 |
| Skiing in Japan |
I have been a teacher for 12 years. I studied in Wales. Then I taught in Birmingham before moving to New Zealand 7 years ago. My biggest challenge was developing a classroom programme. My UK school had schemes or work and programmes where you could select what you wanted to teach based on learning needs. The challenge, in NZ, was I had to build my planning myself. Being in a New Entrant class with only a couple of students was an advantage, along with support from the school and colleagues. I increased my knowledge of NZ curriculum, developing effective lessons for my students. I love the flexibility and being able to teach students based on their needs and interests.
In the UK I was a team leader in a shared role and part of the ICT team. In my first NZ school I was given the opportunity to be on the ICT team. After a few years at that school I went in search of an ICT lead teacher position. It was challenging, teaching a senior year level after years of junior school teaching, being out of the classroom, dealing with extra responsibilities and learning how a new school works. After a year I decided to move to a school closer to home. I now teach in Central Auckland at Meadowbank Primary School and it is a joy to be back in the classroom having sole responsibility. This is my 3rd year at the school and I am teaching year 3. I am lucky to have a great class with an even split of boys and girls.
 |
| My Class of 28 Year 3 Students |
In my classroom you will see energetic, passionate students. I believe in creating an environment where children can love what they are learning and have ownership of it. I love using technology and the capabilities it has to engage children and extend their learning opportunities.
"The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 ... did not exist in 2004. We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist ... using technologies that haven't been invented ... in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet."
This video was shown to me a couple of years ago and, for me, the message is powerful and has impacted on my teaching. It is not just about teaching children, it is about giving them the skills to develop and learn so they are prepared for the future. This is evident in my classroom and when using technology. I encourage children to problem solve and discover for themselves rather than telling them what to do. It is creating an environment where children are supported and have the confidence to try.
In my career, I have grown as a teacher and I enjoy being able to get to know all my students and tailoring learning to suit them. Over the last few years I have been looking for some study to develop my love of ICT. I came across the Mindlab course in digital and collaborative learning. It sounded perfect. The course wasn't what I expected. However, it has challenged my teaching and thinking.
References
No comments:
Post a Comment