Professional Knowledge (APST 1 & 2)
I believe having an open mind, an eagerness to learn, staying curious, whilst also pushing one’s self outside of one’s comfort zone by taking measured risks and engaging in critical thinking are all foundations of my teaching philosophy. I encourage my students to implement this approach in their learning. I believe in developing persistent and resilient students to become independent learners, and smart problem solvers, both inside and outside the classroom. Effective teaching requires educators to select, organise, sequence and report on learning, as well as support all students on their learning journey. I understand that there are students who come from diverse backgrounds, as well as students with a wide range of abilities, who need to be supported and encouraged to learn as much as any other student. I can achieve this by providing a differentiated curriculum, which plays to students’ strengths and interests, in order to make them feel included and gain their full participation in the classroom. I understand and acknowledge that it is important to recognise and honour Indigenous Australians, and to develop intercultural understanding within the classroom to promote multiculturalism and acceptance in future generations, which in turn strengthens students’ social consciousness. At the core of teaching, I believe that teachers must know the content and that this must be aligned with appropriate teaching strategies, be it the use of ICT, or literacy and numeracy strategies. It is fundamental for students to develop these skills, as they are inherently important skills in order for them to become contributing members of society.
Professional Practice (APST 3, 4 & 5)
I believe it is important to communicate with young adults in a concise and exciting manner in order to ensure maximum engagement in the class. When teaching history it is important to me that students see the excitement I have for history and the intrigue that can develop out of learning about the past. Similarly, when I am teaching German, it is important to keep reminding students how cool it is to learn a second language and get them excited to learn since it is such a valuable skill to have, and can lead them to many amazing opportunities in the future, for example if they travel to German speaking countries they will have an insight in to the culture before arrival. This excitement I have for teaching content and giving students insight into topics they have not yet learnt or explored, is the same overall excitement and joy I have for motivating these young adults to learn. For students to be effective learners, students should have a goal that they are working towards to keep themselves motivated to learn. I can aid students by establishing challenging learning goals when planning and structuring my learning programs. I intend to present to students carefully selected and appropriate resources to use in order to support student participation. I believe with well managed classroom activities and appropriate behaviour management, students in my class will be in a safe learning environment where they feel supported and are encouraged to do well.
I believe it is important to assess students and give students feedback on their learning, both during and after various formative, and summative assessment tasks. Feedback is important for students, I strongly believe that self-reflection and self-evaluation are the most important tools a teacher can have on their toolbelt. With the intention of self-improvement, it is important to interpret student data, or take on any kind of feedback provided by colleagues or students, so that I can evaluate my teaching and continuously improve my teaching programs.
Professional Engagement (APST 6 & 7)
I believe it is important to be part of broader teaching communities. I have attended the SAGTA (South Australian German Teachers Association) and the HaSS SA (Humanities and Social Sciences South Australia) conferences to be engaged with the broader teaching community. As a teacher, it is always important to identify where one needs to improve and seek professional development in those areas, but it is also important to contribute to the professional development of others. This may be activities such as undertaking personal development days at schools, going to external teaching workshops, or simply attending the school’s weekly staff meetings. I have participated in such activities and have applied this professional learning to improve my students’ learning. I am aware of the importance of complying with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements by making sure my WWCC and RAN are up to date, and thoroughly using the school’s learning module system to organise my plans and engaged with parents/carers.