2.1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area.
Through studying a Bachelor of Education: Early Childhood and Primary, I have been exposed to and developed knowledge about, the content that I will need to teach students.
I have developed an understanding of the syllabus in all KLA’s and also the newly implemented Australian Curriculum, alongside these documents I also have a working knowledge of the Early Years Learning Framework that is implemented in early childhood services. Through these understandings and reading of the documents, I have begun to develop my knowledge bank of the content that is prescribed in these documents.
I have an understanding of the way the content in the curriculum documents is structured to build upon the skills and knowledge of students as they progress from early childhood to the end of primary and beyond. This progression is based on developmental theories and the required knowledge at each year level.
I am aware that different key learning areas have different strategies that can be employed to effectively teach the content to students, for example; the five E’s in science (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate). These strategies can be employed alongside the other strategies in a teacher’s repertoire to ensure that the content is being successfully conveyed to students.
Teachers should ensure that the content they are presenting to students requires them to move from lower order to higher order thinking. Students are better able to understand content and demonstrate their understanding when they are required to use higher order thinking skills. For this reason the content that teachers use should also reflect the levels of blooms taxonomy, so they can take part in higher order thinking.
I believe that it is important that teachers know the content that they will teach to students, and should research and seek assistance with content that can be unfamiliar to ensure that students are being taught the correct information.
2.2: Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
While teachers should have an understanding of the concepts and strategies needed to teach students the required curriculum content, it is important that they critique and select content that not only fulfills the outcomes stated in the curriculum, but also to ensure that it is relevant to the students’ needs and level of understanding. It is also important that teacher’s select content that will be interesting and engaging for the students.
The content that is selected for teaching should also be organised so that each lesson builds upon students’ prior knowledge. This can be achieved by selecting content and creating small steps to reach the overall outcome. By doing this it also allows students to have content reinforced, as concepts can be reviewed, which also allows the teacher to check students understanding.
When selecting and organising content, teachers should look at ways that they can integrate different key learning areas, as this allows the learning to become more meaningful to students as it is not being taught in isolation. It also ensures that teachers are able to cover the broad and extensive range of content that is required in the curriculum.
2.3: Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
My practice as a teacher will be guided by the teaching and learning cycle, which gives teachers a scaffold in which to plan their lessons. The teaching and learning cycle describes the relationship between curriculum, assessment and reporting. When using the teaching and learning cycle, teachers are at first required to assess students to see where they are currently. From this data, teachers are able to plan lessons that extend on students learning and implement these lessons. During and after the lesson teachers again assess students to see what they have learnt and what they need further assistance with, this can then be reported to parents and carers, to the principal as well as other key stakeholders.
The teaching and learning cycle is a key component in programming and planning for all teachers and will guide their practice to ensure that students are receiving the instruction that they need. It also ensures that teachers have the required information about student progress to report to key stake holders.
During my teaching career I will use the teaching and learning cycle to ensure that my lessons are designed based on previous assessment and that assessment is a key component to all lessons so that I can check for understanding while also diagnosing areas that students are struggling with or have mastered to inform further planning.
I will continue to undertake professional development in the area of curriculum, assessment and reporting to ensure that I have accurate and up to date knowledge about the policies and procedures that will ensure the success of my students.
2.4: Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages.
Throughout my studies I have developed knowledge, respect and an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, culture and languages.
I recognise the importance of culture to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how important it is to include their culture into the curriculum through everyday classroom activities.
I have developed knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and the affect that colonisation had on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s lives and culture. I have developed knowledge about the government policies that were enforced on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how this affected their culture, history and languages.
Through this knowledge, respect and understanding I have developed, I will aim to integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and languages into my lessons. I will also aim to teach my students about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, histories and languages, so they too can develop knowledge, respect and understand of the long history of their country and the first Australians.
I will also continue to develop my knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, histories and languages through professional development and personal research to ensure that I have an extensive knowledge and respect for their culture, histories and languages.
2.5: Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.
