8ased on my observaLlons and lnformed by Lhe Lhree overarchlng unlL ouLcomes, l have Lold Lhe sLory of my professlonal experlence and reflecLed on my cholce of prlmary Leachlng.
8Lu130 undersLandlng 1eachers' Work Allson Morrls 32423693 " 1hls semesLer l was requlred Lo underLake flve days of professlonal experlence ln boLh a prlmary and secondary seLLlng. 1he focus was Lo observe Lhe dlverse roles and responslblllLles of Lhe classroom Leacher. 1hrough crlLlcal reflecLlon, l esLabllshed an appreclaLlon of Lhe dlfferlng ablllLles and needs of sLudenLs. 8oLh experlences gave me a broader undersLandlng of Lhe scope of schoollng from prlmary Lo secondary years, and Lhe funcLlon of schoollng ln AusLrallan socleLy. rlor Lo underLaklng my flrsL professlonal experlence, l sLrongly belleved LhaL l was more sulLed Lo prlmary Leachlng, Lhan secondary LeachlngA
l observed LhaL a classroom Leacher, wheLher ln a prlmary or secondary seLLlng, has many dlverse roles and responslblllLles. Pe or she ls responslble for plannlng, preparlng, Leachlng, reflecLlng, and assesslng sLudenL learnlng. A Leacher ls expecLed Lo have Lhe conLenL knowledge and pedagoglcal pracLlce Lo meeL Lhe dlverse needs of sLudenLs. Pe or she ls also requlred Lo employ successful classroom managemenL Lechnlques (Ldwards & WaLLs, 2008). A Leacher ls expecLed Lo uphold a cerLaln code of eLhlcs requlred for Lhe Leachlng professlon and ls responslble for Lhe duLy of care of hls or her sLudenLs. Pe or she may also be requlred Lo aLLend meeLlngs and professlonal developmenL semlnars. l am aware LhaL Lhls merely aLLempLs Lo scraLch Lhe surface of Lhe many roles and responslblllLles of a classroom Leacher, however Lhese are Lhe maln observaLlons l made whllsL on my one-week placemenLs.
WhllsL on boLh professlonal experlences, l esLabllshed an appreclaLlon of Lhe dlfferlng ablllLles and needs of sLudenLs. lL was evldenL LhaL each sLudenL brlngs a unlque personallLy, and rlch sense of culLural ldenLlLy Lo Lhe classroom. SLudenL dlverslLy ofLen leads Lo dlfferlng ablllLles and needs ln a classroom envlronmenL. lacLors such as eLhnlclLy, soclo-economlc sLaLus, gender and language play an lmporLanL parL ln esLabllshlng Lhe dlfferlng ablllLles and needs of sLudenLs. ln boLh professlonal experlences l saw a dlverslLy of learners, from glfLed and LalenLed sLudenLs Lo sLudenLs wlLh dlsablllLles and lmpalrmenLs. lL was obvlous LhaL boLh menLor Leachers were Leachlng a dlverse scope of sLudenL ablllLles, and caLered for Lhls commendably. 1hey were culLurally senslLlve and lncorporaLed 8Lu130 undersLandlng 1eachers' Work Allson Morrls 32423693 # Lhe approach of lncluslve educaLlon, whereby Lhe focus ls on Lhe sLudenLs' sLrengLhs, and dlverslLy ls celebraLed (CroundwaLer-SmlLh, Lwlng & Le Cornu, 2011)
8oLh professlonal experlences furLhered my undersLandlng of Lhe funcLlon of schoollng ln AusLrallan socleLy. lL was evldenL LhaL boLh menLor Leachers' prlmary goal was Lo educaLe. 8arry and klng (1998) suggesL an lmporLanL parL of a Leacher's role ls Lo work Lowards achlevlng Lhe broad, long-Lerm goals of schoollng. lor example, ln our socleLy, schoollng ls deslgned Lo equlp young people wlLh Lhe knowledge, undersLandlng, skllls and values Lo Lake advanLage of opporLunlLy and Lo face challenges wlLh confldence. Schools play an lnLegral role ln promoLlng and fosLerlng Lhe developmenL and wellbelng of sLudenLs. ln reference Lo Lhe Lwo goals ln Lhe Melbourne ueclaraLlon on LducaLlonal Coals for ?oung AusLrallans (MlnlsLerlal Councll on LducaLlon, LmploymenL, 1ralnlng and ?ouLh Affalrs, 2008) Lhe funcLlon of schoollng ls Lo promoLe equlLy and excellence and supporL all sLudenLs Lo become successful learners, confldenL and creaLlve lndlvlduals and acLlve and lnformed clLlzens.
1o surmlse, l galned lnvaluable lnslghL lnLo Lhe dlverse roles and responslblllLles of a classroom Leacher and Lhe learnlng dlverslLles of sLudenLs. 8oLh experlences furLhered my undersLandlng of Lhe funcLlon of schoollng wlLhln our socleLy. As l was requlred Lo engage ln boLh a prlmary and secondary seLLlng, l was able Lo conLrasL Lhe Lwo experlences and Lhus make an lnformed declslon abouL conLlnulng my paLhway Lo becomlng a prlmary Leacher.
8Lu130 undersLandlng 1eachers' Work Allson Morrls 32423693 $
8eferences
1. 8arry, k., & klng, L. (1998) !"#$%%$%# '"()*$%# (%+ ,"-.%+. new SouLh Wales: Soclal Sclence ress.
2. Ldwards, C. P., & WaLLs, v. (2008) /0(112..3 +$1)$40$%" 5 3(%(#"3"%' (2 nd