Michael O'Donovan

Azusa Pacific University

Individual Learning/Development Plan Template

1.) Review the TPEs and reflect on your performance of each. Include descriptions of
specific course activities or experiences that have prepared you thus far on each TPE
Teacher Performance Rate where you are on each TPE Describe specific activities
Expectations you have completed in
courses, or experiences you
have had in fieldwork,
clinical practice, or your
own classroom that
evidence your rating.
TPE 1: Engaging and 1.3- Connecting subject matter Any time I have developed
Supporting All Students In to meaningful, real- life context. a lesson plan, I have always
Learning Developing incorporated real life
context with modern day
events or people because I
value that as one of the
most important parts of
connecting with students. I
have only delivered a few
lessons but I think I know
what needs to be done to
better develop this skill.
TPE 2: Creating And 2.1- Promoting social This is also one of things I
Maintaining Effective development and responsibility deem as most important in
Environments For Student within a caring community the classroom
Learning where each student is treated environment. Respect is
fairly and respectfully. something that I will always
Developing require as a mutual desire
with the students. I’m not
close to mastering that but
it is a top priority for
progress as an educator
that I’m ready to learn
more about.
TPE 3: Understanding and 3.3- Organizing curriculum to I believe that connecting
Organizing Subject Matter facilitate student understanding with students is how they
For Student Learning of the subject matter. Beginning will learn content the best
and coming up with new
ways to reach them is
 something that I look
forward to as a challenge.
TPE 4: Planning Instruction 4.1- Using knowledge of As a teacher I plan on
and Designing Learning students’ academic readiness, welcoming in the diversity
Experiences For All language proficiency, cultural of students and
Students background, and individual incorporating their
development to plan instruction. backgrounds within the
Beginning content. This will build the
classroom community and
create a space for the
students to thrive.
TPE 5: Assessing Students 5.4- Using assessment data to Backwards design is
For Learning establish learning goals and to something that I have
plan, differentiate, and modify practiced but I want to
instruction. Beginning perfect and understanding
the general pace of the
class is what will further my
instruction.
TPE 6: Developing As A 6.1- Reflecting on teaching I want to make sure that I
Professional Educator practice in support of student am not getting complacent
learning. Beginning with my instruction and
that I’m maximizing my
efforts to be the most
effective teacher that I can
be.

2.) Create and list one SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results oriented, and Time
bound) goal for each of the above TPE’s (You may use the individual sub-strands as a
guide) in which you will work toward growth through the rest of this course and your
program. This is your development plan.

1.3- In the next five years, I will make sure to develop every lesson plan with fresh relevancy to
real world problems and perfect the way I can connect with students to get them interested in
the subject matter. I will do this by always keeping my senses open to the world around me
and try to understand what my students know. I want to connect to them by understanding
their culture and add connections from other time periods that have the same relevancy. I
hope to always be finding new ways and going to places that challenge what I thought I knew
before.

2.1- In the next semester, I will build trust and respect in the classroom community by
understanding my students while promoting social learning in all of my lessons. What I have
been trying to do is have more discussions about topics and less lecturing. I want my
students to be able to be social learners of their own and ask them what they think instead of
me talking. My mentor teacher told me that it almost doesn’t matter what I know, it matters
what they attain and can learn for themselves. I am just the facilitator and connector
between the content and the students.

3.3- Within 3 years, I will be able to organize my instruction towards the students of how to
connect them with the subject matter each year by getting feedback from the students
constantly through exit tickets to see if they felt engaged or not. I want to know what works in
my classroom besides doing the same things day in, day out and boring the students. I know
that if I become bored with my instruction then they definitely will too.

4.1- For every year for the next twenty years, I will become a worldlier teacher that brings in
cultures and backgrounds to show the true meaning of what it means to be an American
through culture bags or projects that reflect the history of the United States. I will do this by
continuing to expand my own knowledge of culture and continue to travel throughout the
United States. I want to bring back the things that I have encountered and learned in order
to give my students a broader look at the world.

5.4- Every year for the next five years, I will improve my assessment patterns by getting
feedback from the students and improving my instruction to meet my goals of improving each
class as a whole. I want to become better at realizing the number of students that miss a lot
of the same questions and see what I did wrong in my instruction. I want to know what I
need to go in to more and what I can leave out so that I can improve for the next time.

6.1- In the next three years, I hope to become an overall more effective teacher by learning
from my mistakes and redefining the way I teach through feedback from the students as well as
my colleagues. I will do this by regularly passing out small questionnaires asking my students
what they like about my teaching style as well as what I can improve on. I also want to be
developing the way in which I assess my feedback and come up with new ways to assess my
students.

3.) Write a summary of the experience, including a reflection on the growth you have
made and changes to the SMART goals you may make in future.

What my understanding on how to develop as a professional educator is to always be

adaptable first and foremost. There will be things that are out of control but honing in on what

will make me better is what needs to be focused on. I believe this relies mainly on myself to

challenge what I think I know versus what I don’t and bridge the gap between the two. There

are always new styles of teaching emerging with each passing year so always being open to new

ideas is what I will force myself to do. Remaining stagnant as a teacher gets in the way of
progression, which is something I want to stay away from. This comes with the help of

colleagues and pushing one another to become better in taking risks in our teaching that will

ultimately make our students better. The things that I would like to improve on the most is to

be an effective planner first and foremost. I want my whole year’s schedule planned out so

that everything goes swimmingly. From day one till the end of the school year, I want to make

sure that everything is thoroughly thought through so that it makes sense and gets the most

out of my students. I also want to elevate the levels of critical thinking in my students and be

able to break down my history classes into bigger ideas and concepts that makes the class more

than just dates and places. I want my students to have the tools to see the past and how it

affects the present by understanding the flaws of humanity. For them to see how history

affects their lives and well-being in the eyes of people that have come before.

How I would say my experience with this ILP is that there is so much room to grow in

every aspect of becoming a teacher and I plan on fulfilling that growth as I go. One thing that

I know is that I am an adaptable person and a life-long learner so I know that the further time

goes, the more I will have to learn. My biggest fear as a teacher is becoming stagnant as I

have seen countless teachers become and afraid of developing my craft as an educator. So

far, I believe my progress has been great since the beginning of the program and I can’t wait

to see where I am in five years with the impact I will one day make.