Literacy and Numeracy are key subjects in developing student’s foundation skills that will lead them on to lifelong learning and success. Literacy and numeracy are the two key areas that teachers will spend most of their time teaching and students will spend most of their time using. Both literacy and numeracy have an impact on all other key learning areas and thus need to be taught effectively.
Due to the importance of literacy and numeracy, it is important that teachers develop knowledge about the content as well as strategies that will enable them to teach students effectively.
Because literacy and numeracy has a large impact on student’s lives, throughout school and beyond, an important strategy to effectively teach students is to connect learning to their everyday lives. This adds meaning and context to students learning allowing them to connect with the content.
Strategies to teach students literacy content can include; explicit teaching, shared, modeled and guided reading and writing, explicit feedback, assessment and goal setting that meets individual student’s needs, collaborative learning, and tiring.
Strategies to teach students numeracy content can include; grouping, collaborative learning, spiral curriculum (basic knowledge moving to more complex), teaching mathematical content over the five modes – concrete, pictorial, symbolic, real life situations and mental modes, games and working mathematically strategies.
2.6: Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students.
The world today is seeing a fast increase in technological advancement. It is essential that the new generation of children develop skills and knowledge about how to use technology safely and appropriately.
Teachers need to develop skills and strategies to be able to effectively use technology themselves as well as how to teach their students to use the technology.
Technology offers teachers a variety of new and innovative ways to deliver curriculum content that can provide students with engaging learning opportunities.
Teachers are able to use technology to watch video content, read stories, model reading and writing and even take a virtual excursion to another country.
Teachers can implement lessons that require students to use technologies such as; Microsoft word, PowerPoint, video, photos and blogs. These technologies allow students a new medium to demonstrate their learning in all key learning areas, while also developing skills and knowledge about ICT and how to be cyber smart.
With the ever evolving technology, it is important that teachers stay up to date and undertake professional development in the area. By doing this, teachers will be ensuring that they can continue to teach students about a range of technologies while also using technology to create engaging and meaningful lessons. For this reason I will continue to develop my skills in this area throughout my career.
Through studying a Bachelor of Education: Early Childhood and Primary, I have been exposed to and developed knowledge about, the content that I will need to teach students.
I have developed an understanding of the syllabus in all KLA’s and also the newly implemented Australian Curriculum, alongside these documents I also have a working knowledge of the Early Years Learning Framework that is implemented in early childhood services. Through these understandings and reading of the documents, I have begun to develop my knowledge bank of the content that is prescribed in these documents.
I have an understanding of the way the content in the curriculum documents is structured to build upon the skills and knowledge of students as they progress from early childhood to the end of primary and beyond. This progression is based on developmental theories and the required knowledge at each year level.
I am aware that different key learning areas have different strategies that can be employed to effectively teach the content to students, for example; the five E’s in science (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate). These strategies can be employed alongside the other strategies in a teacher’s repertoire to ensure that the content is being successfully conveyed to students.
Teachers should ensure that the content they are presenting to students requires them to move from lower order to higher order thinking. Students are better able to understand content and demonstrate their understanding when they are required to use higher order thinking skills. For this reason the content that teachers use should also reflect the levels of blooms taxonomy, so they can take part in higher order thinking.
I believe that it is important that teachers know the content that they will teach to students, and should research and seek assistance with content that can be unfamiliar to ensure that students are being taught the correct information.
2.2: Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
While teachers should have an understanding of the concepts and strategies needed to teach students the required curriculum content, it is important that they critique and select content that not only fulfills the outcomes stated in the curriculum, but also to ensure that it is relevant to the students’ needs and level of understanding. It is also important that teacher’s select content that will be interesting and engaging for the students.
The content that is selected for teaching should also be organised so that each lesson builds upon students’ prior knowledge. This can be achieved by selecting content and creating small steps to reach the overall outcome. By doing this it also allows students to have content reinforced, as concepts can be reviewed, which also allows the teacher to check students understanding.
