Reflection on First Semester in CoT

I wanted to take the opportunity in my final journal of the semester to reflect on my time in CoT! I'm going to follow the Taxonomy of Reflection that Nancy provided us on each component of CoT because I love how it's broken down and I want to start applying it to my reflections for my expectations.

This was my first semester in CoT, so I was a little nervous coming into seminar because I figured all of you would already have your own groove going and it would be difficult actually feeling like part of the Alpha community, but I was immediately proven wrong. I have loved getting to know each individual and I have always looked forward to our meetings. I completed all of the readings so I could participate in discussion, posted responses in our discussion forum on Canvas, took my turn being Lead and Current Event, and participated in the final project. It is important to me to complete all of these aspects of seminar in order to feel like an active, integral member of the community. I can apply this practice to any group or community I participate in my life like my current membership with KDPi at the School of Ed or when I get a teaching position after I graduate. Being an active member of a community means I can contribute new ideas, learn from others, and make the community better for its members. A few patterns I have noticed in my participation in seminar that I would like to work on include sometimes being afraid to voice an opinion that is different from the majority in the group, not getting to know my fellow CoT members outside of seminar, and maybe not going as in depth as I could with my responses on canvas. Overall though, I feel that I did a good job participating in seminar being my first semester. Next semester I plan to work on improving those negative patterns, do better managing time during my Lead so my main activity gets the time it deserves, and continue building our community!

For the portfolio component, I feel like I really took off running with it. I was actually so eager to join CoT after my interview last spring that I created my portfolio over the summer so I could just dump in my expectations without getting caught up in aesthetics and design (which I tend to do a lot). I did join CoT a little bit later in the game so I had to work a little faster than maybe most people just starting out would. I completed four expectations at the SP level this semester including Extracurricular Activities, Subject Matter, Multicultural Understanding, and Professional Development. I did this by setting deadlines for when I wanted to turn in each expectation and working on my portfolio a few hours every week. I honestly love working on my portfolio because it makes me feel accomplished and competent. It was a bit of a struggle gathering evidence since I was still in the process of finding a mentor, but working around that barrier makes me eager for when I can start collecting evidence in the field. For me, it was important that I accomplished at least four expectations this semester because I need five to apply for the TEP this upcoming March, so that was an added motivator. Completing these expectations was also important because it made me reflect on my previous experiences, pushed me to find opportunities to get out of my comfort zone, and proved that I am capable of being self-motivated and staying on top of my work. I can apply this to my next four semesters with CoT so that I motivate myself to complete more than the required two expectations a semester to really stay on top of my portfolio. Patterns in my portfolio mainly had to do with my reflection because at least two of them Alex pointed out that it was a summary of my evidence instead of a reflection. I think the only reason I had a hard time with the reflections was because I didn't have a mentorship so I didn't apply a lot of my evidence in the classroom, so my reflection is theoretical instead of concrete. I think I did a fantastic job this semester. I'm really proud of it (I show it to everyone!) and I really am excited to continue building my portfolio over the next few semesters! Next I plan to compile evidence from the past and write up a reflection for Expressing Convictions over winter break and then submit it right away when Spring semester begins so I know I am definitely in the clear to apply for the TEP. Then I plan to complete at least two more after that to begin building my 10 expectations required for student teaching.

Mentorship was the most daunting component of CoT this semester! It started off slow because I was unable to send out emails until two weeks into the semester and then it took forever to go through the different levels of administration before scheduling a day to observe. In searching for a mentor, I tried to have fun with it and be open to a wide variety of experiences. I am proud that I visited seven different schools and observed 17 art teachers in one semester! It was a little awkward at first because I didn't know what to do while I was observing and the teacher felt compelled to keep me "entertained" during the school day, but I eventually got into the swing of things by the middle of the semester. The most important accomplishment though was actually getting a mentor! I didn't know if I was going to be able to accomplish it by this semester, but it happened! I will be working with Ms. Ontiveros from Fishers HS. I am okay with the hour drive (even though it sucks for Alex and Gretchen, sorry!) because Fishers is really an incredible school and Ms. Ontiveros (the whole art department really) is really forwarding thinking and well liked and respected by her students. She really made the search for a mentor better because she included me during her teaching, asking me to help students, letting me look at and keep lesson plans and worksheets, talking me through her thought processes, etc. She really is a great fit and I am so excited to begin visiting her classroom on a consistent basis. What was important about the search for a mentor was being exposed to different teaching styles, learning environments, and student populations. I always had so much to reflect on in my journals after every visit. These experiences also pushed me way outside my comfort zone and I am proud of where I am today. I feel confident and less introverted after having to send emails to principals, strangers, and going to schools and towns I'm not familiar with. I can apply this newfound confidence in literally every aspect of my life. I already applied it this semester by getting out of my comfort zone and going to the annual Art Education Association of Indiana convention ALONE. I would have never done that last year. But I'm know learning that everyone's been in my shoes and no one really notices or cares as much as you would think. Patterns in my observations included feeling awkward most times, so I decided to try a new strategy halfway through to change that pattern by bringing a laptop with me to take notes. I found this super beneficial because if there was ever a lull in conversation I would type up notes about what we had just been discussing and this allowed the teacher to relax and not feel the need to babysit me and allowed me to remember things that I would've forgotten to write down at the end of observation. Again, I think I did great in my search! Next, I will be visiting Ms. Ontiveros every Friday in the spring and I look so forward to the relationship I get to build with her and her students.

In all aspects of CoT, I feel like I found my fit. My one goal since the beginning of college has been to seek opportunities and take them. I think I have done that in a lot of ways and joining CoT was one of those ways. It sounded like it would be a great fit, I strategized and planned to try it this semester and if it was not a fit get back into the anchor program and still be eligible to apply to the TEP by spring, or stay if it was a great fit. I am so glad that I found CoT when I did, otherwise it would have been too late. I've had a great semester and I am looking forward to what next semester holds!