23 Teacher Professional Goals
Examples for 2024
From improving student achievement, to fostering a growth
mindset, the 23 goals listed below will serve as a comprehensive
guide for teaching professionals looking to excel in their careers.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran, or just starting
out… these goals will help you stay focused, motivated,
and effective in your role as an educator. But keep in mind, it
is not the goals themselves that will level you up as a
teacher.
Instead, it is a combination of the pathway they generate, as
well as the effect they have on your students when successfully
executed, that will make you a much stronger educator.
15 Teacher Professional Goals for
Success
1. Improve student achievement through
assessments.
Student assessments are a critical tool for teachers as they can
uncover in which areas their students need additional support.
This information can then be used to inform what areas of study
need to be focused on so students can move the needle on their
education.
Teachers should use assessments on a regular basis to make
minor or major adjustments to the curriculum in order to
continue helping students achieve their goals.
More specifically, having assessments on a weekly or monthly
basis can help the teacher gauge whether their students are
meeting the goals needed for end-of-year testing.
2. Foster a positive and inclusive classroom
culture.
Fostering a positive and inclusive classroom culture is crucial to
creating an environment where all students feel valued and
supported.
This goal requires teachers to actively work towards
developing a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the
diversity of their students and promotes inclusivity.
Fostering positive relationships among students, promoting
open communication, and addressing any issues that may arise
in a respectful and constructive manner are some of the
foundations that building an inclusive classroom is built from.
Fostering
a positive and inclusive classroom culture is crucial to creating
an environment where all students feel valued and supported.
In an inclusive classroom, students should feel comfortable
expressing their thoughts and ideas, and teachers should
actively engage with all students, encouraging their
participation and involvement in class activities.
Teachers can also promote inclusivity by integrating diversity
into their curriculum, highlighting different perspectives and
cultural experiences, and creating opportunities for students to
work collaboratively through a multitude of projects.
By creating a positive and inclusive classroom culture, teachers
can help their students feel supported, valued, and empowered
to reach their full potential.
3. Utilize technology effectively in teaching.
The modern world is an increasingly tech-filled landscape. Using
it effectively, however, is still something that needs to be
prioritized, especially as an educator.
While using it can be tremendously advantageous, teachers
must set goals when it comes to using technology to create an
engaging and dynamic learning experience that supports
student growth and development.
Teachers need to be familiar with a suite of software
applications that can help them as well as their students better
engage with classroom topics. Since many students have
different learning styles, these tools can be used to help bridge
the gap in disparity among students.
Teachers should also be mindful of the potential drawbacks of
technology and ensure that it is used in a manner that enhances
rather than detracts from student learning.
This may involve balancing the use of technology with
traditional teaching methods and making sure students have
access to the necessary resources and support to effectively
utilize technology.
4. Implement evidence-based teaching
practices.
Evidence-based teaching refers to the use of teaching strategies
that have been supported by research and shown to be effective
in classrooms across the country.
This requires teachers to stay up to date on all the latest
educational research and best practices while being willing to
continuously reflect on and refine their teaching methods.
This means that teachers need to be proactive when it comes to
seeking out professional development opportunities and
engaging in ongoing learning. This may involve attending
workshops, conferences, and webinars, as well as participating
in collaborative learning communities.
By considering evidence-based teaching practices, teachers can
ensure that they are providing their students with the best
possible classroom experience and environment.
5. Develop strong relationships with students
and families.
Developing strong relationships with the families of your
students is a crucial aspect of effective teaching. Teachers that
build positive relationships with family members, especially
parents, can create a supportive environment that fosters
student engagement.
Being approachable, understanding, and empathetic to family
needs can go a long distance in setting students up for future
success.
Try initiating frequent communications with family members.
Keeping your door open and actively listening to their concerns
and ideas as well as providing support and resources when
needed can prove instrumental for the student.
Teachers can also involve families in the learning experience by
hosting events and activities that promote family
engagement. Sharing information about their student's progress
and achievements is another tried and true method of keeping
the family engaged.
6. Foster critical thinking skills and collaborative
environments.
Encouraging students to think critically and analyze information
for themselves will help them develop the problem-solving
skills they need to succeed down the line.
This means teachers should create learning experiences that
challenge students to think deeply about some of the concepts
they learn in the classroom so they can apply them to the real
world.
Encouragi
ng students to think critically and analyze information for
themselves will help them develop the problem-solving skills
they need to succeed down the line.
Using hands-on activities, field trips, discussions, and
simulations where there is more room for play will give students
the foundation to apply their learned subjects more applicable to
the real world through critical thinking.
This extends to group activities like projects that students can
collaborate on with their peers. After all, so much of what we do
in the real world is driven by collaboration.
7. Continuously grow and develop
professionally.
Continuous professional growth and development are essential
for teachers looking to stay effective with the changing social
and technological shifts that happen in our world.
