1.

4 Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of the impact of culture,

cultural identity and linguistic background on the education of students from Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

While working on the EST203 unit, the following article "Maths, story and dance: an Indigenous
approach to teaching" published in abc website was a very informative reading, which gave me lots
of ideas about the indigenous approach in teaching. The article explains how aboriginal struggling
students find it much better when maths is linked to their own stories about the world. Most
students only experience maths in the abstract form without getting to relate it to something
meaningful to them; therefore the indigenous approach has a lot of benefit.

1.6 Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements

and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.

In my old role as an Education Support in a Special School, I have worked with students of various
disabilities. While working with ADHD students, I understand it is important they are notified about
any changes in their daily school schedules and prepare them for it inorder to avoid any meltdowns.
If they are not assigned work according to their level of ability, they will find it hard to do the work
and can easily get frustrated. I also had experience working with a non-verbal student who uses
Proloquo2Go to communicate his needs and also for his learning. So in my role as a teacher too, I
totally understand that students with disabilities can have varied needs. During my placements, I
had met only very few students with disabilities particularly learning difficulties and I always make
sure their needs are catered while preparing class work, test paper etc which could mean asking
them to do more rote questions than wordy questions.

2.4 Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of and respect for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages.

While working on the EST203 unit, the following article "Maths, story and dance: an Indigenous
approach to teaching" published in abc website was a very informative reading, which gave me lots
of ideas about the indigenous approach in teaching. The article explains how aboriginal struggling
students find it much better when maths is linked to their own stories about the world. Most
students only experience maths in the abstract form without getting to relate it to something
meaningful to them; therefore the indigenous approach has a lot of benefit.

3.7 Describe a broad range of strategies for involving parents/carers in the educative process.

Involving parents in a childs education is very important because it helps communication between
parents and their kids with regard to education more meaningful. In primary classes, parents usually
become a helper for any group activity, guided reading, and excursion. Most schools open
classrooms for parents to visit and look at their kids work and talk about their concerns. My mentor
teacher has mentioned to me parents of students are in touch through emails. With secondary
students, reports are sent home for parents/carers and interviews are occasionally scheduled to
discuss matters in detail. I think it is important to touch base in some form regularly with parents to
involve them in their kids learning process.

4.3 Demonstrate knowledge of practical approaches to manage challenging behaviour.

I was very much interested to know about the different classroom management strategies used by
different teachers from the initial days of my course. Because I believe in a very disruptive class if
you don't have the students attention, the teaching will not be an effective one. I started to note
down the different strategies my mentors used for classroom management. One of them being the
after school pass issued to disruptive students within a class or a lunch time detention. I found it as
an effective one. But again I realised if you use it every time, it is not going to work either. Before
giving away the after school pass students, warnings are given where disruptive students name goes
on the board and after three warnings the after school pass is issued. Another strategy I used in my
classroom was asking students to put their ipads away. While teaching some students play on their
ipad and if the teacher asks they will straightaway say they are accessing online textbooks from their
ipad. So I always made it a point to ask students to put their ipads away during my lecturing. So I can
engage them in learning. Attached is a snapshot from my mentor teacher regarding the same.

5.5 Demonstrate understanding of a range of strategies for reporting to students and

parents/carers and the purpose of keeping accurate and reliable records of student achievement.

During one of my placement experiences, I have had the opportunity to be able to observe the
reporting process in action using compass software. Different elements such as test results,
bookwork, behaviours etc gets reported to the parents/carers within the students report. Overall
summary is also included in the report that summarises any positives and concerns of the students
performance along with the required action. This system allows data to be effectively organised,
stored and reported on. All data on student achievement was released for students and parents to
view. These reports will be sent once in every semester. There will be also a parent teacher
interview once in every semester to report on students strengths and weaknesses and identifying
future opportunities for improvement of each student.
6.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the Australian Professional
Standards for Teachers in identifying professional learning needs.

The professional standards for teachers are very important in identifying personal learning needs, as
teachers can reflect on their practices and can see where there are gaps in their teaching and where
they can make improvements. There will be always something to be improved as a teacher, whether
it could be a lesson, or any key learning or improving teaching strategies. The professional standards
allow teachers to ensure their teaching quality matches the teaching quality framework and their
teaching practices are up to standard. As part of the professional experience reports, my mentor
teacher marked my teaching practices against the professional standards for teachers so that I could
reflect on my teaching practices and make improvements where necessary. I thought this was a
fantastic way of observing my teaching as it was authentic and provided me with knowledge and
understanding on my teaching ability. It cleared up any doubts about my teaching practices and
ensured that my teaching was up to a quality standard, matching up with the professional teaching
standards.

6.2 Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers.

I have attended the professional learning course offered both by my university and at my work. The
Money Smart Teaching course was a 2 hour online module consisting of video clips, questions and
quizzes. This course aims to help young people (students) make good decisions about money – being
money smart. It provided a comprehensive overview of consumer and financial literacy in Australian
Education. The professional learning undertaken in this workshop is aligned to the Australian
Professional Standards for Teachers – as outlined on the completion certificate.

7.1 Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the
teaching profession.

Code of ethics and conduct is an integral part of teaching profession. During my placement I went
through all these policies formally as part of my induction as a pre -service teacher. As a teacher it is
important to establish and maintain appropriate interpersonal relationships between the school and
community, particularly in regard to the ethical obligations outlined in the Education Victoria, ‘Code
of Conduct’. The purpose of this code is to guide the teachers conduct and practice with students,
school and community, state the public accountability, and promote public confidence in our
profession. The code state how a teacher can demonstrate integrity by respecting the learners
interest, maintain professionalism in behaviour. How a teacher can demonstrate respect by having
care and compassion towards learners and treating them fairly, showing responsibility by providing
the quality teaching, work for the best interest of learners. Before starting my placement as a pre
service teacher I had to comply with VIC working with Children check which is mandatory to work
with any child department in Victoria.

7.2 Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and
processes required for teachers according to school stage.

As part of my induction, I always go through the complete folder on legislative and organisational
policies of College where I do my placement. Every teacher has a responsibility of reporting any kind
of abuse suffered by the students’ under their care.

7.3 Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers.

Parents/carers play a very important role in students education and therefore teachers needs to
professionally engage with them to inform student progress and achievement. It could also discuss
any behavioural concerns, any school absences and any events in students' lives that may affect
their participation or progress at school. The mode of communication can be emails or phone calls
or face to face conferencing wherever possible.

7.4 Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in

broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.

A teacher can engage with professional teaching networks in a number of ways for their professional
growth. Professional development programs are an excellent way a teacher can participate and
learn skills which he/she can apply later in their day-to-day professional life. Some schools also run
session among peers to share any learning useful to other peers. I had been to few of these while on
my placement experiences. My mentor was also suggesting few names of a number of teaching
associations, teaching and learning journals I could join in. While I was on my professional
experience, I have realised the school runs many information session or workshops to the local
community. These are opportunities to get to know the local community, develop authentic,
inclusive and respectful relationships with the community. Excursions and field trips are also great
ways to engage with the wider community and using ICT it is even possible to engage with global and
online communities.