Standard 6: Engage in professional learning.
6.2: Engage in professional learning and improve practice.
Over the course of my professional internship, I attended many professional development sessions which were put on by the school, and occasionally special visitors. I found this to be a very beneficial experience, and aimed to implement a lot of the things discussed into my practice. I noticed that the professional environment was very focused on improvement, latest research, sustainability, and professional learning- the teaching staff also made sure to include the student teachers into this, which was very beneficial.
Professional development sessions attended included a seminar on sustainability, and creating worm farms for a school, a lecture on positive teaching strategies, as well as the session previously mentioned on intermediate skills for using Notebook on the smartboard.
Evidence I have included to demonstrate my achievement of this standard includes the certificate that I received for attending the professional development session on using Notebook software on the smartboard.
My practice was something that I tried to constantly evaluate, and was able to do so with the feedback and advice from both my mentor teacher and supervisor. I aim to improve my practice, and engage in professional learning over the next six months. Professional learning seminars I wish to attend include ‘ABC of Two-Way Literacy and Learning’ which looks at improving the learning outcomes of Aboriginal students and implementing cultural and linguistic understandings.
In the next three months I also wish to attend professional development sessions specific to the Australian Curriculum in Science. There are three sessions related to this, which cover all across the various year levels. While I did complete a science program during my professional internship, I would like to see how the National Curriculum holds science, as well as gaining understanding into other issues such as safety and health of students while completing practical science activities.
Standard 7: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community.
7.4- Understand the role of professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.
Having completed my professional internship in a highly collaborative and supportive environment, I found myself engaging with colleagues, community and professional learning on a regular basis. Working in the year six level, I also was working with two other prac teachers, who were team teaching in the other year 6 classrooms. As a result, a lot of our programs and learning experiences were as a result of collaboration. I found this to be extremely beneficial, not for providing that extra support as teachers, but also for the students as there was a consistency and fairness across all three year six classrooms. There was also the benefit of shared resources and ideas.
Over the six weeks, one of my goals was not only to build positive relationships with my students, but also within the school community. I believe I have achieved this- and have benefited from forming professional relationships with a number of the staff at the school. These relationships were very beneficial for me, as not only was I able to receive professional advice and ideas, but I was also given opportunities to see these other teachers working with my class, and the kinds of teaching tools and strategies that they used with them.
I developed a close working relationship not only with my mentor teacher throughout this process, but also with the teacher working next door. This was useful, as I was able to extend the support I received while I was working, and also discuss a range of things about my class (who the teacher worked with as well).
After a short time of working with my class, I began to notice that my students loved to sing, and some of them were very talented. My students took opportunities to perform in a number of ways. Quite a few students were members of the school choir. As a result of this, and my working relationship with the music teacher I was asked to attend and help supervise a music excursion, where the choir students were performing with 200 other students from various schools in a mass choir festival.
This was a fantastic experience where I was able not only to interact with other teachers from various schools, but also see my students perform in something they were passionate about. As a result of attending the rehearsal, I also went to watch the performance the next Saturday night, which was attended by a variety of the school teachers, as well as the school principle. I enjoyed being involved in this experience, and felt it help me develop my working relationships with students and teachers in the school further.
In relation to engaging with parents and carers, I was given the responsibility of organising and attending the parent open night in my classroom. A task which I found quite daunting at first, I quickly was able to enjoy presenting the work that my students had completed over the term with pride. Several school projects were set up for viewing in displays, including moon colonies that the students had constructed, and kites they had designed and made. In addition, student workbooks were placed out for viewing, presentations and photos they had taken and made were also displayed on computers, and advertising they had created were displayed. The open night provided me with a good opportunity not only to display student work, but also to discuss student progress with parents, and get their feedback on their child’s learning.
Evidence I have included to demonstrate my achievement of this standard include photos that I took throughout the professional internship. One photograph is of the students performing at the Massed Choir Festival, which involved students from many local primary schools. The other photographs show some of the displays of work that were set up for parents to see on parent night.
Areas I would like to improve in this standard include constant reporting to parents, and parent interviews, as well as further involvement in the school community. In order to improve my practice in these areas I plan on reading the various guidelines and documents provided by The Department of Education in their websites, before I start teaching on an official capacity. In the future I would also like to look at the possibility of running writing workshops for students who are interested in creative writing, or those who need literacy extension.
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