Professional Knowledge
There are 2 key areas in which I have received a high level of professional knowledge. The first of these is through University and the placements I have been assigned. The other is from outside of Uni through working at Camp Australia, Caulfield Grammar and Valkstone Primary.
Both these areas have more advantages than disadvantages. The key teaching techniques I have learnt are;
-How to deal with students on a behavioural level
-Ways to give our clear instructions without any confusion
-Learning how to project my voice to each student
-Don’t assume that students are all at the same development level
-Show confidence in what you teach!
The biggest learning strategies that I have now learnt would be that of PATIENCE and FLEXIBILITY. Without these 2 strategies you are wasting your time being a teacher!
Knowing Your Students!
The MOST important step in becoming a great teacher is Knowing Your Students. The ability to know your students is extremely important because without this knowledge the students become disengaged in what you are teaching and therefore learn nothing. Knowing your students comes down to these factors:
What are their personal interests? Who do they play with socially? What their family situation is?
Are they kinaesthetic learners or visual? What is their academic level?
These 5 factors are just a few of the main steps to knowing your students and if you are capable of knowing at least 3 of them, you are at a huge advantage!
How They Learn
There are many theories behind how students learn but in my opinion, I believe that students learn through their personal interests. The reason for this is simple, if a students likes the lesson or topic you are presenting, then the student is more than likely to be engaged and motivated to complete their work. A perfect example of an implemented approach on personalised learning is the Kathy Walker Program. This program is based on students learning through play (P-2) and learning through inquiry (3-6). During my final year of placement I was at a school which had implemented this very program and it is a huge success. The results of the students is of a high standard and the attitudes of all staff and students is full of energy.
Know The Content
How To Teach It
Both these areas have more advantages than disadvantages. The key teaching techniques I have learnt are;
-How to deal with students on a behavioural level
-Ways to give our clear instructions without any confusion
-Learning how to project my voice to each student
-Don’t assume that students are all at the same development level
-Show confidence in what you teach!
The biggest learning strategies that I have now learnt would be that of PATIENCE and FLEXIBILITY. Without these 2 strategies you are wasting your time being a teacher!
Knowing Your Students!
The MOST important step in becoming a great teacher is Knowing Your Students. The ability to know your students is extremely important because without this knowledge the students become disengaged in what you are teaching and therefore learn nothing. Knowing your students comes down to these factors:
What are their personal interests? Who do they play with socially? What their family situation is?
Are they kinaesthetic learners or visual? What is their academic level?
These 5 factors are just a few of the main steps to knowing your students and if you are capable of knowing at least 3 of them, you are at a huge advantage!
How They Learn
There are many theories behind how students learn but in my opinion, I believe that students learn through their personal interests. The reason for this is simple, if a students likes the lesson or topic you are presenting, then the student is more than likely to be engaged and motivated to complete their work. A perfect example of an implemented approach on personalised learning is the Kathy Walker Program. This program is based on students learning through play (P-2) and learning through inquiry (3-6). During my final year of placement I was at a school which had implemented this very program and it is a huge success. The results of the students is of a high standard and the attitudes of all staff and students is full of energy.
Know The Content
- This area of teaching in my opinion is one of the most challenging but also one of the most important aspect of teaching. Not only do students think that you know everything but they also want you to share everything with them. The fact is though, there is no one in this whole entire world that can officially say they know everything about everything.
- The key to this section is to make sure that you know enough of the content before you begin, because if you are caught unaware the students tend to notice and begin to lose focus and therefore not pay attention.
- During placement this semester, I have been given the opportunity to take a rotation class on the THRASS chart. In 23 years of my life, I had never heard of this chart and what the benefits of it where. So when my mentor teacher came up to me and suggested to take the rotations I felt uncomfortable trying to teach something I had no idea about. During recess and lunch I had an opportunity to read up on it but it still wasn’t enough as the students sensed some nerves and took advantage.
- Since that moment though I have been continually improving and building my knowledge on the THRASS chart and have now begun to notice a real change in the way I’m moving around the classroom. There is no longer a sense fear but now a sense of confidence coming from me when I walk around the room because I now have the content knowledge.
How To Teach It
- Once you are aware of the content knowledge, your ability to teach has improved significantly as you now know what is expected of you. Key aspects to teaching the content knowledge include, the audience in which you are teaching, the different learning styles that students have, the students who are not as switched on as others and the ones who really don’t care what you are on about.
- The audience in which you are teaching is a major player in the way information is processed. If you are dealing with a group of students who are challenged from very little difficulty, then you are responsible for making sure that they are looked after in the same way as the brighter students.
- Being aware that not all students are capable of learning in controlled environments such as the classroom, it is also important to try different venues/environments such as local parks or excursions as students seem to react better with hands on learning.