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why teaching is for me

I remember playing teachers when I was in primary school and wanting to be a teacher. That make-
believe was a distant memory for a long time. I completed a dual degree in Mathematics and Business
at the Queensland University of Technology and entered the professional work force. It was only during
this time that my roles when training and helping others made me realise that teaching young people
would be of more relevance to me personally. Having my own children cemented this idea and when
they were old enough, I set out on the Graduate Diploma of Secondary School Education at the
University of Queensland.
I find the energy of young people energising in itself. My desire is to work with young people, to
facilitate their learning and assist them to prepare confidently for life in the real world. I feel that
teaching will be a rewarding and meaningful career.
My practicum experiences have consolidated my desire to become a teacher. Whilst it has been a
busy and challenging period, it has been a lot of fun with invaluable learning experiences. Im grateful
that I have twice been able to be part of a supportive school community with a culture of values that
align with me personally.

my teaching philosophy
As a teacher, I see myself as a facilitator of student learning. I wish to encourage enthusiasm toward
active-learning and motivate students to build a life time habit of learning by seeing the enjoyment
that can be achieved as a result of their own participation and involvement.
I strongly believe that all individuals have potential and ability in a variety of areas. I wish to encourage
a growth mindset; a belief that, regardless of where we start, dedication and hard work can develop
basic and indeed gifted abilities. Fostering a love of learning and importantly a sense of resilience is
essential for great accomplishment. This is particularly important in Mathematics, where many students
have a fixed expectation about their capability.
Gaining hands on knowledge of the Australian Curriculum during my practicum experiences has
assisted me to delve further into the appropriate content of my specialty teaching areas. I understand
how to select and organise content into purposefully structured lessons and I can create units of work
based on the Curriculum. I have had the opportunity to be involved with marking exams and
understand the importance of assessment, consistency and equity in this area along with the
requirement for timely and useful feedback for students learning.
The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers provides an excellent framework to understand the
expectations of me in terms of knowledge, practice and engagement. My CV details where I have
demonstrated my ability to implement these standards.
I am in the embryonic stage of my teaching career and fully expect that with ongoing reflective
practices, my philosophy and approach will continue to evolve as is necessary in the dynamic
profession of teaching.

building relationships
To engage effectively, students require solid relationships with their teachers. I believe one of my
strengths is building a rapport with people. I aim to create a supportive and safe classroom
environment; this is in line with my philosophy of promoting a growth mindset where exploration along
with mistakes is fundamental to the learning process. I value diversity and encourage a sense of mutual
respect. I demonstrate respect for all students and have an expectation that they treat me and others
in the class with respect. I can manage challenging behaviour and strive to have a consistent
approach toward all students.
A key part of building relationships with students is to understand their different abilities and learning
styles. I have demonstrated the ability to differentiate for all student abilities. I hope to be able to assist
them not only with their learning but with a sense of their own worth and value.
Taking a collegial, collaborative approach within a school community is essential to building
professional working relationships. I have enjoyed getting to know my supervisors and other staff at the
school during my practicum experiences. Certainly, communicating with colleagues across the
spectrum of subjects offered and being cognisant of the Curriculum offered is important for seeing the
totality of where students are placed.
During my first practicum, I was involved with the parent consultation evening. I understand that to
support students fully, an appropriate relationship with their parents/carers is required and when I have
my own classes, I look forward to this interaction to see the students in the context of their home life.
I am ready to start building relationships with my own students in my own classes and I cant wait to
begin!

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