Professional Dispositions And Strategies In The Classroom

There are many factors that influence students’ participation in learning. Some examples of these factors include the learning atmosphere of the school, teaching strategies and the student’s capabilities (Groundwater-Smith, et al., 2015b; Nixon & Gould, 2005). In order for students to complete different tasks during lessons, it is important that teachers present clear and concise instructions. According to Porter (2014a), by providing clear instructions and high quality examples, teachers may help to increase a student’s academic performance. In addition, by removing classroom

I believe that I am proficient in establishing a classroom setting that calls upon the students to learn in an individual and collaborative manner. I believe that I have sufficiently encouraged positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self motivation. I have shown this in learning activities that have been presented to the students. An example of this would be with the placard assignment, which had the students fill out a sheet that corresponded to four maps to help them figure out what artifacts certain cultural regions would use. During this learning segment, students would have to be self directed after the directions were given, the students would have to use collaborative skills, and they were all engaged during

Teacher Collaboration measures the degree to which teachers engage in constructive dialogue that furthers the educational vision of the school.

be properly addressed through one’s teaching so that educators need to collaborate so that they

I am expected to treat all members of staff and faculty with the upmost respect as well as fellow students. By carefully choosing my language and expression when communicating I demonstrate my regard to their feelings by avoiding any negative or demeaning words or phrases. These actions and responsibilities are not limited to verbal communication and are expected to extend to any correspondence in and out of the classroom and within virtual communication including email, social media, and websites. I will interact through email and forums with the same professionalism used within the classroom.

I approach collaboration as a team player, and I believe students need more than one person to guide them to their full educational potential. Also, active and prepared participation of weekly PLC meetings with the teachers of my special education students to plan collaborative curriculum have increased results in math and reading substantially. Participating in co-teaching furthers my repertoire of knowledge to assist my students. I have learned a vast amount from sharing and consulting with colleagues regarding students, observing mentoring teachers, and planning activities to ensure growth in students.

It is important to establish appropriate behaviour and respect for others in order to fully realise the potential of all within and to ensure each student is safe from both physical and psychological harm. Appropriate behaviour must apply to both student and teacher. I, as a teacher, must follow a Code of Practice in order foster individual growth and learning. The principles of Good Practice are to treat people with care, respect and dignity. To recognise that I, as a teacher, am a trusted representative of my work place. I must ensure communication with students is open and clear and assess the risks to my students of the activities by carrying out a thorough risk assessment before each session.

The teacher allowed students to work cooperatively in groups to discuss problem solving strategies. Students appeared to be very much engaged in learning through interaction with peers. The first grade teacher was very active in using the think-pair-share strategy to promote thinking and oral communication. During her writing lesson of editing a sample story, she asked students to think about what corrections they thought needed to be made, then asked them to share their thoughts with a partner. I thought this strategy was very much appropriate and effective for promoting students’ language acquisition, especially for her class of early intermediate language learners.

In the education world of today, it is understood that one can only be effective in teaching by taking into consideration the different learning styles of students. In a classroom, it is expected that teachers would want their students to acquire a meaningful knowledge base, become proficient problem solvers and learn how to work productively with others (Biehler and Snowman, 2006, p. 370). If this is the case, teachers need to know how to be able to develop this situation in the classroom and make it more conducive to learning. Therefore, it would seem that they need to encourage students to converse with each other with group discussions and assignments, to make sure they are active in

Dedication to updating my professional development to inform my teaching, this includes BRiTE (Building Resistance in Teacher Education) enabling me to build stronger relationships with all stakeholders. Furthermore, gaining knowledge in the Restorative Practices program has assisted me in sustaining healthier relationships with students, improved classroom management and created a positive, overall environment for the school. Lastly, this professional development has enabled me to effectively work in unison with students to create

One of the most important things that a teacher must have in the classroom is great communication skills. Not only in the classroom, but with the rest of the school, parents, and the community. The text defines communication as the act by one or more persons, of sending and receiving messages that are distorted by noise, have some effect, and provide some opportunity for feedback (DeVito, 2005 pg. 108). Teachers not only have to ensure effective communication within the class, but they also have to turn the classroom into a motivating place where students want to learn. I believe that teachers should love what they do and should be positive every time they enter the class. I also believe that in order to have a successful classroom, students must be rewarded for their accomplishments. Teachers should put some type of reward system in place. As I continue this writing I will discuss different types of communication, listening as it pertains to the classroom, motivation, reinforcement and rewards.

As ITT, I want to have high energy and partnerships with teachers that help to address the impact factors that tools, such as technology and essential standards, have on student learning. To do this, a team atmosphere needs to be created. Three important factors of teams that function in an efficient manner include voice, dialogue, and praxis. One of the questions I listed earlier was how does a school become a “we” school? An effective school is no longer about my classroom or your student. It becomes an atmosphere where every student knows that every staff member cares enough to guide them toward the right way to go. One way to do this is to listen effectively. Several years ago, KUSD encouraged the “Fish” philosophy. One aspect was to “Be Present.” This implies undivided attention toward the person who is speaking. Students can learn in greater measure when they know they are listened to by the teacher, and when they are listening better to the teacher and fellow classmates. This involves the teacher becoming a model of what is expected in the classroom. Student learning is greatly impacted when they see a teacher model the expectations for learning and behavior. These are several areas where student learning can be greatly

Collaborative learning stems from the theory of Vygotsky’s conception of Zone of proximal development. The thought is that children learn best with “help and guidance” (Ormrod, 2012). In transitioning this zone to a collaborative learning experience, children work with their peers in broadening their learning experience, allowing small groups of students to work together to share knowledge, exchange ideas, problem solve, and more. These classroom environments help to create durable abilities in students and aid in producing a “smoother integration into adult society when the activities resemble real-world tasks” (Ormrod, 2012). As students work with peers and adults, they adopt some of the learning strategies demonstrated and develop more skills in problem solving. This scaffolding creates a trickle-down effect of knowledge construction. In collaborative learning, students are afforded a myriad of enriching opportunities to explore perspectives that may differ from their own. These activities serve to create a self-awareness in the student of their responsibilities to a group, requiring them to self-monitor their activity (Lee, Tsai, Chai, & Koh, 2014).

Fundamentally the role of the classroom teacher is to implement strategies to support, engage and extend the learning of all individuals. In order for this to occur we need to also consider how we involve, collaborate and communicate with parents, fellow colleagues and specialised teachers. Ashman and Elkins (2008) state that teachers need to make themselves aware of the support systems they can access or create to support the needs of all students. This in turn will ultimately enhance teaching potential allowing teachers to fully maximise learning for all. I personally believe that collaboration is not only essential to the professional growth of teachers (Cramer & Stivers, 2007), but a vital key when acting in the best interest of the students and their families.

“Through collaboration, ideas can be shared, new and better strategies can be developed, problems can be solved, students’ progresses can be better monitored, and their outcomes are evaluated effectively.”¬ (Lee, 1996).