Standard 2: Know the Context and How to Teach it
Reflective Commentary
In order for me to teach students effectively and to ensure that they gain deep authentic understanding and mastery of the curriculum, I recognise value of thoroughly preplanning my lessons, researching the content, collecting useful resources and reference materials for students, well before I step into the classroom and launch into “teaching”. This also means becoming well-acquainted and having a better understanding of the WA and National Curriculum documents and the EYLF outcomes for the year level I was teaching and my students abilities. During my professional internship, I planned my programs effectively making sure I used different resources and implement teaching programs effectively through constructing achievable learning goals.
In order for me to teach students effectively and to ensure that they gain deep authentic understanding and mastery of the curriculum, I recognise value of thoroughly preplanning my lessons, researching the content, collecting useful resources and reference materials for students, well before I step into the classroom and launch into “teaching”. This also means becoming well-acquainted and having a better understanding of the WA and National Curriculum documents and the EYLF outcomes for the year level I was teaching and my students abilities. During my professional internship, I planned my programs effectively making sure I used different resources and implement teaching programs effectively through constructing achievable learning goals.
2.1 Content and Teaching Strategies of the Teaching Area
2.2 Content Selection and Organisation
2.3 Curriculum assessment and reporting
2.5 Literacy and Numeracy Strategies
2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
2.2 Content Selection and Organisation
2.3 Curriculum assessment and reporting
2.5 Literacy and Numeracy Strategies
2.6 Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Situation:
On my professional practicum I was to observe for the first few days of PIP, find the students interest, abilities and other information in order to help me with my programming. I was really nervous as it was my first programming I had to do professionally and I made sure that I understood and knew how to gain knowledge and ideas from the Australian Curriculum, the EYLF outcomes and other resources I may needed to help me plan an effective program for my PI which went from week four to 10. For me to be able to do this it required solid knowledge of the content and how to teach it. Another aspect of this standard that I wanted to achieve was the information and communication technology and implementing ICT in my lessons in integrating it with other learning areas.
My mentor teacher wanted me to plan a program that supported my philosophy. In my philosophy I wanted to plan a program that supported a play based program and a hands on approach. I strongly believe in having a play based program in Early Childhood and we as teachers offer children choices that reflect their developmental stage, where choices are provided within limits of safety within group setting.I strongly believe that play should be the base of learning since children learn best by doing.
On my professional practicum I was to observe for the first few days of PIP, find the students interest, abilities and other information in order to help me with my programming. I was really nervous as it was my first programming I had to do professionally and I made sure that I understood and knew how to gain knowledge and ideas from the Australian Curriculum, the EYLF outcomes and other resources I may needed to help me plan an effective program for my PI which went from week four to 10. For me to be able to do this it required solid knowledge of the content and how to teach it. Another aspect of this standard that I wanted to achieve was the information and communication technology and implementing ICT in my lessons in integrating it with other learning areas.
My mentor teacher wanted me to plan a program that supported my philosophy. In my philosophy I wanted to plan a program that supported a play based program and a hands on approach. I strongly believe in having a play based program in Early Childhood and we as teachers offer children choices that reflect their developmental stage, where choices are provided within limits of safety within group setting.I strongly believe that play should be the base of learning since children learn best by doing.
Action:
With the implementation of the Australian Curriculum, the EYLF and other teaching resources, I feel its a much easier and clearer to know what are to teach. The outcomes are there for us, but as teachers we need to know how to teach it and come up with different teaching strategies doc cater each individuals learning style and ability. In order for us to plan an effective program this means that we need to know standard one which os 'knowing the children and how they learn'. This will then help us create learning experiences that seek to cover outcomes from the curriculum in a fun. motivating, creative and engaging way.
Using the above documents and reflecting on my students interests I set about planning a series of lessons. While I had my term overview and knew what I was teaching and when and always made changes when I thought was needed. Understanding how to organize the content into effective learning and teaching sequences is vital. This was something that was highlighted in the Numeracy Learning area during my placement. My mentor teacher wanted me to do a multiple lessons on money. In the Foundation standard in the Australian Curriculum teaching money is not covered until year 1. My mentor teacher thought it would be something challenging for me to plan and program a sequence number of lessons in that learning field in that particular learning area. I managed to design sequences of lessons designed to flow sequentially and created this by using a variety of activities and resources to build upon students interest, abilities, students understandings and meet the requirements of the Australian Curriculum and the EYLF. I decided to make the lessons play based and hands on approach knowing that my students will engage to this and which will then help them enhance their learning.
Below you can see worksheets of the money activities I have done with my pre primary class, I started off with coins focusing on just coins in the first 2 weeks, and knowing what and whom is on the side of each coins. I integrated ICT with this lesson by having youtube videos on coins and also having sing a long music to identifying coins. I then moved into learning about Australian notes, what colour they are, who are the people on the notes etc. Children were able to know which australian animals were on the coins and that Queen Elizabeth was behind each coin. children also learnt the colour of the coins and notes.
With the implementation of the Australian Curriculum, the EYLF and other teaching resources, I feel its a much easier and clearer to know what are to teach. The outcomes are there for us, but as teachers we need to know how to teach it and come up with different teaching strategies doc cater each individuals learning style and ability. In order for us to plan an effective program this means that we need to know standard one which os 'knowing the children and how they learn'. This will then help us create learning experiences that seek to cover outcomes from the curriculum in a fun. motivating, creative and engaging way.
