Who I am as a Teacher

The teacher I want to be is constantly evolving and changing every day.

One of the things I believe in strongly is using a proactive approach to my classroom management. I feel like this would not only keep my students engaged but it will allow for preventative discipline. To do this I aim to plan for "diversity, variety and versatility" (Kelly et al 2006) in my lessons. By planning for diversity I would be making my lessons worthwhile and enjoyable for everyone by ensuring I have materials and options for all students in the class for all types of abilities. When planning for variety I would "...include a variety of activities within a lesson so that students do not become bored" (Marsh, 2008, p. 87). To plan for versatility I would consider some back up options "...in case the lesson does not go well." (Marsh, 2008, p. 87). By doing these things I believe I can create an environment in my classroom where my students can be supported, included, challenged, engaged and made to feel safe.

When teaching I would also like to make sure the students are constantly being challenged with the materials they work with for class activities. ICT is a very big aspect of a student’s life and to not incorporate that into the classroom would be devastating. It is a fact that "...learners in the 21st century are surrounded by an information-rich environment" (Marsh, 1997, p. 193) and students are very internet and computer savvy. To not include these things in the curriculum would be a shame because it would stifle not only their learning but my learning also. I think that it should be a requirement for teachers to "...broaden their instructional base and to explore the use of different resources and methods" (Marsh, p. 194).

Through my practicum I have found that the times in which the students are the most engaged and excited are when they are doing activities that stimulate their mind. This is why I want to incorporate many different activities into my teaching so that the students can get the best out of learning.