When selecting and organising content, teachers should look at ways that they can integrate different key learning areas, as this allows the learning to become more meaningful to students as it is not being taught in isolation. It also ensures that teachers are able to cover the broad and extensive range of content that is required in the curriculum.
2.3: Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
My practice as a teacher will be guided by the teaching and learning cycle, which gives teachers a scaffold in which to plan their lessons. The teaching and learning cycle describes the relationship between curriculum, assessment and reporting. When using the teaching and learning cycle, teachers are at first required to assess students to see where they are currently. From this data, teachers are able to plan lessons that extend on students learning and implement these lessons. During and after the lesson teachers again assess students to see what they have learnt and what they need further assistance with, this can then be reported to parents and carers, to the principal as well as other key stakeholders.
The teaching and learning cycle is a key component in programming and planning for all teachers and will guide their practice to ensure that students are receiving the instruction that they need. It also ensures that teachers have the required information about student progress to report to key stake holders.
During my teaching career I will use the teaching and learning cycle to ensure that my lessons are designed based on previous assessment and that assessment is a key component to all lessons so that I can check for understanding while also diagnosing areas that students are struggling with or have mastered to inform further planning.
I will continue to undertake professional development in the area of curriculum, assessment and reporting to ensure that I have accurate and up to date knowledge about the policies and procedures that will ensure the success of my students.
2.4: Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages.
Throughout my studies I have developed knowledge, respect and an understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, culture and languages.
I recognise the importance of culture to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how important it is to include their culture into the curriculum through everyday classroom activities.
I have developed knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and the affect that colonisation had on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s lives and culture. I have developed knowledge about the government policies that were enforced on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how this affected their culture, history and languages.
Through this knowledge, respect and understanding I have developed, I will aim to integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and languages into my lessons. I will also aim to teach my students about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, histories and languages, so they too can develop knowledge, respect and understand of the long history of their country and the first Australians.
I will also continue to develop my knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, histories and languages through professional development and personal research to ensure that I have an extensive knowledge and respect for their culture, histories and languages.
2.5: Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.
Literacy and Numeracy are key subjects in developing student’s foundation skills that will lead them on to lifelong learning and success. Literacy and numeracy are the two key areas that teachers will spend most of their time teaching and students will spend most of their time using. Both literacy and numeracy have an impact on all other key learning areas and thus need to be taught effectively.
Due to the importance of literacy and numeracy, it is important that teachers develop knowledge about the content as well as strategies that will enable them to teach students effectively.
Because literacy and numeracy has a large impact on student’s lives, throughout school and beyond, an important strategy to effectively teach students is to connect learning to their everyday lives. This adds meaning and context to students learning allowing them to connect with the content.
Strategies to teach students literacy content can include; explicit teaching, shared, modeled and guided reading and writing, explicit feedback, assessment and goal setting that meets individual student’s needs, collaborative learning, and tiring.
Strategies to teach students numeracy content can include; grouping, collaborative learning, spiral curriculum (basic knowledge moving to more complex), teaching mathematical content over the five modes – concrete, pictorial, symbolic, real life situations and mental modes, games and working mathematically strategies.
2.6: Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students.
The world today is seeing a fast increase in technological advancement. It is essential that the new generation of children develop skills and knowledge about how to use technology safely and appropriately.
Teachers need to develop skills and strategies to be able to effectively use technology themselves as well as how to teach their students to use the technology.
Technology offers teachers a variety of new and innovative ways to deliver curriculum content that can provide students with engaging learning opportunities.
Teachers are able to use technology to watch video content, read stories, model reading and writing and even take a virtual excursion to another country.
Teachers can implement lessons that require students to use technologies such as; Microsoft word, PowerPoint, video, photos and blogs. These technologies allow students a new medium to demonstrate their learning in all key learning areas, while also developing skills and knowledge about ICT and how to be cyber smart.
With the ever evolving technology, it is important that teachers stay up to date and undertake professional development in the area. By doing this, teachers will be ensuring that they can continue to teach students about a range of technologies while also using technology to create engaging and meaningful lessons. For this reason I will continue to develop my skills in this area throughout my career.