By attending workshops, conferences, and webinars, as well as
participating in collaborative learning communities, teachers can
gain skills and use the resources to remain at the top of their
profession.
Additionally, evaluating your teaching methods on a regular
basis and seeking out feedback from colleagues is a great way
to develop professionally. A love of learning and an openness to
try something new should be tools in every teacher's toolbox.
8. Encourage student engagement.
Encouraging engagement is one of the best ways you can set
your students up for success. With a plethora of distractions
ready to take effect in today's world, ensuring positive student
engagement with subjects is paramount.
By creating an interactive and hands-on learning
environment that gets the students thinking outside of the box
about old concepts in new ways, teachers can help foster this
positive engagement.
Try incorporating student-led projects into lesson plans
and provide opportunities for students to work with real-world
materials and technology. Incentivizing students with extra
credit can be another effective way to encourage their
engagement in a subject.
9. Use the data.
Thanks to the influx of tech tools, “the data” is used
everywhere, whether you are in the hospital or in a business
meeting. So why shouldn't it be used in the classroom?
Data can provide valuable insights into student strengths and
weaknesses, and help teachers make informed decisions about
instruction. What subjects are students struggling with and
which students are struggling with, what subjects are critical
questions that can be solved by looking at the data?
Regularly assessing student performance, analyzing the results,
and using the information to inform lesson plans is a workflow
that would never have been dreamed up twenty years ago.
Teachers need to have a clear understanding of the data they
collect as well as how to interpret it. This may involve using data
to differentiate instruction, identify areas where students need
additional support, or just adjust teaching methods to better
meet the needs of their students.
10. Integrate in-demand skills for the 21st
century.
In some ways, the school system is still stuck in the 1950s. But
there are opportunities to integrate skills like digital literacy,
collaboration, and problem-solving, which are essential for
students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
To integrate these skills into daily lesson plans, teachers need to
think outside of the box as well as consider the data on student
performance.
To
incorporate these skills into daily lesson plans, teachers must
think outside the box while also taking student performance
data into account.
Setting some time apart from the regular lesson to teach these
skills through short exercises and bringing in guests from the
real world to talk to students can be a great way to achieve this.
11. Develop strong classroom management
skills.
Strong classroom management can foster a safe, positive, and
productive learning environment. Effective classroom
management involves creating clear expectations and routines,
managing student behavior, and creating a classroom
culture that recognizes how students are feeling and meets
them there.
Classroom management relies on the teacher understanding
their roles and responsibilities as well as executing a strong set
of strategies for management.
This may involve using proactive strategies, such as setting
clear expectations and routines, as well as reactive strategies,
such as redirecting misbehavior or addressing disruptive
behavior. Developing these skills can help the teacher support
learning and success for all students.
12. Collaborate with colleagues.
Collaborating with colleagues allows teachers to share ideas,
resources, and best practices and can lead to improved teaching
and student outcomes.
To collaborate effectively, teachers must have strong
communication skills, and be open to new ideas and
approaches. They should also be proactive in seeking out
opportunities to collaborate with their colleagues, and be willing
to share their own expertise and experience.
Collaboration can take many different forms, from regular
meetings online or in-person to working together on school-wide
initiatives or projects.
13. Provide individualized instruction.
Differentiating instruction often involves tailoring teaching
methods and materials to meet the individual needs of each
student. This is a complicated task because each student varies
greatly in their strengths and weaknesses.
To provide individualized instruction, teachers must have a
strong understanding of each student's abilities, interests, and
learning styles. They should also develop a strong set
of teaching strategies and technologies to help each student
succeed in the weekly or monthly curriculum.
Teachers can also work to build strong relationships with
students and families to better understand what home life is like
and, therefore, get better clues on what might aid them in the
classroom.
By providing individualized instruction, teachers can ensure that
all students can learn and reach their full potential. This can lead
to improved student engagement and motivation, and higher
student achievement.
14. Foster creativity and innovation.
Encouraging students to think outside the box and embrace new
and creative ideas can lead to better subject matter retention.
Hands-on learning that gets students off their feet and moving
around can be a great way to spark their innate creative talents.
Teachers can do this by creating a supportive and inclusive
learning environment that values and encourages creativity, no
matter where the child goes with it.
They can also incorporate activities and projects into their
lessons that spark creativity and provide opportunities for
students to explore their own interests and ideas. This can lead
to improved student engagement and motivation, and higher
student achievement.
15. Foster a growth mindset in students.
A growth mindset is important for everyone, not just
students. Fostering it at a young age can set the child up for
success well beyond the classroom.
Developing a growth mindset involves embracing challenges
and persevering through difficulties to uncover the hidden
potential in one's own talent. By creating a supportive and
inclusive learning environment, teachers can get students to
take more risks and embrace challenges.
