identify an area in need of professional development for differentiated instruction at your worksite

research the objectives, assessments, strategies, and implementation of a professional development plan to address this need.

leadership principles, choice of differentiated instruction for improvement, and key players involved at your site

include research in your paper

Professional development can be helpful in many area of life where an individual feels there is the need for improvement. The need for a professional development plan can help direct an individual’s attention to key areas where improvement will be most beneficial. In the volunteer environment in which I work, a professional development plan for differentiated instruction will help to improve work conditions and moral.

area in need of professional development for differentiated instruction at your worksite

I work as a foster volunteer for the city of Albuquerque and for the Humane Society of New Mexico. The area that my efforts are concentrated the most include orphaned and sick puppies. My responsibilities include bottle feeding, weaning, socializing, and general care. In some cases, foster puppies are sick or have an injury. In these cases, I am responsible for improving the puppy’s general health with medications and/or physical therapy. On occasion, puppies will come into foster care with a healthy mother. In a case such as this, I am responsible for the upkeep of the mother’s health to ensure she remains healthy enough to nurse her puppies. Foster puppies must be returned to the shelter every two weeks for checkup, shots, and wellness exams. In general, foster puppies remain in a foster home from two to eight weeks.

Fostering puppies is a rewarding responsibility. The job comes with many tasks and the foster provider must be capable of properly caring for the fragile little lives. However, puppies in foster care can be the source of great challenge on a daily basis. For example, foster puppies wake many times during the night requiring many potty breaks. If fosters are sick, nervous, or on dewormer, the number of potty breaks necessary to keep kennels clean can increase to twice an hour. When puppies are weak or bottle fed, they need to eat about every two hours around the clock. Also, puppies are very loud their cries are capable of waking everyone in the home. During daylight hours, puppies need continued care. Puppies need potty breaks every hour and the need at least a few hours of socialization with family, friends and household pets. Puppies and kennels need to be cleaned regularly as does bedding, food and water bowl, bottles, and toys.

As a foster volunteer, I have discovered that there are few areas that could benefit from professional development for differentiated instruction. The areas in need of improvement include communication between foster volunteers and improved support for foster volunteers with sick animals.    As a foster volunteer, I have discovered that there are few areas that could benefit from professional development for differentiated instruction. The areas in need of improvement include improved and more open communication between foster volunteers and improved support for foster volunteers with sick animals. Foster care experiences could be improved if foster care providers were given more support and varied support.

The first area that needs improvement includes the need for open and frequent communication between foster volunteers. I have been fostering for about four years now, and I have had very limited interaction with other volunteers. I see other volunteers when I take puppies in for checkups; however, there is rarely any dialogue between fosters. Foster orientations provide another opportunity for fosters to communicate and learn from each other. However, this is another case where fosters seems to lose opportunities to communicate effectively.

The second area that needs improvement includes improved support for fosters with sick animals. In many cases, volunteers have to schedule vet appointments and must wait around at the shelter until their foster animals can be seen by a vet. This can be an inconvenience for the foster providers especially when the foster animal is very sick and when the foster is new and inexperienced.

Objectives

Areas in need of professional development at the shelter are important to the continued development and success of the foster program. Increased communication between foster providers will ensure that knowledge is passed between providers and that more providers receive the support they need to be successful providers for animals, other providers, and for the community.

There are many objectives behind change the needs to be created at the shelter. The first objective is increased communication. Increased communication will ensure that foster providers receive updated information about how to manage responsibilities associated with being a foster provider. Communication will help providers to feel more connected with their responsibilities and less isolated. Also, communication will increase the chances that fosters will seek help in times of needs (*).

The second objective is increased support. In the foster care environment, foster providers need to be properly supported. Support in this environment comes from other providers, shelter staff, and shelter veterinary services. Support can come in the form of tangible support, such as literature and information packets on how to be foster provider, and from social support.  

key players involved at your site

When attempting to implement change at the shelter, there key player who must be involved if change is to be successful. Some of the key players include foster volunteers, shelter workers, and shelter veterinarians. The key players are important because each is needed to keep the foster program running and successful.  To improve on shelter working conditions, it is important that assessments be given. Assessments should be given to key players to allow these individuals to express concerns and needs. From the assessments a clear picture can be made of how to implement and support change.
One form of assessment that could prove useful to the foster program are surveys. Surveys can provide a lot of compound information in a short period of time (*). Surveys can be beneficial because they help the observer to learn about past experiences and knowledge of other individuals (big book). For the foster program, this can mean learning about the skills, strengths, and weakness of those providing foster care. From this information, foster providers can be directed to the resources they may need to gain support. For example, if a survey reveals that a volunteer has limited experience working with elderly dogs, this individual can be directed to appropriate resources specific to the care and support of geriatric dogs and animals. Similarly, a survey may reveal that a foster provider has much knowledge about how to provide foster services to a wide array of animals. This individual could then become a source of support for new or inexperienced foster providers.   Strategies

There are many strategies that could be used to improve on areas in need of professional development in the foster community. Some of these strategies include an advanced organizer, word web, mentorship, four corners, and double-duty log. Each of these strategies could be used to improve communication and team-building within the foster community.

The first strategy that could prove useful is an advanced organizer. An advanced organizer is often used in a group setting to allow each individual to express their thoughts about an idea. The advanced organizer helps to guide the thoughts of the individual by providing individuals with preestablished questions and statements. For example, an advanced organizer might ask the individual to state a n idea the interested them and how that idea could be used to create change or improvement.

The second strategy that could be used is a word web. A word web begins with a single word that is of focus. The objective of the word web is to expand off of the initial word in such a way as to help individuals focus their thinking and to expand their thoughts. A word web can help individuals organize data, interpret new concepts, and create connections (little book).

The third strategy that could be used is mentorship. Mentoring would allow less experienced foster providers to expand off of the strength of knowledgeable and experienced foster providers. Mentorship would be a great source of support for fosters who need extra guidance during their first year as a foster provider.

A fourth strategy that could be used is a double-duty log. A double duty log takes on many forms, but is ultimately designed to help individuals expand their thoughts and reflect on facts and ideas (small book).A double-duty log could be used in a group setting to help group members track their thinking and  make sense of concerns and ideas. The third strategy that could be used is mentorship. Mentoring would allow less experienced foster providers to expand off of the strength of knowledgeable and experienced foster providers. Mentorship would be a great source of support for fosters who need extra guidance during their first year as a foster provider.

A fourth strategy that could be used is a double-duty log. A double duty log takes on many forms, but is ultimately designed to help individuals expand their thoughts and reflect on facts and ideas (small book).A double-duty log could be used in a group setting to help group members track their thinking and  make sense of concerns and ideas.  

Leadership principles

To improve on areas in need of professional development in the foster community, leadership principles must be considered. Leadership principles necessary in the foster community are those that can offer support in areas in need of improvement (communication amongst foster providers and support for volunteers). Leadership principles that could help to improve on areas in needs of professional development are self-improvement, helping others to see their strengths, collaborative support, and helping to increase morale and motivation in the workplace.  

implementation of a professional development plan to address this need