Personal Statement
“She was able to successfully teach to the variety of levels and learning styles within the classroom, acknowledging the different needs and cultural backgrounds within the classes she taught”
(Sarah, first practicum mentor, 2014)
Professional Knowledge
I believe that in order to provide an engaging and effective classroom, the teacher must acknowledge every student as an individual. During my final year practicums I ensured that I accommodated to the needs of each individual student. I used a variety of approaches that made lessons stimulating and interesting and ensured that I worked effectively with the students, both on an individual level and when in small groups. I value using a variety of teaching methods in the classroom, whether it be group discussion, individual work, reading, comprehension, drama or research. I understand that as a teacher, it is crucial to cater for a number of different learning styles and that is why I set tasks that cater for students of all different capabilities.
I believe myself to be a fair but firm teacher; I like to create a safe classroom where students feel comfortable, confident, respected and supported. I feel I demonstrate genuine care for each individual student and through developing a relationship within the learning environment built on support, respect and care; students are more willing to engage in the tasks and develop their academia.
I am qualified to teach History and English as a Second Language. Both of these subjects require a variety of approaches and skills needed to teach successfully. In teaching English as Second Language in my first practicum I ensured that modelling and scaffolding was always at the basis of everything I did. I ensured that students had a good understanding of the issues and content of my lessons and feel confident to ask questions and achieve. I encourage students through positive and constructive feedback and I make sure that assignments and students work is marked and handed back in a timely manner.
Professional Practice
To gain achievement and have a successful learning environment, it is necessary that every student feels safe and supported in the classroom. I have and continue to achieve this through encouraging every one of my students to participate in classroom activities and discussions, praising students individually and as a class and work with students individually to ensure that they understand the curriculum being taught. I ensure that students have a good understanding of the issues being taught and the content of my lessons. I ensure at making sure my lessons are innovative and creative, while still responding to the needs my students and ensuring that the students are making progress. While planning and teaching, I take into account the varying levels in the classrooms and the different needs and learning styles. I ensure my work varies and is challenging, yet still achievable. I understand the need for inclusivity in my units and I understand how important modelling and scaffolding is for students independent learning. I believe that using a number of resources in the classroom is important in trying new styles, adapting to students individual needs and keeping the lessons interesting. Throughout my practicum, I used power point, videos, written work, drama, artwork and drawing to cater for students individual needs.
Professional Engagement
As a beginning teacher; I believe it is very important for teachers to set professional goals for themselves and within the classroom and engage in professional development to enrich our teaching practice. Throughout my practicum, I made sure to engage with fellow colleagues asking questions and sharing thoughts on teaching as well as gain invaluable advice. I also made sure to reflect with the class on the successfulness of the lessons and activities to improve my teaching. I was also given the opportunity to attend at PD day that focused on literacy in the classroom which only gave me more experience and ideas in the field.
In being an all-round teacher, a teacher’s engagement with the wider community, parents, families, organisations and sporting teams is crucial to gaining invaluable experience and relationships in the job. Having previously worked in a Catholic School in Alice Springs, I was able to attend a number of school camps, sports days, volunteering events and parent teacher interviews and liaisons which only improved my teaching practice. I believe that the relationship between the school, teacher and wider community is vital in being an educator and through my experience; I hope to only continue gaining these experiences.
I believe that in order to provide an engaging and effective classroom, the teacher must acknowledge every student as an individual. During my final year practicums I ensured that I accommodated to the needs of each individual student. I used a variety of approaches that made lessons stimulating and interesting and ensured that I worked effectively with the students, both on an individual level and when in small groups. I value using a variety of teaching methods in the classroom, whether it be group discussion, individual work, reading, comprehension, drama or research. I understand that as a teacher, it is crucial to cater for a number of different learning styles and that is why I set tasks that cater for students of all different capabilities.
I believe myself to be a fair but firm teacher; I like to create a safe classroom where students feel comfortable, confident, respected and supported. I feel I demonstrate genuine care for each individual student and through developing a relationship within the learning environment built on support, respect and care; students are more willing to engage in the tasks and develop their academia.
I am qualified to teach History and English as a Second Language. Both of these subjects require a variety of approaches and skills needed to teach successfully. In teaching English as Second Language in my first practicum I ensured that modelling and scaffolding was always at the basis of everything I did. I ensured that students had a good understanding of the issues and content of my lessons and feel confident to ask questions and achieve. I encourage students through positive and constructive feedback and I make sure that assignments and students work is marked and handed back in a timely manner.
Professional Practice
To gain achievement and have a successful learning environment, it is necessary that every student feels safe and supported in the classroom. I have and continue to achieve this through encouraging every one of my students to participate in classroom activities and discussions, praising students individually and as a class and work with students individually to ensure that they understand the curriculum being taught. I ensure that students have a good understanding of the issues being taught and the content of my lessons. I ensure at making sure my lessons are innovative and creative, while still responding to the needs my students and ensuring that the students are making progress. While planning and teaching, I take into account the varying levels in the classrooms and the different needs and learning styles. I ensure my work varies and is challenging, yet still achievable. I understand the need for inclusivity in my units and I understand how important modelling and scaffolding is for students independent learning. I believe that using a number of resources in the classroom is important in trying new styles, adapting to students individual needs and keeping the lessons interesting. Throughout my practicum, I used power point, videos, written work, drama, artwork and drawing to cater for students individual needs.
Professional Engagement
As a beginning teacher; I believe it is very important for teachers to set professional goals for themselves and within the classroom and engage in professional development to enrich our teaching practice. Throughout my practicum, I made sure to engage with fellow colleagues asking questions and sharing thoughts on teaching as well as gain invaluable advice. I also made sure to reflect with the class on the successfulness of the lessons and activities to improve my teaching. I was also given the opportunity to attend at PD day that focused on literacy in the classroom which only gave me more experience and ideas in the field.
In being an all-round teacher, a teacher’s engagement with the wider community, parents, families, organisations and sporting teams is crucial to gaining invaluable experience and relationships in the job. Having previously worked in a Catholic School in Alice Springs, I was able to attend a number of school camps, sports days, volunteering events and parent teacher interviews and liaisons which only improved my teaching practice. I believe that the relationship between the school, teacher and wider community is vital in being an educator and through my experience; I hope to only continue gaining these experiences.