One of those values being ensuring I as a teacher am taking the time to learn alongside my students everyday. Meaning if I am not learning alongside my students, then I am not doing my best. I like to think of it as teachers who love teaching, teach students to love learning.
When teaching I will always do my best to try new things, even when they are unfamiliar and new. I will work with my students so they participate in that relationship of trying the new and undiscovered. Once again the teachers who are allowing themselves to grow are the best teachers for students. I am and will continue to be a teacher who asks questions when unsure, takes the time to ponder and try new things.
I had the utmost pleasure and honour to complete my internship experience in the Jr and Sr Functional Integrated Academic Program (FIAP) at Ecole Centennial School in the Regina Public School Division this fall. During my time in these classrooms I was always ready to adapt, problem solve, communicate and diversify my teaching content. A majority of my teaching times in the classrooms included sensory play learning, hands on learning, the use of music and technology. For example, to discuss the topic of pumpkins, I brought in a few pumpkins for my students to carve and play with. I created sensory bins by allowing them to touch the pumpkin guts. Experiential and hands-on learning is a key piece to creating learning fun and helps you learn alongside the child.
Another value I bring to my classroom space is familiarity and comfortability with teaching in ways that work best for each individual student. When I am teaching, I will incorporate hands on learning, sensory touch and feel experience, within the subject or theme being taught. In addition I will also use technology, a platform for learning that a large majority of students feel comfortable using. It is another one of those key pieces to develop our students’ understanding and learning. During my internship, a large majority of my students used communicative devices (AAC) such as their iPads because they could use communication apps such as TD Snap and ProLoQuo. These communication apps help with vocalizing vocabulary words such as feelings, needs and academic concepts that otherwise our students would struggle to communicate. The utilization of communication will never be a delayed thought rather a primary focus of my teaching all of the time.
I also strongly believe in the importance and immense value of collaboration between the student, parents/guardians and the teacher. In other words, as the teacher, I will take the time to develop and create a consistent line of communication from myself to the student’s family. I will do this by sending home daily, weekly and monthly updates on what we are learning in the classroom. I will be flexible and open for communication with parents through the use of email and or phone calls during selected hours of the day. In addition to this, I will take the time to collaborate with those I work with. I will do this by creating relationships with fellow teachers on the staff, co planning for things such as field trips, presentations or lessons. I will collaborate in the ways of learning, developing and asking for support from administration and teachers.
Teaching and living life with a positive attitude creates a safe, inclusive and diverse space for all people to come and learn. Teaching with a smile and positive headspace is the best form of classroom management because it ensures all students feel comfortable and understood. I will strive to provide a safe space for my students to come learn, be themselves and strive to become the best version of themselves..
