PME 2 - A little more experience, a little more wiser

My Teaching Statement

The Foundations of education are vitally important aspects of the professional development

of a teacher. Studying curriculum and assessment, history, sociology, psychology, and

philosophy form a corner stone of teacher education. They inform the teacher on how they

can resolve questions both given by staff and students, to understand their particular

school’s role in the local community and wider society, promoting all forms of literacy both

academic and social, make all lessons inclusive for students of all abilities, instead of having

a narrow educational focus. People have many reasons for becoming teachers, many

reasons are admirable such as developing student literacy, or love for a specific subject,

however, there can be a view in wider society that many people pick teaching, for the

shorter hours, and holidays. This is far from the truth from what I have witnessed in my own

teaching practise. Many teachers work incredibly hard to make lessons as exciting,

educational and inclusive as possible, they also focus on the wider school atmosphere

outside their classroom door, working on student well-being and communication in a non-

academic, instead holistic context. This is why a good understanding of the ethical and

professional identity of the teacher is vitally important. A teacher who believes that that are

both professional and ethical in their teaching practise, should be able to observe each

group, and each individual within that group, to tailor make a lesson suitable for that

particular class. Every class is vastly different to one another, as are the students

themselves. Therefore, it is important for teachers to be able to craft lessons that are not all

the same cookie cutter experience, but instead create something that caters for each

students individual need. This is by no means an easy task, but it is essential, for a ‘good’

teacher, one that fosters a creative and welcoming learning environment for all their pupils.

A teacher who recognises that the efforts of all pupils within the class need to be recognised

in order to aid student development. Recognition is a fundamental trait needed. Teachers

need to notice positive aspects in teenagers, and use it as the basis for the teacher pupil

relationship. Teachers must also recognise their students backgrounds, either family,

nationality, ethnic minorities and religious beliefs. This cannot be ignored, as it is a crucial

aspect of each student, and should always be taken into consideration when teaching

lessons. I believe that in order for myself, as teacher, to learn, I have to first critically

understand the professional, ethical and even moral role of myself as a teacher. In order, to

become a teacher who can understand how to encourage my classes to progress and learn

for themselves. In PME 1 all of this was new to me, and it was something I had to study myself, in order for myself to become comfortable with to use. However, in PME 2, I feel I have more experience to draw upon now, and feel much more comfortable in applying the various teaching methodologies I have studied in college.