on my own assessment strategies and tools as well as providing new ideas. This has been a source of inspiration for my work with both Stanley and Jiefei. || What would you do the same/differently in the future? ||
 * == Stage 5 - REFLECT ==