WGU D629 Task 2 - Professional Growth in Writing Instruction
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Develop A Professional Growth Plan- Task 2
Western Governors University
Professor Dean-Anthony
January 3rd, 2026
Part 1: Professional Development Goal
A1. Aspect of Practice to Improve
The aspect of my instructional practice I want to improve through professional development is
supporting productive struggle during writing instruction, particularly in helping first-grade
students independently transfer oral comprehension into written responses
A2. Justification for Improvement
I want to improve this aspect of my practice because my reflection from the Teaching Practice
Self-Inventory revealed that I often intervene too quickly when students have trouble during
writing tasks. While students demonstrate strong verbal understanding, many struggle to
independently organize and express their ideas in writing. This pattern suggests a need for more
intentional strategies that promote student persistence, independence, and cognitive engagement
, Task 2 2
during writing, rather than reliance on immediate teacher support.
A3. Overarching Professional Development Goal
My professional development goal is to strengthen my instructional practices that promote
productive struggle and gradual release of responsibility during writing instructions. Specifically,
I aim to implement research-based strategies, such as structured wait time, scaffolded prompts,
and guided practice, that allow students to process their thinking independently before receiving
teacher intervention, ultimately improving students’ ability to explain ideas clearly in writing.
A4. Projected Goal Completion Time Frame
I plan to work toward achieving this professional development goal over the course of one
academic semester. This time frame will allow me to learn and apply new strategies, reflect on
student outcomes, and make instructional adjustments based on student progress and feedback.
Part 2: Planning and Resources
B1a. Professional Learning Resource
I chose classroom observations as a job-embedded professional learning resource because they
allow me to reflect on my instructional practices objectively. Being able to watch recorded
lessons helps me identify patterns in my classroom management and direct instructions that I
may not notice at the moment. This resource supports my professional growth by allowing me to
analyze how often I intervene during student struggle and how I can better support student
independence during writing instruction.
B1b. Integration into Instructional Practice