INTASC STANDARD NINE
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
AND ETHICAL PRACTICE
The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community) and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
​Council of Chief State School Offices. (2011, April). Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Model Core Teaching Standards: A Resource for State Dialogue. Washington, DC: Author.
​Council of Chief State School Offices. (2011, April). Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Model Core Teaching Standards: A Resource for State Dialogue. Washington, DC: Author.
InTASC Standard #9 promotes the principle of ongoing professional learning and ethical practices. A music teacher who has mastered this principle would develop their teaching by continuously self-reflecting on their choices and actions, adapting their methods to suit the needs of each student, embracing innovation, committing to growth through workshops, welcoming feedback and remaining flexible and adaptable. A music teacher must be committed to their professional growth, ensuring that their teaching remains fresh and engaging, while putting the unique needs of their students at the forefront of their practice. A music educator should always seek feedback from others and must have a desire to improve. Having an open mind to different ways of teaching and practices is key to improvement. Music teachers should gain professional experience by attending workshops or seminars. Just as teachers expect their students to grow in their knowledge of music, teachers should do the same. There is always room for growth and improvement. With technology advancing every day, teachers should also stay up to date on new ways of teaching and incorporate technology in lesson plans.
As a Ball State student, I have learned new teaching techniques and skills that I have been open to trying in my own classroom. Anyone who feels as though they have learned everything about their profession, in my opinion, is ignorant and prideful. Being open to new ideas is vital to becoming a future educator. As the world constantly develops and changes, so must we as educators. Everything I do and say in my classroom is affecting the leaders of tomorrow. I must understand what a great burden and responsibility that is. I have made sure to attend professional development events to expand my resources, meet new people, and learn new tips from other teachers around the country. This is always beneficial, as it opens my mind to a diverse set of new and challenging ideas. I have also gone to different schools, both through classes at Ball State and on my own time, to observe and teach. This provides me opportunities to continually grow and evaluate my own teaching style and habits. I also ask for feedback from other teachers and peers on how I teach, as I am always seeking to improve.
​To prepare and master InTASC Standard #9 I plan to attend more professional development events for updated teaching techniques and networking opportunities. Additionally, I aim to broaden my teaching perspectives by observing educators in diverse musical settings. When I become a teacher, I plan to open up opportunities for students to provide feedback and evaluation about my teaching and class environment. I also want families and professional colleagues to do the same so I can continue to grow and see what I can improve upon. I feel that this is necessary and is some of the greatest steps I can take to further improve myself as an educator. I also plan to employ as many resources online as I can so I am able to stay up to date on the latest methods and ideas to ensure my classroom is always on the cutting edge.
ARTIFACTS
While attending Ball State I have attended multiple professional development events, observed different teachers and even taught in educational settings outside of Ball State. Attached below is a sample Professional Development Log from Fall of 2022, where I attended an event titled “Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Music Classroom.” It was here that I learned more about how to create a welcoming classroom to all students, no matter what their background is. I also observed a middle school orchestra director, and taught at two different schools. In addition, in my Band Methods course, we discussed the significance of having a receptive and inclusive attitude towards diverse perspectives and new ideas. As a music educator, it is important for me to continuously engage in professional learning and to constantly evaluate my teaching methods and how efficiently I am impacting students. During this class we had to complete a chapter reading from a book titled: Culturally responsive teaching in music education: From understanding to application. The chapter was titled "Understanding How Culture Informs the Development of Teachers." We learned the importance of being culturally competent and knowledgeable about various cultures. It is essential for music educators to be open and accepting of cultural differences in the classroom. Music is an excellent example of how cultural diversity can be celebrated and incorporated into a learning experience. As educators it is important to be willing to learn about and appreciate various musical traditions and cultures. Embracing cultural diversity and being open to new ideas can create a more welcoming and accepting classroom that fosters a love of learning for all students. Attached below is the chapter that we had to read prior to a discussion on this subject. ​