McDonald 1

Frame of Reference

Building relationships with the students, staff, and parents is very important. There are

so many things that we can learn from our colleagues, particularly what has worked best with a

student in the past. We can also collaborate to plan units and share resources. Parents are

sometimes an untapped resource and can help with their child’s education, they could give us

pointers and let us know about any issues that are going on at in the student’s life. Coaching

and helping with extra-curricular activities will allow me to get to know the other students at

the school, outside of my class. Building a strong connection with the community is important. I

have coached multiple teams in the Nanaimo community and I have met many great people

through sports who have helped me grow. There are always new things we can learn from

other people and I plan on making these connections.

As for building relationships with the students, it will help them trust and rely on me as

a leader. I will get to know each one of my students and give them opportunities to get to know

me and build strong connections to set up for a great school year. In The Nature of Learning,

they describe that when the students are having a positive experience in the classroom, they

generate positive emotions, which are encouraging, “while negative emotions can disrupt the

learning process in the brain” (Dumont, H., Instance, C. Benavides, F, 4). I think one of the most

important things I can do as a teacher is to build an environment that students feel safe to

come to and explore new ideas. A space where it is fun and there is room for errors and

mistakes, where the students will grow.

Every student has the right to learn and are going to have different needs in a

classroom. They learn at different levels and speeds. It is important to think about the students
McDonald 2

who have the hardest time understanding and plan how you are going to teach them (UDL and

RTI). Start with what you want everyone to know, then most to know, then some to know. It is

important to make students feel successful and to push their learning. There will always be a

wide range academically in a class. Dumont et al, discuss the idea of “adapted expertise”, which

is “the ability to apply meaningful-learned knowledge and skills flexibly and creatively in

different situations” (Dumont et al, 4). It is so important to be flexible and meet the learners’

needs by making creative changes. This will allow them to become self-regulated learners and

transfer their knowledge in different environments away from school.

Establishing protocols at the beginning of the year is crucial. I will need to teach the

students what I expect of them, and we will need to practice these things. For example, how I

expect the students to behave while I am teaching, what I am going to do to get their attention,

how we as a class will walk down the hallways, etc. I also think that going over the shape of the

day is important for the students so they know what to expect, especially for those students

who need a routine. Establishing and clearly stating my expectations is important for the

students so I do not have to focus on behaviour as much, I can focus on teaching the

curriculum.

I am a firm believer in collaboration with peers. At the beginning of the year I will have

the students’ desks arranged in groups. They will practice engaging with their classmates in

group and partner work. Individual learning is important, but partner work teaches the students

to share ideas, work together and socialize with their peers.

I find that partner work is an effective way for students to be successful. It allows some

students to be a mentor and, in some cases, re-teach what they understand. Partner work can
McDonald 3

also help students that need assistance to feel successful. I plan on incorporating the First

Peoples Principles of Learning, OECD – 7 Principles of Effective Learning Environments, learning

intentions, checking for understanding, linking to prior knowledge, exit slips, gradual release,

brain breaks, daily 5, iPads, inquiry-based learning, place-based learning, peer and self-

assessment, community of learners, and celebration of learning.

Liesel Knaack describes assessment AS learning to be “where students can monitor and

critically reflect on their learning and make decisions about learning strategies” (Leisel Knaack).

I think having an emphasis on assessment AS learning is great because it allows the students to

self and peer assess, reflect, and self-regulate. It also lets me know as a teacher where I need to

take the students next with their learning. I will also focus on summative assessment as well as

ongoing communication of learning with parents/ guardians. It is important for the adults in the

student’s lives to see where they are in their education. It also gives the students an

opportunity to reflect on their work of what they did well, what was challenging and what they

are going to work on.

The BC Curriculum website states that the “[c]ore competencies are sets of intellectual,

personal, and social and emotional proficiencies that all students need to develop in order to

engage in deep learning and life-long learning” (British Columbia Curriculum). I think that

focusing on the core competencies is important because it personalizes learning for students.

Focusing on the core competencies really deepens the students understanding, which they can

relate to real life. In my class we will also be focusing on the First Peoples Principles of Learning.

I think that these principles are valuable for students, especially “learning involves patience and

time” (First Peoples Principles of Learning).

McDonald 4

Cites sourced

Dumont, H., Instance, C. Benavides, F. (2012). The Nature of Learning.

https://www.oecd.org/edu/ceri/50300814.pdf

Knaack, L. (2017). 5 Key Changes in BC’s New K-12 Curriculum: What are the Implications for
Post-Secondary?

http://wordpress.viu.ca/ciel/2017/12/28/5-key-changes-in-bcs-new-k-12-curriculum/

British Columbia Curriculum

https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/

First Peoples Principles of Learning

http://www.fnesc.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/PUB-LFP-POSTER-Principles-of-

Learning-First-Peoples-poster-11x17.pdf