Standard 6.

4 Apply Professional Learning and Improve Student Learning

FINAL REFLECTION
Over the past five weeks I have experienced a wide range of emotions in regards to
my placement yet have completed my last day very bitter sweetly. Not only have I
learnt so much about my mentor teacher and my forty-five students, but I have also
learnt so much about myself and the teacher that I want to be.
I walked in to my third year placement very head strong about structure in the
classroom, and strict seating plans, yet have come out with an opposite outlook on
how I would like to teach in my own classroom. In my placement classroom this year,
the students had flexible seating where they were able to choose whether they sat
on the floor, on a stool, on a chair, on a pillow or even on a bean bag. The students
were able to engage so well in their work as they were all comfortable, which is a
new strategy for me, as a future educator.
My ideas of assessment have totally changed, now that I have experienced the very
relaxed, yet structured assessment strategies in place at my placement school,
where they cater to the needs and abilities of all students, without modifying their
whole program for one child. Adjusting the lesson or modifying it for the range of
abilities in the classroom was very easy as there was a lot of free choice in how
students presented their work. If a student struggled with their typing – they could
choose to write in their books and if they struggled with their writing – simple, they
could use their laptop!
The students in my classroom this year have taught, and reminded me of how
imaginative and creative students are and how much we, as educators must
treasure that. All the lessons I have planned prior to commencing my placement
needed adjusting as they were so bland when compared to what the students were
capable of doing. This group of students could turn the most boring task in to
something creative and colourful in 5 minutes!
Prior to beginning my placement, I had always been very anti-laptops-in-primary-
schools as I believe handwriting is a crucial aspect of primary schools and is
something that we cannot phase out. However, after teaching and learning in my
placement class, the group of students I had have taught me just how important it is
that we implement technology in the classroom, as we are in the 21st century and
the things they can produce on their laptops is unreal – definitely next generation
suited, which is perfect for their future careers.
The school itself had a range of programs that were implemented in the school that
helped create a warm, welcoming and loving community that were educating
future generation superstars! All of the students in the school were aware of the
character strengths, which were displayed daily by the way students spoke to one
another, spoke to teachers, managed themselves and difficult situations. The school
had implemented many ideas from Finland with one being The Effective Life-Long
Learning Inventory (ELLI). The ELLI outlines key learning powers that are crucial for
students in education. Again, a framework that I would love to implement somehow
in my teaching in the near future.
This placement has been one of my most memorable as I have been able to really
get to know my mentor teacher well and the students which has made it easier when
planning lessons. I feel as if my ability as a teacher has improved drastically over the
past five weeks as I have learnt to manage 45 students, transitions, daily planning
and weekly planning, behaviour management and assessment.
I am very excited to have finally felt like a real teacher for 5 weeks and I am
thoroughly looking forward to my next placement to continue developing my skills.