A safe environment that ensures students that everything will be
ok if they fail is one of the most crucial things a teacher can
create in the learning space. Fostering a growth mindset helps
students build up the resilience they will need as they face
challenges in life.
16. Increase attendance.
Are you in a situation in which you're having issues with
maintaining student attendance? Before you get mad at the
students, try to understand their situation. Some students may
have a troubled home life.
Some students may be floating between two homes because
their parents are going through a divorce. Some students may
just not be motivated or are dealing with an undiagnosed
learning disability.
Whatever the reason, you can use different steps to increase
attendance by promoting a positive attitude towards school.
Establish your own attendance tracking system to see if you
notice patterns and trends that are alarming.
Begin by checking out last year's attendance rates and make it a
goal to increase it by a certain percentage, such as 10% or 20%
for the current year.
When you encourage positive reinforcement in the classroom
and reward any student for good attendance, students will feel
that their voices are being heard. Then they’ll be more likely to
show up on time.
17. Increase reading levels.
If you're trying to increase reading levels, you don't have to rely
just on the school curriculum. Encourage students to read as
often as possible with tools they prefer.
Give students 5 or 15 minutes of in class time to read their own
book or article. Or you can consider reading out loud to students
from a book that you're reading at home or a different academic
book. Choose a current news article, comic book, academic
book, or poetry book to read out loud together as a class.
You can get students to further participate in reading by
allowing each student to pick a book, article, or poem that the
entire class has to read by the following week, and everyone will
get together and discuss it.
18. Increase creative writing opportunities.
Writing is just as important as reading at all levels. You can
incorporate writing prompts along with your reading segments.
In other words, have students write something related to the
book, poem, or article they’re assigned every week.
Allow students to read their writing out loud and have each class
discussion around it. You can also encourage students to keep a
journal in which you'll give them writing prompts. Collect the
journals every week and give supportive feedback to what
students write, regardless of how little or how much they write in
it.
You can also allow students to provide writing prompts for the
class and turn it into a fun or serious activity, depending on the
topic.
19. Hire a career coach.
Teaching is your career that you've put a lot of time and effort
into. There's nothing wrong with hiring a career coach to move
you further along, regardless of how many years you've been in
the game. A career coach will help you clarify the career goals
you have as a teacher. Maybe you want to remain in the
classroom.
Maybe you want to switch over to a different age group. Maybe
you want to open an online tutoring school or move to
international teaching. A career coach can help walk you
through the process to help you achieve such a goal within a
realistic amount of time.
If your career goals involve having to achieve a certification, do
certain networking, learn a new subject matter, a career coach
can give you the tools you need to get started.
20. Encourage peer teaching help.
While you may already be doing collaborative group work and
teamwork, you can also take it a step further by encouraging
students to teach the class for a certain segment.
You can even make it more structured by having students
prepare a short lesson plan around any topic of their choosing,
but they have to find a way to work it into the overall class
subject.
Give students positive feedback about their particular lesson
plan and teaching method. This can encourage more shy
students to use their voices and show them how they can teach
anything.
21. Incorporate current events into teaching.
Regardless of what subject you teach, you could find a way
to incorporate current events into your curriculum. For example,
if you're a math teacher, you may want to discuss numbers by
talking about how Warren Buffett does stock trading or the
percentages in which Bitcoin has risen or fallen for today.
Do you teach history? Try to find something that happened on
this day 10, 50 or 200 years ago. You can use different sources
ranging from videos, podcasts, and documentaries. You can also
create in-class or homework assignments based around current
events.
22. Watch other professionals teach.
You can always learn so much from watching other professionals
teach. Don't make the mistake of thinking because you're an
experienced teacher that you couldn't learn from a new one, or
that you can’t learn from a teacher who's been teaching as long
as you have.
Different teachers have different methods that can vary based
on their personality, culture, and life experience. You can gain a
lot from opening up your horizons and seeing how your peers
are doing things.
If you don't feel comfortable watching peers at your school, ask
to visit another school. Whether it's one at your teaching level or
a different one, you can get a better grasp on how different
teaching methods work.
23. Invite an observer.
On the flip side, have someone watch you teach. While it can be
nerve-wracking when you're being assessed by professional
administration, it may not be so nerve-wracking when you're
inviting someone in to observe you.
Invite another teacher that you trust and will give an honest
opinion. You can also record yourself teaching and send a video
to another peer at your school or who works elsewhere.
Final Thoughts on Teacher
Professional Goals
Teachers have a major responsibility for the role they play
in developing the future pillars of society. As every student
is different, and an individual, it is important to meet each
child where they are to help them succeed in class. Every
student must be treated on a case-by-case basis.
Beyond succeeding in the classroom, fostering a love for
challenges and creativity can be an instrumental concept
to shape a student's life outside academia. Learning and
educating is a lifelong process.
Hopefully, these teacher professional goals examples give you
some ideas for what you can do in your own classroom and
beyond.