Using the above documents and reflecting on my students interests I set about planning a series of lessons. While I had my term overview and knew what I was teaching and when and always made changes when I thought was needed. Understanding how to organize the content into effective learning and teaching sequences is vital. This was something that was highlighted in the Numeracy Learning area during my placement. My mentor teacher wanted me to do a multiple lessons on money. In the Foundation standard in the Australian Curriculum teaching money is not covered until year 1. My mentor teacher thought it would be something challenging for me to plan and program a sequence number of lessons in that learning field in that particular learning area. I managed to design sequences of lessons designed to flow sequentially and created this by using a variety of activities and resources to build upon students interest, abilities, students understandings and meet the requirements of the Australian Curriculum and the EYLF. I decided to make the lessons play based and hands on approach knowing that my students will engage to this and which will then help them enhance their learning.
Below you can see worksheets of the money activities I have done with my pre primary class, I started off with coins focusing on just coins in the first 2 weeks, and knowing what and whom is on the side of each coins. I integrated ICT with this lesson by having youtube videos on coins and also having sing a long music to identifying coins. I then moved into learning about Australian notes, what colour they are, who are the people on the notes etc. Children were able to know which australian animals were on the coins and that Queen Elizabeth was behind each coin. children also learnt the colour of the coins and notes.
I used ICT to enhance student learning across all learning areas. There were many interactive whiteboard games that supported their literacy and numeracy development. This helped to expand their learning and they showed engagement and was a fun and creative experience for each individuals. I used money game son the smart board for students to play in groups of three whilst and during rotational activities.
In my professional practicum I was to have different strategies of assessment when assessing the students. I made sure that I catered for students that had different learning abilities and came up with assessment strategies that would cater for them and enhance my understanding of their learning. I have used several forms of assessment where I utilised throughout my program. I used diagnostic assessments, assessment rubrics, questioning, checklists and work samples. An example that I used to cater all my students was when I was assessing "Identify australian coins and notes", my mentor teacher wanted me to assess students on which coins and notes each individual knows.
I knew that the checklist I had planned would cater all students accept for one, which was the student that was a selective mute. For other students I had pictures of coins and notes and as I showed each student a new coin or note they were to orally tell me what it was, 1 dollar not 1 cent etc. This worked really well with students and was a fast process. However with the child with selective mute I had trouble with, he chooses not to talk so he was not able to tell me what each coin or note was orally. So I modified it and I put all the coins and notes on the table and I told him to point to the $1 dollar coin, this worked really well and I was then able to assess his knowledge of what he knew.
I knew that the checklist I had planned would cater all students accept for one, which was the student that was a selective mute. For other students I had pictures of coins and notes and as I showed each student a new coin or note they were to orally tell me what it was, 1 dollar not 1 cent etc. This worked really well with students and was a fast process. However with the child with selective mute I had trouble with, he chooses not to talk so he was not able to tell me what each coin or note was orally. So I modified it and I put all the coins and notes on the table and I told him to point to the $1 dollar coin, this worked really well and I was then able to assess his knowledge of what he knew.
Outcome:
I was really nervous on planning a program that was that play based, hands on approach, based on student abilities, student interests and the Australian Curriculum and the EYLF outcomes. The most difficult learning area that I had trouble planning was the Numeracy Term Plan (Click to view). But with the help of Standard one and two, information on resources and the help of my mentor teacher I was able to plan an effective and supportive program that catered for all students and my philosophy.
The children were captivated and enjoyed learning about Australian money, the history behind each person that is on the money, the colours, the animals on the coins and also how important money and money identification is . The program was successful with the use of different resources and the use of ICT and technology, the children achieved learning goals and were able to understand the outcomes.
I was really nervous on planning a program that was that play based, hands on approach, based on student abilities, student interests and the Australian Curriculum and the EYLF outcomes. The most difficult learning area that I had trouble planning was the Numeracy Term Plan (Click to view). But with the help of Standard one and two, information on resources and the help of my mentor teacher I was able to plan an effective and supportive program that catered for all students and my philosophy.
The children were captivated and enjoyed learning about Australian money, the history behind each person that is on the money, the colours, the animals on the coins and also how important money and money identification is . The program was successful with the use of different resources and the use of ICT and technology, the children achieved learning goals and were able to understand the outcomes.
Action Plan:
To improve my skills in this standard of achievement, I aim to improve my knowledge on standard 2.4 'Understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians' which I covered roughly but not as much as I wanted to cover. Aboriginal studies has always been daunting and a subject that I didn't know much on, for my future teaching I want to make sure that I consult with an Aboriginal Community Officer to build my content knowledge and confidence on the topic.
Websites that I would like to touch further on and read and look through to gain my knowledge on Integrating Aboriginal Education:
To improve my skills in this standard of achievement, I aim to improve my knowledge on standard 2.4 'Understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians' which I covered roughly but not as much as I wanted to cover. Aboriginal studies has always been daunting and a subject that I didn't know much on, for my future teaching I want to make sure that I consult with an Aboriginal Community Officer to build my content knowledge and confidence on the topic.
Websites that I would like to touch further on and read and look through to gain my knowledge on Integrating Aboriginal Education:
- http://www.sharingculture.com.au/workshops.htm
- https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-skills-and-learning/early-childhood-education-and-care
- http://www.det.wa.edu.au/aboriginaleducation/detcms/navigation/aboriginal-education/key-staff